THE KOPAKI ASSAULT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18046, 22 March 1922, Page 6

THE KOPAKI ASSAULT.

VERY B«UTAL ATTACK VICTIM BOUSED FROM BIT--' WOULD-BE RESCUER INJURED FOUR ACCUSED RFMANDED [BY TELEGE/PH OWN COftEESPQNDSSj) TE KUITI. Tueadij Further details to hand ln connectim " with the Kopaki assault o n Saturday show that U» victim, William Rootle*? arrived at Kcpak, abn:L 6 p. m . on I 18 and requested accommodation at Ffet' flier's board inghouse. He was told So beds were available, but could s'eep 0 ° a couch if be liked. He said the couch would suit mm and went to the dimV room for d.nner. There were seven! | men seated with him at the dinner table ' but he took no notice of them. Beforo ! retiring a tall, bearded man asked him to have a drink, which invitation he refused. The man appeared to resent this and asked him his name and what hs was doing there. Routledge refused the information and asked to he left alone." The man then left the room followed by three o'.her men. A few moments ! later Routledge heard singing and shouting in a whare across the ro a d, but eventually dropped off to sleep. 's omß time in the night he was awakened by four men coming into his room and throwing his things about, meanwhile using insulting language. Routledge got off the couch, b.it was suddenly rushed by the men, knocked down, and kicked in the ribs. The men were apparently mad drunk. j " Attempt To Break Leg." A man named Courtney pluckify came to his assistance, but was hiiockcd senseless. Routledge then took the oppc. r . tunity of slipping outside. The ioe D rushed after him again, knocked him down and proceeded to kick and "maul" him while on the ground. Routledge j], leges that on; man got hold of his leg and tried to break it. Another twisted his arm up his back, while a third kicked ; him in the ribs all the time. After some minutes of this treatment he collapsed. He was dragged two ai;<j I a-half chains through the blackberry; and | thrown into a creek. Revived somewhat ! by the col<J water he managed to scramble | up the opposite bank and crawl under * ! pile of wood. Later he heard his assail- ; ants looking for him He alleges he over- \ heard certain remarks which left no doubt in his mind that they thought hs was dead when thrown in the creek. His clothes had been practically kicked of him. A Painful Jcnrney. Though half dead from the effects of his injuries he managed to half crawl, half walk, barefooted, a distance of two and a-half miles to the residence of Mr.' W. Fordham, which lie reached in. a state of collapse and cove ret. with blood. As the Tesult of a telephone message from Mr. Fordham at 1.30 a.m. on Sisday Sergeant Fearnley, Constable Kennedy, and a doctor motored to Kopaki. After making a few hurried inquiries tie party walked two and a-half miles to Fordbam's, where they f :und Routledge in a very bad stile. Courtney was later located in Kopaki. He showed unmistakable evidence of wounds received when he so pluckijsv went to the assistance of Routledge. Hij fac« and nose were injured and both eyes blackened. . Holgate and Daly, who are alleged to have been concerned in the matter, rert: arrested on the spot and brougat.tfl T# Kuiti. Sergeant Fearriley and Coralwle Kennedy returned later in the clay and. arrested Grundy and Glover. All tbo accused submitted quietly 10 arrest, Severe Extent of Injuries. . -V; Some idea of the savage nature of the assault \may be gained from the medical examination of Routledge which disclosed a swollen left wrist, contusion of. iw same, bruise on the back ol left hand, bruise inside the right knee, large brtiiw on the left hinbone as if he had been forcibly thrown against, some hard object-, severe bruises oil the right molar bone extending close to the eye, contusion of the right temple, left molar bone bruised, contusion of the eighth rib, probably fractured, severe on iff shoulder, extensive scratches on - otn feet, swollen left ankle, which is severely wrenched, braised left shin bone, swollen right shoulder as the result of a eevere wrench, deep wound below the chin, ana bruise behind the right ear. .. T - £ The medical examination of -James Courtney disclosed a lartre bruise on the left side, left jaw bone bruised, eiteniirt bruise over both eves, contusion and fracture of the nasal "bone, contusion of tie right temple, contusion of the larnyx, and bruise on the upper end of the left ami. At the Magistrate's Court, before MrJ. Tammadce, .1-P. the four accused, represented by Mr. J. D. wera charged with cousin? gricoiß bodily harm to William Routledge on March loThev pleaded not guilty. On tho application of Serjeant Fearnley the accused were remanded for seven days.