ALLEGED ASSAULT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8852, 1 October 1914, Page 7

ALLEGED ASSAULT

TWO MEN BEFORE THE COURT. Two brothers, David James McEwen and Ernest John McEwen, were charged before Mr D, G. A. Cooper, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, with Jawing assaulted Walter-~X*. diacksoa ■so os to cause him actual bodily harm, .there was a further charge - of robbery against the two accused, who pleaded not guilty and woro defended by Mr J. F. W. Dickson.

Dr. Ewart gave evidence that he had attended Jackson, and had put eloveii stitches into a wound that had extended , across his face and tender his .chin. Had it extended further, it might have caused death. . -The complainant;' o.' stevedore working on the wharf, stated that on tho night of fioptember 21st ho was teturning to his house- in Aro street, in company with his brother-in-law* Maurice Ryan. A woman met him in Holloway road .and asked him for a drink. Ho stopped for the purpose of giving -her a drink, and his. brother-in-law walked on. Se f put the bottle back in his pocket, and immediately tho two accused rushed rotmd a corner and attacked him. One throw a bottleor a glass at him. His face was,badly out, blood streamed forth, and as he staggered hack one of the attackers snatched at his gold watch, chain. The cut was attended to in a neighbouring house, and after witness 'had re-com-menced his, journey homo, the’ tvvo ’accused rushed at him again from out of a lane, and punched him. When they saw his condition, one rushed away and the other offered to; get .him a cab. Shortly after he met his brother-in-law and. went, in a cab to Dr. Ewart’s, where his wounds were dressed. To Mr Dickson: Witness hod been before the court, but for nothing serious. Ho could swear positively that it was Ernest John who had struck him with the glass or bottle. - Ho did not know when his watch-chain disappeared. Maurice Ryan, the brother-in-law referred to, gave corroborative evidence. He said that, though Jackson hod had a few drinks that night, he was not drunk, as liquor Mid not affect him much. When witness had gone ahead of Jackson he had heard men’s voices lised in anger. He did not run back because he had more respect for ■ his face. He went hack slowly and found that no one was there. Later hf found liis brother-in-lay covered in blood, and went with him to the doctor. William George Green, cab-proprie-tor, identified David. James McEwen as tho man who. had asked him for a cab between 11.30 and midnight of tho sight of the assault. Constable Sheehan said that on ai complaint ho had gone to the h.use of tho two accused in Brosnell terrace on the morning of tho 22nd inst., in company with Jackson, and one of the accused said at ones to Jackson; “What do you want? You hit your« self At this stage the case was adjourned till this morning, bail being allowed in the suni of £SO, or two sureties of £25 each, for each accused.