ALLEGED GARROTTING.

NZ Truth, Issue 183, 19 December 1908, Page 5

ALLEGED GARROTTING.

ACCUSED MEN BEFORE THE COURT. Admit to Previous Convictions. Sent for Trial to the Supreme Court. Win. Neil,' alias Thompson, and John McCormick' alias Scanlon, were charged on Wednesday before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M., that . on December 7 they did assault and rob one Knud Christian Jorgenspn of a watch and chair, sovereigncase, etc., and £3 §s • m money. ' \ Chief 'Tec McGrath conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr Meredith appeared for the defendants.

Knud Christian Jorgenson, copper, stated that on the 7th inst. he left a friend's house m Itiliice-stieet, and sa.w four men standing at the '■ corner of Ellice and Brougham-streets. When he had. passed the men about .two yards someone. caught him by the throat from behind, two others held his arms, and a fourth jumped m front of witness and went through his pockets. McCormick was the man who went through his pockets and- took the articLs mentioned, in the information. After taking the articles, the, man gave Witness a hard punch on the mouth. Wit^ ness put Ms hand up to protect Ms fa c ~e I and the man who was hoidinx; his throat said to McCormick, "pull his hand ddwn and give him another." Mcpormick re- ! plied, "No, it's all over now, put him down." The nian ' ■ THEN THREW HIM DOWN on the ground and went away. The other accused held witness' left arm-whist the. other man went through his pockets. Witness reported . the matter to the police the same day. About 10.45 a.m. next day witness saw McCormick and the oth^r accused go into the Albion Hotel, Cburt-nuy-plapej and witi.ess informed a' cons-table. Later, • Det; ctives Cassells ... and Connelly atrived' on . the scene and arregttd the men- Neil ran away and the detective and witness ran after and caught him. • By Mr Meredith : The assault was all over before midnight. .' • . . Karl H. Mocller stated that Jorgenson left his house at. 11.50 p.m., : and returned again about 10 or 15 minutes • later with his nose \arid- mouth bleeding and his clothes disaii"anged. . • Percy Fly nn, restaurant-keeper, Vivianstreet, statvd that Neil and McCormick occupied a room they rented from him. On the night of the ale.ii.ed- assault, the two men came • m between 12! 15 and--12.30 a.m. , By Mr Metedith : The two accused were accompanied by a third man, who was intoxicated. MeUormick had Lech m f he shop about 11 p.m. or it might have been .11.30; ■..■■■■ - 'Tec; Cassells stated that, m company with "Tec. Connolly lie saw the two accused m the A'ibioii Hotel. Witness ;told the men they were to accompany *him. and Connolly to the police station. Neil; then bolted out of the tar and witness caught hold of Mct'onnick, who said; "If you are going to take us down for rooking a bloke and he doesn't pick us DON'T PUT US IN ON THE 'CRUST.' '"... Witness chargeA McCormick later, and he said, "You haven't got that against me surely, "i McOormick said* he did not know where he was the previous night as he was ".vhickered«" . ' i( By-Mr Meredith : Only a: couple of shillings were found on accused when he •was searched. 1 , Similar evidence was given by 'Tec. Connolly. Mr Meredith urged that the case was one ; of mistaken identity. He called, prisoners to give evidence on their own behalf. \ ' John McCormick stated that he went to his room at 11.30 p.m. to pay for a bed. Afterwards he and two other men went to a fish shop, m Tory-street, wh^re he had supper at about 11.35, and" did not leave until the shop closed ■ after midnight. Witness, Neil, and the other

man, who was not sober,, (hen went to their rooms and went to bed. He had never seen ' .lorwnson aiid knew nothing of the assault and robl.ery. sßy the Chief 'Tec. : Witness had not been pn Thorndon-citmy th.'*t ni ht. He had not done any work si cc Heiitem,ber and admitted con<'i'tirns »>f fiibe pretences, vygr.iiicy, obscene l>nj!,uage ( and for being drunk and disorderly. William Nei ! l cor oit td Thompson's evidence, and donk'd nil knowledge of the assault and robl-'ery. In evos-.-examina-tion he admit fr-d hnving been before , the court for re'-nting the j qli c. He explained that he ran away from the 'tecs, as he» thought he might "be ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF VAGRANQY. Ernest Roberts -n, rcst.iurant-keeper, Torj-s-riet, gave evidence as to ac used visiting his shop 1 on ihe night of the assault. ! Mis Worship considered the evidence warranted him m sending .the case before a jury. • Each of. the accused pleaded not guilt) and . wr-re commit'ed to the .Supreme Court for trial, hail nil owed, self m £100 and two suretcs of £50 each. IWemlant McConnick was also chareed ; with assaulting and rob' ing John Cori ich of IPs on DecenV er 5 ; robl ing and {iss.-'yUinw /\r(,lnir .Jf|»:cfi ninclc of -Is on thn date, and pss;inl'inn :>nd >ohbi»g Or ■ r<te Rei'l of a sl^er watch, 1 oovereign case, etc., trtnl value £8, on