“I’LL FIX THAT”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8330, 16 January 1913, Page 10

“I’LL FIX THAT”

i‘IT IS EASY ENOUGH DONE” THREE CHARGES OF ASSAULT AND THEFT. John Condon. Paddy, alias Thomas, Donovan, and William Henry Adams, were charged before Dr A. .\icArlhur ; S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with having, on December 26 th, assaulted John Gray, and with having robbed him of 7s in money, three watches, and two gold chains, of a total value of £2O. Sub-Inspector Sheehan prosecuted, Mr V. R. Meredith appeared for Adams, and Mr C. V. Goulior for Condon and Donovan. A DAY’S BAY TRIP. James Gray, labourer, said that on December 2biii he went to Day’s Bay. On the Day’s Bay wharf the accused Donovan went up to him, and asked for a match. Witness gave him one. Donovan then asked witness if he could do with a drink, and witness said ho would have one. Ho went along the wharf a short distance, and met Adams and Condon, as well as Adams’s wife and child. They had a drink, and returned to town by the same ferry. They had further drinks in the city. Witness bought a bottle of port-wine, which he gave to Adams for Mrs Adams.

THE EVENING AFTER THE TRIP. He went with the three accused to No. 46, Lome street, where Adams lived. He sat on a couch, and they gave him another whisky. After drinking it he felt sick, and wished to go outside. Donovan asked him to have another drink, and he' said that he could not face it. Finding that witness was about to go outside Donovan grabbed him by the throat and nose and forced him back on to the couch. The three of them got hold of him, and one said; “ Hand us a spoon.” A spoon was forced between witness’s teeth to open his mouth, and half a cup of liquor was poured down his throat. He struggled, but was overpowered. Ho was carried to a house next door, still struggling and vainly trying to call out. Ho was laid in front of the fireplace. Donovan held him by the throat and nose, another had him by the feet. BLOW'S, AND A SEARCH. Somebody struck him blows in the stomach, and a voice said: “Feel under his arms and see if there is any money there!” They tried under his arms, and in his boots and socks for money. Then they took from him the watches, etc., mentioned in the charge. He then received a blow in the stomaoh that rendered him unoonscions. When he -regained consciousness ho went to Mount Cook police station and complained to the police. With Detective Cassells he returned to Adams’s house, and there ho saw Adams and Mrs Adams. Ellen Elizabeth Adams, wife of the accused Adams, said that Donovan and Condon had stopped at her place about Christmas time. She had seen Gray at the house in company with the accused on Boxing Day. WATCHES FOUND. Constable A. G, McHugh said that on December 31st he accompanied Sergeant Cassells to Lome street, and in the yard of the house next to Adams’s found two watches and a medal wrapped in a piece of dirty linen and hidden in some ivy. 'Detective Sergeant Cassells said he visited Adams’s house on the evening of December 26th, and Adams told him ho had been asleep, and did not know anything about any robbery. Gray, who was with witness, said that Adams was one of the men concerned. Witness took Adams to the police station, where he made a statement denying all knowledge of the robbery.. Witness then set him free. On the afternoon of December 31st witness met Adams in Tory street, and showed him the watches that had been found. He then took him to the police station again and charged him with the offence. While Adams was in the cells his wife visited him, and witness heard him say to her: “ I think I will tell Mr Cassells the truth about it.” Witness said: “What was that_ you said?” Adams replied: “I think I will tell you the truth.” Witness said : “ Now, just remember, that I did not ask you to tell me anything, and you do all at your own risk.” Adams repeated that he wished to make a statement, and witness then took him back to the detective office. “ I CAN DOSE HIM.”

Here he made a statement, in the course of which he said: ‘ ‘ Paddy said to me, ‘I think this fellow (meaning Gray) has some money.’ I said, ‘lf he has take him away from here and get it from him if you want it.’ He said, ‘lt is easy enough done. I can dose him.’ Wo then all had a drink, and Paddy gave Gray something in a cup, and said, ‘ It’s done.’ I said to him, ‘lt should not have been done in here,’ and after a few minutes Condon got up and said, ‘ Come on, Paddy, we will make a quick job of it.’ Gray was then asleep on the conch. Condon then held Gray’s arms, and Paddy went through him. Gray started to kick, and Paddy said, ‘ I’ll soon fix that. Give him some of this.’ They then gave him another dose—l think with a spoon. Paddy, by this time, had taken, everything from Gray, and said, ‘ What will wo do with him now ?’ I said, ‘ Don’t leave him in here.’ Paddy and Condon then picked him up, and I got hold of his legs, and we carried Gray into the empty house next door, and laid him on the floor in the kitchen. Paddy said, ‘Come along with me, both of you, and see where I plant the stuff.’ ” COMMITTED FOB TRIAL.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty, and reserved their defence, were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Adams was allowed bail in the sum of £SO, with two sureties of £6O each.