HOTEL SCUFFLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 739, 12 August 1929, Page 1

HOTEL SCUFFLE

QUARREL BETWEEN TWO EMPLOYEES EXCHANGE OF BLOWS The story of a scuffle between two employees of a Devonport hotel was told at the Police Court this morning when Peter Walter Tynan was charged with assaulting Mervyn Chapman on August 4. Mr. A. V. Fraer entered a plea of not guilty oq behalf of Tynan. According to Chapman, he and accused were both employees of the hotel. On Sunday, August 4, witness had gone to call Tynan at 9.30 p.m., so that he could go off duty. Tynan had not made an appearance by 10 o’clock, so witness had gone back and there had been a slight argument, but. no blows were struck. Accused 'lad followed w’itness into the pantry and struck him. “I ran out, but Tynan followed me,” added Chapman. “He hit me again. I retaliated and we struggled, falling to the floor. I hit my het»l on a ledge and was dazed, but I remember the proprietor pulling U 3 apart.” Henrj Rider, licensee of the hotel, said that he had separated the combatants. Tynan had complained that Chapman had not called him in time, and Chapman said that Tynan had tried to hustle him out of the place. Witness gave both men a good character. There was no suggestion of drink. Chapman was a teetotaller and Tynan a very temperate man. Chapman tad been in bed up till last Wednesday and was receiving medical attention. Tynan was hard of hearing. The defence was that it was a fair fight. Tynan said that Chapman had struck the first blow.

“I prefer to believe the prosecutor," remarked Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., and ordered Tynan to pay posts, £2 12s 6d. That sum was medical expenses, the witnesses making no claim.