ASSAULT IX BILLIADROOM

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15096, 12 September 1912, Page 5

ASSAULT IX BILLIADROOM

THE MARKER INJURED

STRUCK ON HEAD WITH CUE.

.YOUNG MAN ADMITS OFFENCE.

As the result of a dispute over the score in a. game of billiards, Joseph Bertie Bovei'idge appeared at tho Police Court yesterday, before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., on' a charge of having assaulted Charles O'Brien on September 5, so as to cause actual bodily harm. DetectiveSergeant Cox conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Singer appeared for the accused.

Detective-Sergeant Cox said hat O'Brien was a, marker in the billiardroom of the City Hotel. On September 5, at about six p.m., Beveridgo was playing a game of Milliards with another man. in tho room in which O'Brien was. marking. Beveridgo inquired the score, and O'Brien said that it stood at 71 to 53 against tho accused. Beveridgo said that, this was wrong, and O'Brien turned round to tho board to explain the score. Whilo ho thus had his back to Beveridgo tho accused struck him on the head with the butt-end of the cue. Complainant put up his ]lauds to defend his head, and tho accused struck him one or two more blows, knocking the tip of his finger off and injuring his head. Accused theiu threw down tho cue and ran out of tho room, and later in the day arrested.

Dr. Hope deposed to 'having examined tho complainant's .injuries. He had three ecalp wounds, in which witness had had to put several stitches, and had lost twothirds of the last joint of tho second finger of his left hand. It was possible that tho wounds had been given by means of tho cue produced, especially if tlio complainant put his hands over his head.

Chas. O'Brien, billiard-marker at the City Hotel, then gave evidence on tho lines indicated by Detective-Sergeant Cox.

To Mr. Singer : The accused did not seem to bini to have been drinking.

David O'Connell, a tobacconist of Ngatere, said that ho knew tho accused. On the day in question he played a game of billiards with Boveridge, and O'Brien marked for them. After an inquiry about tho score ho saw tho accused strike at the complainant with the butt-end of the cue. It was too dark to eee whether accused actually struck, complainant. He heard the sound of more than one blow. The accused had had a few drinks at tho time of the occurrence. Ho was not a violent man to witness's knowledge. Witness did not hear O'Brien call the accused "a liar."

Two other witnesses deposed to having seen tho assault, and to picking tho injured man up.

Detective Cullen said that he arrested tho accused at 10.30 p.m. on September 5, at the Victoria Hotel. When charged the accused said that ho knew nothing about tho assault. Subsequently ho admitted the assault, and mado a statement to the detective. Witness took possession of tho cue at the billiard-room, and also found a piece of complainant's finger on tho floor.

Tho accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. \

Mr. Singer asked for bail, but expressed small hope of obtaining sureties. Bail was granted in two sureties of £50 each or ono of £100.