COWARDLY ASSAULT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25660, 7 October 1944, Page 4

COWARDLY ASSAULT

VICIOUS ATTACK ON DOCTOR CHARGE AGAINST SOLDIER The details of what the police described as a “ vicious and unprovoked assault” on a Dunedin doctor were given in the City Police Court yesterday when George Clements, aged 32 years a soldier on furlough from the Pacific, pleaded guilty before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.. to a charge of having assaulted Murray Alexander Falconer, a medical practitioner, of Dunedin. The accused, who was not represented bycounsel, was remanded in custody until, Monday. Senior Sergeant Johnson said that Clements had made an attack on Dr Falconer at the corner of the Octagon and Stuart street at 6.50 p.m. on Thursday. Prior to the assault the accused’s conduct on the street had been commented on by eye-witnesses. Dr Falconer was waiting to catch a cable car to his home when, for no apparent reason, the accused approached him and made some comment about the parcels which Dr Falconer was carrying. Dr Falconer moved away from Clements, arid this action seemed to annoy the accused, who thereupon committed the assault. Dr Falconer was taken completely by surprise, and as he was carrying some books and other parcels, he could not defend himself or retaliate. He received painful injuries to the face. , ■ ' Clements had had some liquor, the senior sergeant added, but he was rot drunk. Just before the assault he had made some remark to Dr Falconer about "having to go and fight for civilians.” Clements was a married man with one child, and he was o-n furlough after having served for 17 months in. the Pacific. . . - Asked if he had. anything to say, the accused said that Dr Falconer had referred to him as a “ poor specimen.” “ This was a despicable, cowardly, and brutal assault,” • the magistrate said, when remanding the accused in custody until Monday. " Because you are in uniform and the complainant was not, you apparently think that you are the only one who has given service in this' wan’’. • '