ASSAULT CHARGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22975, 1 March 1938, Page 17

ASSAULT CHARGE

DISPUTE' AT A PARTY TWO MEN BEFORE COURT COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Charged with assaulting James Mpldrum Scarlett so as to cause him actual bodily harm, on February 17, William Kcogh, seaman, aged .36, and v Geor< r e Cattery. labourer, aged '[ „pS i" 'l'" Co,,rt ' ? r 'Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday 0 . Kc9gh was also charged with assaulting Eva Coombs on the snme Detective-Sergeant McH„gh progecuted, and Mr. Noble appeared fo. both the accused. . Dr J J lioinpsou said that 'Scarlett came to his surgery, at "V' Great North Koad. at - a.m. oil Jobruary 18. Scarlett's right eye and temple, and his hps. were bruised, and an upper central tooth was broken off. "Taken by Surprise" cicirlctt. in evidence, said he took Fvi Coonibes and Kathleen McXamara for a drive on the evening of February 17 and later tlicy went to the house „f Miss Coouibes' aunt, in Cobilen Street, where there were a number of ; .wmle Later witness went to lus loilg- j E ,rn,<l -ri.P, 10 or n Mil™ of her. Iv"« h | house when he left, an,! Gallery came j iu -after he returned. When witness was readv to go home, he went to a chair to got his coat, and was attacked by Kcogh. iii i "li 'ill happened so suddenly 1 was by s „r„ri.c." »M B»rWt. "I could not tell what actually happened He stated that Kcogh hit him with hi fist and kicked him in the right J "vc with his boot, while Caffery was; holding his arms behind hun. He tried t0 ,r C t a head-lock on Keogh. but Catjcrv held his arm. A man named John Roberts tried to come to lus assistance, but wna held back by another mail. Jealousy Suggested "\s far as 1 can see it was petty iealousv over the girls," said Scarlett, when Mr. Noble asked lum it there ,vas an'v reason for the assault. -Eva Cooinbes .said she had asked Scarlett to take her home, ami Keogh told her not to go. and called Scarlett an insulting name. Keogh jumped on Scarlett's back, hut was thrown off, Scarlett applying a head-lock. Cafferv then grabbed Scarlett's free arm. while Keogh began to.punch Scarlett m tlio Detective Sneddon read statements' bv the accused, Cafferv stated that hoj did not hold Scarlett, ' but tried to; separate him from Keogh. There seemed , to be y a dispute regarding Missj Coombes, Keogh stated that he had hud a few drinks, and could not remember what had happened. His knuckles had been skinned,:.but the injury was caused when He was working on the wharf. Thtf accused reserved tlicir defence, and vr.ere committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was fixed at £IOO, | the accused to report twice weekly to the police. \