A COMBATIVE CHRISTIAN

NZ Truth, Issue 477, 8 August 1914, Page 4

A COMBATIVE CHRISTIAN

Jepson Jolts James's Jaw.

Row About Religion.

"A Damned Christian" and "A Hypocrite."

With his face bandaged up like an American baseball player, James O'Connell, an old chap of sixty years, looked as though he had been having a few rounds with Charlie Savory, or Alf Bromwich, and the decision had gone against him. Reason for so much calico about James's face was explain r ed by Chief Detective McMahon, at the Auckland S.M.s Court on Thursday of .last week, who said that on the evening of July 6, O'Connell and a young fellow, Patrick Jepson, age nineteen, who were boarding with a Mrs. Ayling, m West-street, got into AN ARGUMENT ABOUT RELIGION, and the argument apparently was won by Jepson putting his fist on O'Connell'B jaw and breaking it. .Result -was Patrick Jepson brought Lawyer Hackett along to argue provocation and other things to keep Pat from getting into serious trouble. The charge was that .Jepson assaulted' O'Connell so as to cause actual bodily harm. James O'Gonnell, an elderly man living m West-street, Newton, said that on July 6 he and accused were stopping at a boarding house kept by Mrs. Ayling, who was accused's sister. On the day mentioned, James asked Mrs. Ayling not to leave her children m the care of accused, who would 111-treat them. She said she had been told the same thing by others m the house, and then accused, who was present, challenged James to fight He replied he would not fight with a larrikin and was old enough to be accused's grand- . father. A few moments later, when witness was trying to get out Jepson presented him with a left and right hook to the respective sides of the jaw, . one blow loosening a couple of ivories, which subsequently came out Witness's jaw was very painful, and nine days after the assault he went to Dr, Coldicutt, who found it fractured. ; Lawyer Hackett: Mrs. Ayling has shifted*— Yes. '^ .. v ,;- Did you not ask to be a boarder at the new house and was refused:? — No. Well, why did you not want to board with her at the new place?— Because I did not want to be m the same house as a young bully. He struck 'you. with his open hand? — No, with his closed fists. A violent blow ?— Yes. t Now, Mrs. Ayling was holding a child m her arms? — Yes. Did you not say that the blow was NO MORE THAN A SLAP" the child could have given you?— No, but I did say that the blow had not hurt me, be'eause I did not want him to have the satisfaction of knowing he had hurt me. I suggest that you are addicted to drink? — I have a glass. I suggest that you have more than a glass. If Mrs. Ayling swears that you had . been drinking heavily that day and for some days previously would that bo false?— Yes. ,v You know that this young man is inclined to be religious?— No. *Have you not called him a damned Christian?— No. Did you not tell him that you had travelled and had thrashed nuns and priests? — No. Did you hot say you would kick his "guts" m? — No; but it might have been Mr. Ayling whom accused challenged out to fight. When did you see him 111-treating the children?— About three days previously. There was an old lady occupying tht» front room. And was it not a qustom to be slinging off at the young man m the course of conversation with the old lady?— No. Well, anyway, you did not concur with ACCUSED'S RELIGIOUS VIEWS and regarded him as an impostor?— Knowing what I did I felt very annoyed with him. During the time which elapsed between July 6 and the time you went to a doctor, are you positive you had not had an argument with somebody else? —I have not had an argument with any othor, but this one individual m Auckland. Re-examined by the Chief Detective: The only drink he had that day was a glass of liquor coming home from work. Dr. Coldicutt, who examined O'Connell, said the fracture could have resulted from a blow with a fist The absence of any bruising suggested that the injury was not caused by a hard substance. Lawyer 'Hackett: Could the injury be caused by a smack with the open hand? — I hardly think so. It is possible, but highly Improbable. Mrs. Ayling, sister of accused and bo&rdlnghouuc-keeper, said at dinner on tho evening of July G there was a discussion about history, the subject debated being "The Flood." Jopson said they would have to go back a long way to read about that, and O'Connell, who hod had drink and was m a quarrelsome mood, said to witness, "Don't trust your children with v damned Christian," meaning Jepson. Witness later went to attend to her baby, and, on coming o\it of -the room, saw her brother strike O'Connell. Witness only saw tho one blow struck. Lawyer Hackett: Is it not a fact that O'Connell .spoke to your brother offensively about religion? — Yea. ho said my brother was a hypocrite. This was frequently occurring?— Whenever he had drink m him. Did O'Connell mention anything about the power of tho blow? — Next day ho came to the waßhhoußO and asked me if L had an iron bar, as Hl3 HAD MURDER IN HIS HEART. Directed against whom? — My brothor. Did he say anything about the blow? — Ho said tho blow was Just like a baby patting his face. Re-examined by Chief Detective McMahon: What kind of temper would you say your brother nan? — He can be very wild at times. Do you consider he horn a temper he can govern? — No, ho cannot. Ho met with an injury to his head m Wellington »ome years ago. Detective Quartormain satd aenwod mudo a statement to him. In which he udmltted striking O'Connell. who had boon constantly annoying him about hiH rcllffiouH feelings. Mr. I'riLZcr. S.M.: The only thlnjr 1 have to consider la the breaking of tho mun*» Jaw. It nccma to bo pretty clcax thal^O'ContK'll o^QflfrtonftMy hji»»-«.