AN ALLEGED ASSAULT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7447, 23 May 1911, Page 4

AN ALLEGED ASSAULT

HARMAN AND NEWSVENDOR. INFORMATION DISMISSED. . Salvateri Ferraro, for whom Air •T. .T. McGrath appeared, pleaded not guilty before Mr W. G, Riddell. S.M., ’“ the Magistrate's Court yesterday to having assaulted Arthur Smith. . ■ ■_ • ~ Complainant stated that on May lath ho entered the bar of the Duke of Edm- f burgh Hotel, where he had some words with the .defendant, who was employed ns a barman- After leaving the hotel the. defendant followed him; into the street and, without provocation, struck him two blows on the bend. ■ Defendant's version was that the compioiuant made a nuisance of ; UimseU about the premises. On the .f*, a y m question he entered the bar With two others and ordered three drinks, fheso he refused to pay for, a)though^repeated-, Jr asked to do so, and denied that he had ordered them. Later complainant procured two pig's trotters from another portion of the house and, returninK to the bar, threw two hands full of bonw at the de.e'ndant. AVhen defendant fob., lowed him on to the street ho did so for tlie purpose of giving him in charge, but- complafnant, pn,| seeing him approach, "lashed out”, at. him. Mid ■ defendant struck back only in self defence. Evidence was given by. a nJgiit porter that the complainant bad asked hiim to go to the defendant with an offer that if ho paid the complainant 10s nothing more would ho heard of the matter. Richard Dwyeij licensee of the Duka of Edinburgh Hotel, gave evidence regarding complainant's habile. He con-tinually-made a nuisance ,of himself, and witness had been compelled-to order him off the promises. . His Worship said there had been an assault comm tied by the defendant, but it was of a trivial nature, and the information would be dismissed , without posts. .