SCUFFLE IN STREET

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 722, 23 July 1929, Page 1

SCUFFLE IN STREET

SUGGESTION THAT KNIFE WAS DRAWN SEAMAN FINED £2 Suggestions that a knife was drawn in a Hobson Street scuffle were made in the Ponce Court this morning when Murdo McRae was charged with assaulting Henry James Nichol last evening. lecßae, a seaman aged 27, pleaded not guilty and Nichol told his story of the episode. Witness said that he had been talking with a friend at the corner of Victoria Street when Mcßae had interfered threatening to strike witness's friend. “I objected and Mcßae drew a knife so I grappled with him and fell to the ground," said Nichol. “Mcßae was trying to strike me When we were on the ground." ‘ According to Constable Mather. who had seen the two men (all to the ‘ground with Mcßae on top, Mcßae ’was quite sober. The man had a knife, but it was closed in his pocket. Mcßae strenuously denied that he had produced a knife. “I have never done such a thing in my life," he said. Sublnspector McCarthy mentioned that Mcßae had nine convictions entered against him since January, all for offences rising out of drunkenness. , Mcßae blamed his prohibition order for that state of affairs, adding that his wife had had the order taken out against him.

_A fine of £2, in default seven days’ imprisonment, was imposed.