“ACTING UNDER PROVOCATION”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8683, 17 March 1914, Page 8

“ACTING UNDER PROVOCATION”

A CHINATOWN INCIDENT. Chinatown has lately been ing the attention of the Magistrates Court, and yesterday another incident which occurred in that locality was ventilated before Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S M., when Edmund James Curtice, w’ho failed to appear, was charged with baring assaulted Florence Jane Curtice on September 12th. Sub-Inspector Sheehan prosecuted. . . Charlie Ah Chong residing in Hamr ing street, said ho knew the woman, with whom ho had lived for about a year 'hnd eight months. A man came to his house on the night in question, but ho didn’t know whether it was the husband of the woman. Ho knocked at the door, which was opened by Mrs Curtice. The man caught hold of her blouse and threatened to kill her, at the same time producing a revolver, which he fired, but the woman fell down and no harm was done. Shortly after accused left the room, and pulled the woman out into the passage. Witness then went and laid a complaint to the police. Detective-Sergeant Cassells said that in consequence of a complaint made he visited the last witness’s _ house. In answer to witness accused said he went to the house, because his wife was living with a Chinaman. He handed witness a fully-loaded revolver, and fifteen rounds of ammunition. The accused -was now living with his wife. Mr Cooper said that no doubt the accused was acting under provocation on account of his wife living with a Chinaman. He would impose a small penalty of 10s with costs.