AN UNPROVOKED ASSAULT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 15

AN UNPROVOKED ASSAULT.

BREAKFAST TABLE INCIDENT. AUCKLAND, January 20. A breakfast table assault case came before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court, when William Fleming, aged 57, pleaded guilty to having assaulted Allan Dalton. Senior-sergeant Edwards said that both accused and the complainant resided at the same boarding-house. Last night they were apparently good friends, and had a game of draughts together. However, while at the breakfast table this morning Fleming struck Dalton on the mouth his set of false teeth. Dalton gave no provocation, and it was hard to understand why accused should have struck him. Mr Sullivan stated that accused was in Auckland for the' purpose of receiving attention at the hospital. People were -talking about his wife, and Elemiug genuinely thought that Dalton had spoken about his wife. Fleming had an unblemished record in the past, and was the father of seven grown-up children. He had never been in trouble before, and counsel asked that accused should receive lenient treatment. -“Yes, he will/’ said Air Hunt. He will be fined £2, and will be ordered to' pay the clamage to complainant’s teeth—£l. The Senior-sergeant then announced that the damage was estimated at £2, and some time’later said that it would come to £2 10s. - “Why, it’s going up all the time',”, remarked the Magistrate with a smile as he made the order. •—