A TRIANGLE PROBLEM

NZ Truth, Issue 1232, 11 July 1929, Page 7

A TRIANGLE PROBLEM

Husband's Fight With Escort

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Wellington Rep.) The peace of a recent Sunday afternoon m Vivian Street was rudely disturbed by an acrimonious debate and subsequent fistic encounter between two menAugust Peterson, out for his Sunday afternoon run m his motor-car, saw his wife walking down Vivian Street with George Godfrey, a member of the crew of the s.s. "Tamahine." DETERSON had previously warned his wife not to go' out with Godfrey, and he accordingly stopped his car, stepped down, and accosted them. The outcome of this unexpected" meeting was the appearance of Peterson and Godfrey m the Magistrate's Gourt as complainant and defendant respectively m an assault case. . When the matter came on for hearing Mr. E. P. Rollings appeared for Peterson, and Mr. A. J. Mazengarb for Godfrey. Peterson, who gave his evidence m a faltering, broken voice, and who still bore outward evidence of the blows he had received from Godfrey, informed Mr. H. Page, S.M., that he was a bootmaker m business m Ghuznee Street. He had met Godfrey on two or three occasions, and each time there had been trouble on account of Godfrey paying 1 attention to Mrs. Peterson. "I saw my wife and Godfrey walking down Vivian Street and I was very upset," said Peterson. "I stopped my car' and got out to talk to them. "I told Godfrey not to walk out with my wife." The only reply Peterson received from Godfrey was that if he was not careful he would measure his length on the footpath. The assault then took place and Peterson was struck on the face. After Godfrey had struck Peterson the latter went to the Taranaki Police Station and then to Dr. Palmer's surgery ■where his injuries were attended to. . Mr. Mazengarb : Why did Godfrey hit you? Peterson: He has been threatening all along. I have done nothing to him. He doesn't want to bother with me. All he wants is* my wife. "Mrs. Peterson," added counsel, "doubts the validity of her marriage with the complainant, and the police are making inquiries m this connection." In the witness-box Godfrey, stated that Peterson accosted him and m the course of a scuffle which ensued referred to him (Godfrey) m terms which reflected on the morality of his mother. "Out of affection for my mother I then struck him," added Godfrey. "Peterson has been terrorising his wife and she has been penned up like a prisoner." . . After hearing the evidence, his Worship said that a conviction must be entered against Godfrey and he was fined £10, £5 of this amount to be paid to Peterson to compensate him for the injury arid indignity inflicted.