LOVER AND BROTHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13453, 1 June 1907, Page 6

LOVER AND BROTHER.

FIGHT OVER A GIRL,

STRANGE STORY AT THE POLICE t . COURT. The troubles of a ; young couple were told to Mr. R. W Dyer, S.M., at the Police Court, yesterday, when two young men, Charles E. Merson and Lionel Francis Grim stone, were charged with threatening behaviour at the entrance of the Mount Eden railway station on May 15. SubInspector Gordon prosecuted. Mr.* J. R. Reed appeared for Merson, and Mr. Singer for Grimst one.

Two witnesses named Har.y Cowan and Harry Niccols said they saw two men scuffling near the station entrance, but could not identify them. Kiccols also said that he saw Merson running across the road with his head bleeding.

Eva Merson. a sister of the defendant, Merson, said that on the night of May 15 she was in company with Grimstone, when her brother came along and struck her companion. A fight ensued, and witness, tried to separate them, but without' success.

To Mr. Reed: Witness was 17 years of age, and Grimstone. was a friend of hers. His age was 25. Her brother had objected to her going with Grimstone, and 'had spoken to him about it. Despite the objections of her father and brothers, she had continued her acquaintance with Grimstone.

Mr. Reed : Do you not know that Grimstone had a weapon specially made in the form of a weighted truncheon? Witness: They went so far with him that he had to get something. Did he have the weapon on the night this affair took place?—l couldn't say. Was it weighted with lead?— Well, what I saw some months ago looked like an iron stick. © Did you see blood streaming from your brother's face?No,. I did not. Continuing, witness, said it was not .true that as soon as her brother spoke to Grimstone. the latter struck him with the weapon. She did not hit her brother, and did not go home after the fight had taken place. To Mr. Singer: Witness' brother . had threatened to kill Grimstone. She alleged that he had been illtreated by members of her family on account of her keeping company with him. Mr. Dyer: Where are. you living now? Witness: At home. Are you being ill-treated now? —No ; not now.

To Mr. Singer: There hud been nothing in Grimstone's behaviour . towards her to which her family could object, except going down badly-lighted streets,, and that ■was only on account of their fear of meetin member.", 01 her family. Mr. Dyer: Does youi mother approve of your friendship with Grimstone? Witness: She says. to wait a while, as I am too young. -.:.,. ;_,.:> Sub-Inspector Gordon: You say Grimstone got an iron, bar, as he was in feair of his life? Witness: Yes.

Mr. Dyer: Now, do you think you are doing right in defying the members of your family? Don't you think they know what is right better than you do? ~, Witness: Well, they have no cause to carry on as they have done. , Mr. Dyer: I think that if this young man had any decency he would leave you alone until you are older, anyway. What are you '. going to do in this matter? Are you still going to defy your people? Witness: Yes. When lam ready I will leave home and board with friends. 'I have had offers made to me, but something has always happened. Mr. Dyer: You must know that it is wrong to act like you are doing. The witness then left the box.

Dr. Grant said that he examined MerEon, and found a severe scalp wound and a cut over the right eye. He did not think that the injuries could have been inflicted with a fist. To inflict such wounds with a -'bar,, through a. hard 'felt 'hat, would necessitate a heavy blow. > This closed the case for the prosecution. . Charles C. Merson said that on the night in question he was going to meet a friend, when he : met his sister and '• Grimstone near the railway station. He then \ said, " You had better go home, Eva," and she replied, "What do i you want here?" (grimstone thereupon took a step back and drew his arm back, and witness struck out in self-defence. Ho felt something \ strike his arm, then hit him on the head. His sister also struck him. The first bio vis felt as if a sandbag had struck him, but afterwards the blows seemed to come from something harder. Witness was knocked down, and the wounds in his head bled freely. He had never threatened to assault. Grimstone, nor was it true that other members of his family had threatened violence to Grimstone.

This closed the case for the defence. Grimstone did not give evidence. Mr. Dyer said it was quite clear that Grimstone had persisted in going about with the girl, in spite of the opposition of her people. He did not think that he had acted properly. He should have left the girl alone until she was old enough to know her own mind. Grimstone was lacking; in manliness in acting as he had done. No man with any fine feeling would have acted as he had done.

At this stage the case was adjourned until the afternoon, in order to allow Mr.l Singer to consult with Grimstone as to his future intentions. Mr. Singer subsequently said that an arrangement had been made to the effect that Grimstone would apply to his employers for a transfer to Wellington. • ■/;..;.."■ „' . '

Mr. Dyer suggested that Grimstone should give an; undertaking promising not to go out walking with the girl, pending his transfer to Wellington, as otherwise there might be further trouble. ; Mr. Singer said he could promise that Grimstone would follow Mr. Dyer's advice as far as he could, and as soon as he could get a transfer he would go to Wellington. Mr. Reed pointed out that Grimstone could be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, and if he interfered with the girl again he could be brought before the Court and dealt with. Grimstone promised Mr. Dyer that he would not continue to take Miss Merson about as he had done. > , s

Both of the defendants were then convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Mr. Dyer said that in his opinion Grimstone was the aggressor, and ordered him to pay costs.