ASSAULT IN RESTAURANT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21494, 18 May 1933, Page 12

ASSAULT IN RESTAURANT

MAN STRUCK WITH PLATE SHIPPING DISPUTE SEQUEL [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN' CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON, 'Wednescf'ly Another case arising out of the ret ent shipping dispute was heard in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when Robert Adams, a seaman, aged 30, was charged with assaulting Harold Leslie Birties so as to cause actual bodily harm. The charge was a sequel to a disturbance in a city restaurant on May 5, when Birties had a plate smashed on his face.

Birtles, in evidence, said that he went to the Clyde Quay wharf in order to sign on as a member of the crew of the Maunganui. He loft the wharf about noon in company with two other men, one of whom was named Hedley. They were going to a Restaurant and knew they were being followed. After they entered the restaurant, several men congregated outside. ' Two men came in-and stopped at witness' table. One man asked witness if he had signed on the Maunganui. Witness replied in the negative, but said ho might sign on in the afternoon. The man then picked np witness' plate and smashed it on his face. Witness was cut about the face and five stitches had to be inserted.

Detective-Sergeant Revel: Do you recogniso accused in this case? Witness: Jvo, sir, I do not.

Jack A. Hedley, who was in company with Birtles, said that he could identify accused as the man who had committed the assault. • Detective Waterson said he interviewed accused on May 9 in connection with tho assault. Accused said he was present when the assault took place, but he took no part in it. He said he was attracted to the restaurant by a crowd of angry strikers outside the door. They told him about two men inside. Ho said that as the proprietor of the restaurant was a personal friend he pleaded with the strikers to do nothing until he had been inside to see what he could do. Continuing, the detective said that accused told him he went inside and told tho proprietor and his wife that they should not feed those two men. When ho was leaving he heard the sound of breaking crockery behind his buck, but he did not see what took place. His coat was splashed with food. Accused also said the proprietor's wife was hostile to him. He said he did not know any of tho men in tho restaurant. Thb case was adjourned by tho magistrate, Mr. E. Page, until May 24, to enable tho evidence of the restaurant proprietor and his wife to be obtained.