POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16761, 30 January 1918, Page 6

POLICE COURT NEWS.

A FAMILY QUARREL.

A shout sitting of the Police Court was held Mr. W. Wilson, S.M., presiding. A charge of assaulting Donald Baxter was preferred against John Harris, who pleaded guilty. The police adduced evidence to the effect that Baxter and Harris, with their respective wives, were living with Mrs. Baxter, sen., at Bright Street, Mount Eden, Mr 3. Harris being Baxter's sister. Some difference had existed over a quantity of furniture, and on Monday afternoon the two younger women exchanged blows. Baxter, who is a onearmed man, stepped in to separato them, and was violently assaulted by Harris. When seen by the police immediately after the assault Baxter was bleeding Mm the mouth and nose, and hsfd a black eye and bruised forehead. Harris pleaded that he struck Baxter in self-defence. The magistrate said he regarded the affair as a cowardly and unprovoked assault by an agile man on a one-armed man, who could not defend himself. Harris was fined £3 and costs, half the fino to go to Baxtfjr. Robert Bateman, for being drunk in Williamson Street, Epsom, and for breaking his prohibition order, was fined 5s and 7s 6d costs, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. James Smith, who was arrested in Morrow Street, Newmarket, for similar offences, was fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisonment. James Hedley, a second offender, was fined 20s for drunkenness. A first offender was convicted and discharged, and two others forfeited their bail for non-appearance.