ROUGH RECEPTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21562, 5 August 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

ROUGH RECEPTION

fight in a factory ALLEGED INTRUDERS EX-SERGEANT-MAJOR'S FISTS ' ' 1 According to a story unfolded beforo the North London magistrate a few weeks ago, two alleged unauthorised visitors to a clothing factory at Hack* ney caught a tartar when they encountered a burly ex-sergeant-major and physical training instructor who is employed as a commissionaire on the premises. In the dock were Albert Hears aged 54, and Samuel Wootton aged 31, both desscribed as labourers. They were charged with having been concerned In breaking into tho factory of Messrs. Polikoff, Ltd., clothiers, at Hackney.. Wootton had his head and left hand bandaged and his left arm in a sling. At the first hearing, when Hears appeared alone in court, Detective-ser-geant Harsh stated that Wootton. was in Hackney Hospital suffering from wounds received when he was captured. The commissionaire, William Watkins, stated that about 2.10 a.m. on June 4 he was on duty iri the coat-room at the factory and heard a knocking noise in one of the upstairs departments, and soon afterwards his cotton indicator broke. He went upstairs, and through the glass panel of the door saw a man crouching and coming toward him. As the door was padlocked, Watkins stated, he went back downstairs and returned to the upper floor by means of the lift. Just in front of the lift he saw tho prisoners. Wootton used a lot of abuse, and, threatening, came toward him. Watkins stated that he backed a little, but Wootton came toward him again,

and witness struck him on the head with a cloth knife which he had in his hand.

" He came for me again," continued Watkius, " and I struck him with my fist several times. The other man (Mears) turned as if he was going to hit me, and I also struck him with my fist. I then made them get into the lift. 1 got in with them and took them to the ground floor. I then took them out into the street to the nolice-ststion." On the way, went on Watkins, Wootton kept turning round and using threats and abuse, and then he went on. and witness lost sight of him. When Watkins got to the police-station Wootton was there sitting down. Wootton: I did not rush at you at all. I said, " I will go quiet," and you slashed me on the head with that knife. I went to defend myself, and you hit me again, and said, " I will kill vou." You caught my hand. Replying to the magistrate, Watkins, who had two rows of medals on his breast, stated he was formerly in the Royal Horse Artillery. _ The Magistrate: Whatever the result of this case may be, I think you are a fine representative of a very fine regiment. Mears and Wootton were remanded.