ASSAULT AND THEFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19303, 16 April 1926, Page 14

ASSAULT AND THEFT.

« PAIR of undesirables."

TWO I\CN SENT TO PRISON

AN INCIDENT AT NORTHCOTE.

The outcome of an assault in a house at Northcote on the afternoon of March 29 was the appearand; of Hfiitj' NfeWman, aged 27, and Gerald Thomas Silk, aged 27, in the Police CoUrt yesterday, charged Willi assaulting JoMph ClArkson aiid stealing a silver watch, U silVfer hiatchbox, ahd a gold chain and locket, of a total value of £25 ICs, the property cf Clarkson. Newman admitted the charge of assault, and Silk denied it. Silk pleaded guilty to the theft charge, Newman pleading not guilty. Evidence was given by complainant, a draper at Northcote. HiS said he WkS ill the bar of the Queeh's Ferry Hotel rtt about 1 p.m. on March 29. Silk greeted him. Witness told him he did not know him. Wit Silk said He met Witness ill England during thb war. Silk left the hotel With hi in, aiid later they joined by Newman. Witness t&ld thehi he lived at Northcote, and they said that they Would like to sße his home.

Asked to Visit House

" 1 asked both the accused to come over to my home and have some music," continued witness. "I could see that I could not get rid of them. Silk all the time, insisted that lie knew me. On arrival at the house. Witness took the accused into the dining rooiii. Newman asked hilii to get a bottle opener) and Witness left the roohi to get its When lie returned he found that., a Watch and chain he had left on the sideboard were missing and his suspicions were at'ttusfd; He walked to the. front tloor to call fin- helpt hut Newman sprang at him and hit him in the face, throwing Jim to the floor. Both . the accused then kicked him several times about the face-.. " You drew a bayonet out of a. scabhard and made a thrust at Newman/' said Silk. V T pushed you away to save him." • . ..

AVitnes3 denied having drawn a bayonet,

Constable Flavell said he arrested Newman, who, after runniitg away from the house, Whs caught and held by sonite civilians iiHtil wiinfcss driiVed. He later f'aw CI ark von, who was bWlly irijured filSbbt the fnck ~ ' ' ' ' Henry Brown, pa\vribrokPr, said Silk tahie info his shbp nl 4 p.m. oil Maith 29, and sold the rhaiii nnd Idfcket lb hirii for £2. He give the nahie of Eflwa'rdi. Statements to Detective. Statements made by the atetiseol were read by Detective McWliirler. In his statement Silk said lib hiarrl&d; prill was a driver at present out bf Bmjjlfiylilfent. He suffered from ttiltercjliosisj and wus receivilig a pensioti. He Was ill-Urn (Jue<?h's Fei.ry Hotbl oii Mait'li 23; Mrll*h coriiplairialit fccifie up to him hud said life had met hirii ih si hospital in England. Cbiiiplaiiifirit invited fc'fewnitttt awl Silk to his hriusii at Noithcotß. Whlft tlley arrived at the mail's hiiuse th£ oilier kIL them for a irfomeht, :iiid watrli and chain ttti the siddbbftl'd, accused put them in his pockfil. "I remember Newman saying Jb';ttiß 'HaVe you got it/ meaning- the wafili and chaiii," continued the fcitttfcment. ""I said I had. 1 think that when the inao came back he struck Newmati. and, Xeflfj man struck him Imojt. The. malt th*n rushed to the front -iloor nljd drew it bayonet. He went to stab Newman, but I rushed him ami grabbed .the bayonet,." The accused then ian away. Silk threw the watch out of the back window, bui kept the chain. He did not remember selling it. He denied having kicked complainant on the floor, and did not remember Newmcn doing so.

Opportunity to Kefcrm.

In his statement Newman said he thought he and Silk struck complainant two blows each. He denied having kicked complainant. He did hot see Silk takn the. watch and chain. When they' ran away from the house they went in opposite directions. He (Newman) whs caught about a hundred vards from the house.

Chief-Detective Cunmiings said Newman did very little work and associated with thieves. Silk had * previous convictions.

" They are a pair of undesirables mid I am going to send them to gfiol for twelve months with hard labour." said the magistrate, MY. Hunt. " 'tin's will be followed by a year's, reformative detention.' That will keep them, but of the way for a time."

As he was leaving the dock, .Newman said he was not guilty of (heft. Mr. Hunt: I am satisfied you bbttj went over there together to commit this offence.