WOUNDING ALLEGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22318, 16 January 1936, Page 12

WOUNDING ALLEGED

WELLINGTON PROSECUTION ACCUSED SENT FOR TRIAL [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS association] "WELLINGTON, Wednesday A charge of wounding Charles Crooke on January 9 and 10 with intent to do grievous bodily harm, was preferred against James Logie, alias Kelly, aged 33, labourer, in the Wellington Police Court to-day. He pleaded not guilty. Crooke, a salesman, said he occupied room 52 at the Columbia Hotel on Thursday, January 9, He returned to his room about 11 p.m. and switched on the light as he entered. He found in the room a man he took to be accused. The man asked witness to come in and he felt four wounds in his shoulder, but did not know what weapon was used.

The assault occurred in the passage just outside the room, and witness rushed downstairs. He concealed himself and afterwards went to the bathroom to wash himself. A housemaid came along and saw blood. The following morning he went to hospital and was seen by a doctor in the casualty ward.

Witness said he came into the city and was in Lambton Quay about 10.30 a.m. when accused approached him. Witness got a wound oil the left side of the face. He had no idea what it was done with, and no idea where the accused went afterwards. Witness went to a chemist, and a boy took him to a doctor, who stitched the wound. Asked if he had received any wound on any other part of the body, witness said lie had received a scratch over the heart on the Thursday night, but it was nothing. Mrs. Paynter, a housemaid at the hotel, said her attention was attracted by somebody running downstairs, but she could not identify the figures, although she knew they were of men. She saw Mrs. Rowntree, the proprietress, talking to accused at the front door. She gave witness a key and asked licr to go to Crooke's room and get accused's hat. She found the hat 011 the top of Crooke's suitcase, and then walked to the door and handed it to accused. Asked: "Did it occur to you ladies to ring the police," witness replied: "Mr. Crooke said he did not want any trouble."

Accused was committed to the Supremo Court for trial. Bail was fixed at £'2oo, with a surety of £2OO, with the condition that accused reported twice daily to tho police.