TARANAKI STREET AFFAIR

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11415, 11 January 1923, Page 7

TARANAKI STREET AFFAIR

SEAMEN DENY SERIOUS CHARGE. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Arthur Burdell and Herbert Edward Turner, two stocky figures, and both seamen, were charged, before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., yesterday, with assaulting George Yule on December 13th last, so as to cause him actual bodily harm. Sub-Inspector Cummins conducted the case for the police, and Mr A. J. Mazengarb appeared for the accused. I A FRACTURED JAW. James Bruce Beard, house surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, said that George Yule had been admitted to that institution on December 13th. He was suffering from a bruise on the left side of the face, which could have been caused by a fist. He was also minus several teeth and a small piece of the jaw was fractured. George Yule, in the box, said that he had been at the Foresters’ Arms Hotel on December 13th last, with a man named McLeod. This man, a friend of his, had exhibited a roll of uotes, and been asked by the two accused to stand them a drink. He had refused to do so, and had asked witness to see him home, as he was the worse for liquor. The two accused had followed witness and his friend from the hotel, and overtook them in Taranaki street, where they wanted .to fight him. HIT ON THE MOUTH. Yule, however, continued on liis way, and waß followed by the two men, both of whom kept annoying him. Eventually one pushed him off his balance and the other hit him on the mouth. Witness kept on walking, and complained to several men whom he saw, but none took any notice. Eventually ho found a policeman, and the two men, who were still following him, ran away. The following Sunday the men saw him in the hospital, and said that they were sorry for what had happened, “It’s a common thing for people to ask me for a drink,” said William McLeod, who stated that he had taken no particular notice of the men who had invited him to provide them with liquid refreshments. He had been in the hotel from 4 till 6 p.m., and had had four pints. A WITNESS’S VIEWS.

• William Barker, farmer, at Raetihi, said that he had seen an old man being escorted by Yule along Taranaki street on the date named. He had seen the two men following Yule, and one of them had pushed him. As complainant righted himself the other gave him a swinging- blow on the side of the jaw. The old man, meantime, had gone on ahead. Blood was flowing from Yule’s mouth. The two men continued to follow complainant, and witness had gone over to them and warned them off.

Christopher Mcßae, police constable, said that he had been at the Taranaki street police station when Yule had come in at about 6.30 p.m., on the 13th. He went out with Yule, who pointed out two men to him as his assailants, and witness gave chase. Down Ghuznee street and into Egmont street he pursued them, and ran Burdell to earth. “A man can run if he likes,” said this man, when asked for an explanation of his sprint from the constable. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. _ Constable. Corston, who had found Turner in the same vicinity, said that

the man’s hand was covered with blood, and he was tying a handkerchief round it.

“You’re „the man I’m looking for,” said witness, and Turner replied, “Yes, I cracked a man.” This concluded the case for the police. Burdell denied the charge, and Turner pleaded guilty under provocation, which amounts to a plea of not guilty. Both men were committed to the Supreme'Court for trial, bail being fixed at £SO each.