MEATY ROW

NZ Truth, Issue 1206, 10 January 1929, Page 9

MEATY ROW

Butchers Attack Taxi-driver FARE "DISPUTE (From "N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Rep.) One can be a butcher by occupation without degenerating into a slaughterer. of« one's fellow beings. When Harry Clifton and Frederick William Parker, both meat providers, m company with two young women, hailed a taxi to run them to a Wellington city restaurant, little did they know that m a short while •they would be standing m the^dock of the police court, charged with assaulting the taxi driver. They nearly turned him into cold mutton. THEY affirmed that they -were stone cold sober at the time, and this makes, their behavior' all the more remarkable. Clifton and Parker, shortly after midnight during the Christmas season, engaged a taxi; and with two , female companions set out for a restaurant m Kent Tel-race. What apparently riled the butchers (one of whom told a. bystander that the taxi-driver mistook them for a pair of "smart Alicks") was the impression -they held, that they were being over-charged to the extent. of 1/-. They Averen't going to pay without demur, despite the fact that there were ladies m the party. In fact, they didn't anti up with the 1/- at all. Witnesses who saw the episode told Magistrate Salmon m the police court a few days later that the fight was a "two to one" affair; but this the butchers denied, saying that the fight was an "even money pop" — "a fair go," between Parker , and the taxi-driver, Tonks. Tonks finally finished up on the footpath where the boot was "put m" and ultimately 1 looked as though he had been through one of the butcher's sausage machines— judging by his appearance when m court.

Unjustified! Assault

Robert Roy* Tonics related how he picked up his fares m Ghuznee Street and rail them into Kent Terrace, finally stopping outside the restaurant. II Carter paid over the 2/3, but refused c to pay the 1/- extra for additional passengers. • it Tonks said he was so disgusted that he gave Clifton a slight push. They must have mistaken him, then, for a sheep for the slaughter, for he finally I landed on the footpath with Parker ''}' while Clifton stood over him and c kicked. n The irate butchers were hauled off a by other people from the restaurant. /S When he had sufficiently recovered he "stepped on the gas" m search of a constable. Under cross-examination by Lawyer *' Sievwright, who appeared for the two Lt accused, Tonks said he. was a -very ml- " offensive person, and did not drink. it Ronald John Hills, another taxis. driver, said he saw one man kick if Tonks when the latter was on .the «s ground. " s Other witnesses of the fracas said Tonks was m a bad way when the fight sr concluded. : - Giving their version of the trouble, ' s Parker and Clifton denied having started it. Tonks, they said, attemptie ed to assault them both. Questioned LS by the sub-inspector, Clifton said he did not kick the complainant ait all. He might have stumbled over the others while they. were on the ground. His worship, remarked that the "assault upon the taxi-driver was not justified. "In any case involving kicking," said the bench, "any man who comes before this court runs a serious risk of imprisonment;" jr. Clifton was fined £10, m default two It. months' imprisonment, arid Parker Avas fined £5 m. default one. month, 's Half the total of the fines is -to be ;e paid to Tonks, who thus collects >r £7 10s; as monetary balm for the pur-, pie and blue optics. ; .■'■■■■■ ■ . ■ ' \, - : . ) ■