INCIDENT AT A DANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1924, Page 6

INCIDENT AT A DANCE.

COUNTRY NEIGHBOURS DIFFER. ASSAULT CHARGE FAILS. AFFAIR NEAR MIDHIRST. (From Our Own Reporter). Stratford, March 10. An affair on the York Road, Midhirst, which was described by the Magistrate as “a disgrace to the district,” was ventilated in the Stratford Magistrate’s Court to-day, when David Ryan, a farmer of York Road, pleaded not guilty to using insulting words and threatening behaviour to Albert Henry Frost, and to assaulting him at the York Road School in the of a dance. \ The presiding Magistrate was Mr. A. M. Mowlem. Sergeant J. Dale conducted the case for the police and Mr. N. H. Moss appeared for defendant. Frost, in his evidence, said he left his farm on Surrey Rpad on the evening of January 25 to attend the dance. On entering the front porch of the school he saw Ryan and said: “It is you, is it?” Witness then recounted their conversation. “What are you doing here to-night,” said Ryan aggressively. “I can surely come to a dance if I like,” replied Frost. I “Well, I tell you, It's not safe for you I to be living here to-night,” shouted Ryan, | and Frost replied: “It is, as far as you are concerned.” About two minutes later Ryan disap--1 peared, but later interrupted a donversaI tion between Frost and a man named . Hunwich. Ryan had removed his coat . and collar and had nis sleeves rolled up. | Indicating Frost, he said to Hunwich: . “This white-livered cur has been going i about saying he intended to do all sorts !of things to me. Well, now is his chance.” ; Ryan then “shaped up,” and asked Frost to fight. Frost said he refused to fight and would not go outside. He pointed out the penalty for creating a disturbance at a dance. Ryan then, it was alleged, used the insulting language complained of, but Frost turned a deaf ear and went off to play a waltz for the dancers. Frost said he did not leave the hall until after supper, when he strolled into the side porch for a smoke, taking the precaution to have an iron bar from the fireplace ready to his hand. Ryan finished the dance and approached the porch, but Frost, seeing him coming, moved round until the iron bar was just behind him. No one responded to Ryan’s appeal to take the bar away, so Ryan moyed, his fists threateningly. Frost said one of the fists struck his face, drawing blood. Ryan could see then that no fight was likely, and was turning away when Frost struck him on the eye. A rough and tumble ensued on the floor in the presence of an amazed circle of dancers, some of whom separated the contestants. . Frost re-entered the porch, and was wiping his face when Ryan was alleged to have rushed him again, using more obscene language. Friends of both parties then interfered and the trouble ceased for the night. Answering Mr. Moss, Frost said he seldom attended dances- He had never threatened to pitchfork Dave Ryan, nor had he ever attempted to borrow a fork from a neighbour for that purpose. He also denied having tried to blackmail Ryan’s mother, but admitted having written a threatening letter to Ryan senior, charging the family with theft, and stating that a gang would be waiting for members of the family. He did not remember accusing Dave Ryan in the hall of being a thief, but admitted calling him an Irish Sein Feinner. Frost said he “did not lose his head, but he Used it,” and so would not meet Ryan outside. On January 15, continued Frost, Ryan had threatened to tie him to a tree, and in other ways to persecute him.

Ryan’s story was that he had not been the aggressor. On the contrary, Frost had struck him without any provocation. He admitted having adopted a threatening attitude, but considered the circumstances warranted a ,bold front, as he was heartily sick of Frost’s attitude towards himself and his family. Witnesses for the police were uncertain on some of the more important points, and without hearing all the defence the magistrate intimated that there was insufficient evidenc? to convict on the charges o$ assault and of using insulting language. These informations were accordingly dismissed. Ryan, however, admitted having adopted a threatening attitude, and nn this charge he was fined £3, with costs amounting to £2 16s 6d.