ALLEN'S ALLEGED ASSAULT

NZ Truth, Issue 540, 23 October 1915, Page 7

ALLEN'S ALLEGED ASSAULT

Bashing a "Bobby" on the "Boko"

Lawyer Donnelly Didn't Understand "Gee-jitsie"

(Prom "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.)

At the Christchurch S.M.s Court a couple of weeks ago, Mr. William Henry Allen, a long 1 , lath-like Individual, scarcely capable of casting a shadow, was charged with being idle and disorderly and with having assaulted a John Hop by slashing him with a knife. The accused pleaded not guilty and, on the advice of the presiding Magistrate, was remanded for a week, so that the spinning wheels m his garret could be observed. At the end of a week he came up again. Beak Bishop boingr on the bench. Senior-sergeant Matheson described the assault, and the S.M., reckoning: the offence was sufficiently serious to justify Allen being sent before a jury, struck out the charge of idle and disorderly and remanded Allen so that the grievance the police had against him could be taken indictably. A few days later, when everything was ship-shape and the police were READY FOR THE SPIN, the evidence was heard. Allen was then charged with causing actual bodily harm. Senior-sergeant Mathieson, prosecuting, while Lawyer M, Donnelley put his avoirdupois on behalf of the defence [ and Magistrate Bailey occupying a Wil-son-like neutrality. John Bain, a young fellow who tolls at the gasworks, reckoned he was on his way to work, about 8 a.m. on Oc--1 tober 2, when he spotted a constable crossing the road with accused and walking m the direction of tho police station. When the duo were on the bridge over the ditch which runs along Oxford and Cambridge-terraces, Allen suddenly twisted around and ' landed the constable across the boko before the latter knew what had happened. For a moment the policeman was stunned and Allen jambed him against the bridge railing, and bent him backwards. While he had t,ne John Hop bending, the accused pulled out a table knife and made as if to carve the serve from the constable's gills. By this time Bain had chucked his bike on the side of the road, and seized Allen by the wrist. Bain happened to know a thing or two about jui-jitsu, so ho negotiated an arm lock on Allen and sent him a sevener. Then ho secured his hands while the constable clapped the "darbies" on. Lawyer Donnelly: What's this about "gee-jitsle," are you a "gee^Jltsie" expert? — No, I Just know a bit about it The constable. wasn't hurt, I believe? — He can answer that better than I can. Is it a fact thru the accused actually struck the constable with a knife? — Well, his nose was bleeding after, so I suppose he must have struck him. We don't want your "supposes.". We want what you saw? — What I saw? All right (to the clerk) you can put it down that I say the accused try to jab the constable m the face with a knife. I want you to state the facts so that I can understand them. — You MUST BE PRETTY DENSE if you can't understand that. I said the accused tried to jab the constable with a knife. , Tried to jab him (scornfully), and what's all this talk about your "geejitsle"? I'm afraid my brain isn't equal to your "gee-Jlslc." — No. I can quite believe that. Don't you be Impertinent. The Senior-sergeant: You provoked it yourself, Mr. Donnelly. The S:M.: I think you are rather inclined to provoke the witness, Mr. Donnelly. Witness: Oh. it's all right. I know Mr. Donnelly. Mr. Donnelly: Witness! Don't you— The S.M.: Go on, Mr. Donnelly, please. Under continued cross-examination, witness said that m his opinion Allen's assault on the constable was unprovoked and cowardly. Mr. Donnelly: We aro not asking for your opinion, young: man. Just keep to the facts, please, — Tery well, It'a i\ fact that the assault was cowardly, bocause the accused had the constable at a disadvantage. This witness, your Worship, is evidently partial nnd prepared to give an exaggerated account of the affair. He Is a witness who should bo examined. Witness: I've exaggerated nothing. You are h«ro to give tho facts coolly and impartially. Now, just see If you can keep cool, young man! The Senlor-strgeant: It'a Mr. Donnelly who la warm about it. Oh. is it. now? Witness: Yes. I'm as cool as you arc, Mr. Donnelly. Your Worship, I protest against the witness answering me m an impudent manner! And I protest, your Worship, qgcinst Mr. Donnelly's questions. MR. DONNELLY IS ANGRY, and 1 protest against his suggestion XUni I exaggerate. Tho spnlor-«vrg«int chipped m hero with some remark, whereupon Mr. Donnelly exclaimed: Alt right, 1 Ipuv« th«« %vltn«**M to you. It"n I who should examino him. Witness: Wfll. why not Mr. DomifHy: 1 don't want i;ny convernation with you. young num. 1 have th*» witness. Witness (ellmblng out of tho box. I smilingly): All right. Then w«s can tnko H Umt you're, beat. coimnhle, Lindsay Tern pinion lolfl i\\? Court that on the morning of Oeto- > lid' '„•. )u 4 h»ul arrest Hi Allen on >varmnJ for vujrninry nnd w»ij* <worliii^ Wni to \ the cooler. Allen went along quietly until «n iht< hrUltje leading \<> the u<»lieo titiition. Ho then .suddenly tunicl; Ti-in-j»l«!tou with hi* H»t. and before tho tv«p cmiiil recover himself, bud him plimvd tiguitiNt the tmrutH-t "f tMc brldiw ur.d Imd whipped <<ul a knife v.Hh which h<- Blushed the cuiuauhle iicrosa thd Hose. To Mr. Donswlly: Tli,< wound inlMrted wiijt not nnd didn't either inr»»rr»vn!rn«:i- wiu>«-Srt or necessitate HurRio.il ;iUt'!iHoiL tfergeunt T. Pwim »l>!n rhvc «'»vid«-»ce. lawyer Donnelly submitted t)<:tt xh- . proHu-utliin hiul not «iv**n a jnrtiH.- i.f •'vidf'iuv which wptiUl Im :M!ftM-i.!!' ground on which to commit th>' .inr.-.n-.-.l (W trial. No :u'tual bodily Imith h;.-i U-«.n eouimUt.-d ami tli» •n;t:i.-r .-.>u!.l nMtsonably K> den it with by Ui<- M;«Ki»lrat«-. tintfrr Uio hvnd}r>K >*f -i rojwin.n Tho B.M. thotiKht ilirr..t.'ll'iy. aixl committed All«>n to ii\. Su^rem* Cotirs ; for trial.