ICE-CREAM SQUABBLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 662, 14 May 1929, Page 14

ICE-CREAM SQUABBLE

BLOWS AND HOT WORDS £7 ASSAULT PENALTY (From, Our Own Correspondent) WHANG AREI, Monday. Charged with. assaulting G. G. Rowntree on April 4 at Maungakaramea, Ewart A. Bates appeared before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Magistrate Court. Owing to an argument over the supply of ice cream. Rowntree alleged that he approached Bates, who struck him in the face. The pair later went outside, where blows were exchanged. Defendant said that Rowntree and others used bad language and threats of fight were made so he, Bates, thought it beter to leave. He had removed one package and was carrying his ice-cream churn to his van. when he was stopped on the step by Rowntree, who struck him on the head, so he retaliated, drawing blood. In Bates’s opinion three of the witnesses had come to court and deliberately perjured themselves as they were not present when the argument occurred. W. A. Cole, working at Maungakaramea, in conjunction with defendant, corroborated his partner’s evidence. The magistrate said he was quite satisfied that there was no conspiracy on the part of the witnesses, although Rown'U'ee was not free from blame, yet tliere was no justification for the treatment meted out to him. It was in Bates’s favour that lie had the sense to move when trouble started. However, no conviction would be entered. and defendant would be ordered to pay costs amounting to £7 2s 3d.