GAOL FOE ASSAULT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18345, 10 March 1923, Page 10

GAOL FOE ASSAULT.

EPISODE AT KINGSLAND. "A LARRIKIN ELEMENT." A salutary sentence for an unprovoked assault at Kingsland was imposed on a young man, William James Barnes, by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. The circumstances as outlined by Sergeant Rowell were that* on a recent evening another young man, who was /also charged that day, used obscene language on the main road at Kingsland. There were a number of people about, and a man, who was sitting on a scat with two ladies, and who knew the person who used the language, got up and remonstrated with him. The young man apparently took no umbrage. But just then accused came along. He asked what was going on, and when told turned to the man who had objected to the language and struck him in the mouth. The man was knocked down, rendered unconscious, and had to be assisted to his home. His teeth were broken by the blow. There was, said the sergeant, a rowdy element at Kingsland which was causing trouble. Accused was well known as " Bully" Barnes. Accused said he acted in self-defence, as the other man went to strike him first. The Magistrate: There are too many of these unprovoked assaultsone month. FINED £10 FOB LANGUAGE. PENALTY IMPOSED ON YOUTH. When the other person concerned in the incident, a youth, John Herring, admitted having used obscene language, Sergeant Rowell said that defendant undoubtedly used the language, but. took no objection to the remonstrance made to him. He took no part in the episode which followed, but assisted to lift the assaulted man from the ground. On behalf of accused it was urged that the trouble was due to the company he was keeping. He came from a good ' home. • Mr. Poynton remarked that there was a larrkin element at Kingsland, whi"h must be put down. Herring was fined £10 and costs £3 7s.