FRACAS AT CAMP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 21

FRACAS AT CAMP.

RAZOR-SLASHING EPISODE. FOUR AIEN IN COURT. BLENHEIM, October 9. As the result of a fracas which occurred at No. 8 railway construction camp at Kekerangu on the afternoon of Sunday, August 3, four men appeared before Air T. E. Alaunsell. S.M., in the Alagistrate’s Court to answer charges of behaving in a threatening manner within view of a public place, namely, the Alain South road, and also of assaulting a man named Richard Jones. It was apparent,from the crowded state of the courtroom that exceptional public curiosity had been aroused in what has come to be known as “the Kekerangu razor-slashing affair,” for a dramatic feature episode was the fact that; a well-known resident of the Blenheim distriot received severe wounds, which were inflicted in the course of the incident) the complicated details of which came to light in the course of the hearing of lengthy and involved evidence. The four men were James Hector Law, a farm manager, residing near Blenheim, who was the victim of the razor-slashing. Patrick Ryan, of Blenheim, an hotel barman, and two public works employees, James William Voyce and James ATGill. All entered pleas "of not guilty. No charge was made against the man Richard Jones, who was stated to have wielded the razor.

Law was convicted and discharged on the assault charge upon giving security for £2O to be of good behaviour for 12 months. The other defendants were each fined £1 and ordered to pay expenses totalling £2 15s.