DAMAGES FOE ASSAULT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18764, 18 July 1924, Page 11

DAMAGES FOE ASSAULT.

MAN'S FINGERS BITTEN. A WOMAN IN THE CASE* . A story of an assault was told, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. F. E. Hunt, S.M., when Alfred Brophy, fruiterer (Mi 1 . Dickson), claimed £30 6s special damages and £50 general damages from William Katani, freezing ■ works ' employee (Mr. f Sullivan), Plaintiff claimed that defendant assaulted him without reason. Plaintiff .. suffered severe /iersonal injuries, and., was incapacitated from his work, while he had suffered great pain and mental anguish. Plaintiff gave evidence that he heard a woman screaming. He went to the rescue and Katani, who was, attacking her, then assaulted him. Katani bit witness' fingers, with tha result that he lost two nails. His eye was also cut. Plaintiff hit Katani wherever he could. Cross-examined, plaintiff said that 12. months ago he was discharged on an information ' for assault; when he fractured a man's jaw. „ The Magistrate: He would net bo an Irishman unless he had a scrap now and again. A female witness, who previously lived with Katani, said th?,t Katani came to where she was staying. He struck her in the face, and then dragged her by the feet down the stairs. After that she lost consciousness. Evidence was also given by a second woman that when she went to the help of the previous witness Katani thumped her in the chest. She screamed, and Brophy then came out to see what was the matter. Katani attacked him, and she later saw that Brophy's fingers wera chewed. ..' Another witness said that she saw Katani trying to throw Brophy over » .fence..- .- , .." .- In evidence, defendant said that when he went to find the woman he saw a man with his arm round bar. He " lost his head as 'usual," and picked her up and carriod her downstairs. "Four men rushed downstairs and attacked him. He denied having bitten Brophy. He could not find the witness who conld support his statement, .. Judgment was given for plaintiff for £24 special damages and £25" general damages. The magistrate remarked that the woman was at tiie bottom of the case.