SERIOUS CHARGES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 13

SERIOUS CHARGES.

MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. CHRISTCHURCH, March 1. Richard Carney, aged 27, and Andrew Carney, aged 25, pleaded not guilty before X# H P. Lawry, S.M., this morning, to a charge that on February 21 they robbed Stanley Gordon Gow Grant of a diamond ring valued at £2O, and also 5s in money, and at the same time used personal violence on Grant. Grant, who is 36 years of age, stated that he was a clerk employed by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, o f Fiji and was on a holiday in New Zealand’ On February 21 he had several drinks with the accused, and later in a lane off Fitzgerald avenue, near the Eastern Hotel, Richard Carney hit him under the chin with his fist, drawing blood. His assailant then asked: “Where is the ring you have got?”.. “I got- up from the ground,” said witness, “and he struck me on the mouth with his fist again. I fell again, and he then attempted to kick me, but .the other accused tried to dissuade him, sayihg: ‘Don’t be hard,’ or words to that effect. I got up and, he knocked me down a third time. He went through my pockets. I pretended to be unconscious; and someone kicked me on the thigh.” When witness looked’ up again the men had gone. ' On the following day witness, in company with Detective Allen, visited the spot, and found the envelope which had contained the ring. Detective Allen stated that Grant had had no difficulty irh identifying the two accused. Richard Carney had blood on one of his hands, .and on his . shirt. -He accounted for that by saying that the blood came probably from a boil on his right arm. A subsequent 'examination of Carney’s arm showed that the boil'had not burst. There had been blood also on his shirt cuffs. Witness had been unsuccessful in tracing the ring. Richard Carney w'as’ committed b.to’/the. Supreme Court t • for trial. -The -charge against Andrew j Carney was dismissed. Bail was alloWed- Richard Carney, self in £250, and one’ surety of- £250, or 'two-of £125.