TARANAKI-STREET TOUGHS

NZ Truth, Issue 83, 19 January 1907, Page 6

TARANAKI-STREET TOUGHS

LAST SATURDAY'S RIOT. A Notorious German Stabbed. His Alleged Assailant Discharged.

Before Dr. McArthur, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Michael Sullivan was charged with having, on January 12, -unlawfully wounded one Richard Miechlke by stabbing him with a knife with intent to cause him previous bodily hami. ■• . ' - ■ ■ Mr R.. Cook appeared for the defence. . Richard Miechlke, af. seaman, residin»- m Courtenay-pla.ce, m his evidence, said that about 6.10 p.m. on Saturday last lie was m Lower Tara-naki-street. He saw a 'scuffle amongst' a number of men. On getting closer he saw one man engaged m the. fight whom he knew. He looked on for about five minutes when a man named Bird asked him to give him a hand to get "Jack" or "Jim" away. Miechlke caught hold oE the person named by the arm and tried to get him away. One of the combatants rushed at "Jack" again and witness let go and received a blow /on the back of 'the head. He turned around to soe who had struck him and as he turned he received a stab m the right arm. He could not say who stabbed •him.. He saw Sullivan close a pocket knife and put it m his pocket. He told the crowd to catch- him, c.hd when he saw. the crowd kicking and , punctiin.o; Sullivan he cried to let him ffo. Witness was attended by Dr. Elliott and the arm was making good recovery.

Questioned by Mr Cook Miechlke said that when he .first saw ' Sullivan he was standing near a fence. He was noit taking part m the fight. He saw Sullivan knocked down, and kicked and punched. While on the ground he was bleeding.

Horace Dundon, a plasterer, of York-street, cave similar evidence. He heard Miechlke say, "I am stabbed ; get a doctor." He saw Sullivan With a knife m his hand ; he seemed to be cutting tobacco.

Crosa-examined by Mr Cook, this witness said that lie did not see anyone strike Mieohlke, nor did he see Sullivan knocked down and .kicked. He did not see Sullivan mixed up m .the row. Constable D. Stewart, of Mannersstreet, said that on the evening m question he went to the row that was Rome 0:1 m Taranaki-street. tie saw Miechlke m a trap and the crowd were crying; out "Here is the man." Witness went to the accused who was held by a number •of men i who said that if the accused's pockets were searched a knife would be found. Witness secured the knife- and found blood-stains on it, and Sullivan accounted for these blood-stains hv savins "that he bad been kicked

by five or six men and that he had wiped the blood off with a handkerchief and had rubbed the handkerchief on the knife. In answer to Mr Cook, Stewart said that Sullivan was on ..the road and when he took the accused away someome kicked him 'behind. Witness m?c\) enquiries, but could noo get any satisfaction from anybody concerned. That was tho case for the prosecution, and Dr. McArthur said there was nothing to legally implicate bullivan who was accordingly discharged.