PECULIAR ASSAULT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19800, 22 November 1927, Page 15

PECULIAR ASSAULT.

TROUBLE OVER RELIGION, SECT OF FIVE MEMBERS. DAUGHTER AND HER PARENTS. TII9 existence at Onehunga of a religious society known us the "Bible Students of America," which has a membership of five, was disclosed during the hearing at the Onehunga Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., of a charge of assault. A plea of not guilty was made by Charles C. Sandford (Mr, A. H. Johnstone), who was charged with assaulting Melville C. H. Barnett (Mr. Bryce Hart) and causing actual bodily harm. Barnett said that on the evening of November 3 he and his wife accompanied i Miss Mary Sandford, a daughter of accused, to her home about 9.30. In consequence of what Miss Sandford had told them, he expected accused would be waiting at the gate. Witness, therefore, went in first and saw accused behind a tree eight or ten yards away. "What are you doing here?" accused demanded and witness turned back to- I ward the gate, but ho had not gone more than five yards when he received a blow on the side of the head. Calling out, "I'm stunned," ho fell, and his wife and Miss Sandford rushed in and picked him up. He did not see accused again. Sandford had given no indication that ho was going to strike him. Witness was in bed for a week under medical care. Ho had previously been good friends with accused, except that the latter objected to his daughter going to witness* house, as she had been doing for over two years. Witness said he was a member of the "Bible Students of America," the other adherents of the sect being his wife, his two brothers and Miss Sandford. They held meetings evory night to read and discuss the Bible. Mrs. Barnett said Miss Sandford's father had not objected to her visits on religious grounds. There must be some other reason. Miss Sanford said her parents objected to Mr. Barnett walking home with her arm-in-arm. Objections were also made to her going in Barnelt's motorcar. The magistrate said when Baruett saw the Sandt'ords objected to their daughter coming to his house he should have discouraged her. After a brief adjournment and a conference of the parties, Sandford agreed to plead guilty to common assault, to which the charge was reduced, and a conviction was entered, accused being ordered to come up for sentence if called upon.