AFFRAY IN STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19403, 11 August 1926, Page 15

AFFRAY IN STREET.

SHOP ASSISTANT ATTACKED. SEQUEL IN POLICE COURT. An affray in Victoria Street on Monday afternoon had a sequel in tho Police Court yesterday, when two brothers Ernest O'Connor, aged 24, and Charles O'Connor, aged 25 (Mr. Hayman), denied charges of fighting, of assaulting Myer Robinson and of committing mischief by wilfully damaging his clothes. Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., was on tho bench. Robinson stated he was working in his shop shortly after four o'clock when he heard a noise resembling someone trying to break the window with his fist. He went to the door and saw the two accused at grips on the footpath. One then threw the other and commenced to belabour him on tho ground. Witness called out "Give him a chance," whereupon both men turned their attention upon witness, dragged him on to the road and assaulted him violently. The sleeve of liis shirt was torn completely off, while his waistcoat and trousers were ripped almost in halves. Mr. Hayman: How did you manage to come into the scene ? Witness: I was dragged into it. David Craig said he was standing in Victoria Street, and although he did not see the trouble start he saw Robinson kicked and knocked about ferociously. Constable Fuller said the two brothers were taken to the police station, where one had to have several stitches put in a cut over the eye. Counsel said that tho accused had been drinking during the afternoon and while walking down Victoria Street a man had bumped into one of them with a reauest for a drink. When he was refused ho struck accused, Ernest O'Connor, over th ( e eye, and the other brother, seeing Robinson standing near-by, thought him a friend of the assailant, with the result that he took up the cudgel. The Magistrate (to accused): Have you any money ? Senior-Seraeant Edwards: One has a penny and the other has nothing, sir. On the assurance being given that money could be found, the magistrate fined each £2 with costs for the assault, and ordered each to pay £2 10s to Robinson. The charge of fighting was dismissed.