OLD WOMAN KICKED

NZ Truth, Issue 1062, 1 April 1926, Page 10

OLD WOMAN KICKED

Attacked By Bushman A DOORSTEP DRAMA (From "Truth's" Greymouth Rep.) Clad m a long black coat and a black hat which had anything but a Parisian air, Louisa Bourne hobbled into the presence of the Greymouth S.M. last week and was led to a seat by a constable. Her face was hidden by a white veil. Her voice was barely audible, and, when she lifted the veil — at the request of the police — it was seen that she had been m the wars. There was a nasty cut below her right eye. She had just arrived from hospital, where she had been an inmate since she was the victim of a brutal assault on March 10. She looked a feeble old woman. In striking contrast to Louisa was a hefty bushman^ James Percy Hartigan, who jhailed from "Westport some years ago, and who, for the past two years, has been a toiler at a sawmill m Westland. ..'... It was aljeged that he had so far forgotten himself as to punch Louisa three times m the face, to knock her down, and to bring his boot into contact with her prostrate form more than once. He was originally charged with assault to ■; cause actual bodily harm but the police obtained permission to reduce the charge to one of common assault. ■ Lawyer Joyce entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Hartigan. Louisa's story was to the effect that Hartigan went to her place, and sat down beside her on the front steps. When she asked him to go.away. he punched and kicked her. She screamed for help, and he was arrested. Mr. Joyce: You are always sitting on your doorstep when men are going by, are you not? — Not always. ■ As a matter of fact, were not you and Hartigan m the house? — No. Why did you not bring this man into the house? Do you not generally bring men into the 'house? Is it not wellknown that that is what you are there for? It was not Louisa's day for answering such awkward questions, and Mr. Joyce gave it up. Four witnesses gave evidence of hearing Louisa screaming, and seeing her being kicked. , One of them related a brief conversation he had .with Hartigan, after lie pulled the latter away from Louisa. "What right have you got here, interfering with this lady?" was his question, and Hartigan's answer was, "What the hell has it got to do with you?" "The evidence seems to be very clear," announced Magistrate Meldrum. "There is no reason whatever why the witnesses should speak untruths. "There is no question that he assaulted Mrs. Bourne by knocking her down and kicking her. She has been m hospital since, and is still carrying the marks. .-.'■•■' It was a brutal ' and cowardly assault.. Old women must be protected. "Under the circumstances, I have decided to inflict the maximum fine of £20, including costs, and I will order that £10 be paid to Mrs. Bourne ; m default, three months! imprisonment, with hard labor." J A month was allowed m which to pay.