A STABBING AFFRAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 76

A STABBING AFFRAY.

SEQUEL IN COURT. WELLINGTON, January 17. A stabbing affray outside a dance hall some weeks ago resulted in the appearance in the Magistrate’s Court to-day of Ernest Ditleve Pederson, a mechanic, aged 25, who was charged with having assaulted Stanley John Wells, trainer of the Filipino boxer, Jamito. Pederson, for whom Mr J. F. B. Stevenson appeared, pleaded guilty. Chief Detective Ward explained that when the trouble occurred the accused was having an altercation with a friend whom he was trying to persuade to go home. Wells, who was also with a friend, interfered, and struck Pederson. . Pederson thereupon stabbed Wells with a pocket knife, inflicting a wound six inches long in his thigh. Thirteen stitches were necessary, and the injured man was in the hosiptal for 10 days. Expenses totalling £4 10s were incurred. Some days after the affray the accused was also admitted to the hospital suffering from injuries to his brain and spine, and not until now’ had he been able to appear in court. All four men concerned in the affair had been drinking whisky. • Mr Stevenson, in asking that the accused be leniently dealt with, said that his client was still suffering from the effects of Wells’s blow, and it -would probably be five or six months before he would be able to resume work. In these circumstances he had already been severely punished, and probably a term of probation would meet the case. It had also to be borne in mind that had Wells not interfered the assault would not have taken place. Mi' J. H. Salmon: The use of a knife is always a serious matter, but it appears that in this case the accused was assaulted first. I do not think, therefore, that I should make an order for the payment of Wells’s expenses. Pederson was convicted and admitted to probation for 12 months, it being a condition that he must take out a prohibition order against himself.