FIGHT AT CRAIGMORE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18499, 21 February 1930, Page 13

FIGHT AT CRAIGMORE.

DISPUTE OVER SCHOOL SITE. CAVE FARMERS IN COURT. A dispute between two farmers of the Cave district, over a site for a proposed school in the district, led to their appearance before Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The case was one in which Harry Webb (Mr W. D. Campbell), proceeded against Frederick F. Mowat (Mr L. M. Inglis), on a charge of assault, the offence being alleged to have taken place at Craigmore on January 22. Mr Campbell said that the parties had had different ideas as to where the school should be erected, and had met at Mr Elworthy’s place at Craigmore on January 22, where an altercation had taken place. Defendant had arrived at Craigmore first, and when complainant and a companion had driven up, defendant made for the car, and used abusive language to complainant, threatening to “smash him into pulp.” Complainant was then punched in the stomach and was held down. Later in the day complainant again came across defendant, who again threatened to attack him. Webb was in charge of some sheep at the time, and threatened to put his dogs on Mowat if he did not leave him alone. Complainant said he was accompanied by a neighbour named Coulter on his visit to Craigmore, and as they were approaching the place, Mowat was observed talking to two gardeners. Mowat came over to them and exclaimed: “What the h are you doing here, Webb?” Witness replied: “The same as you, I suppose, Mowat.” Defendant asked him what right he had to use his (Mowat’s) name in connection with the location of the school, after which defendant attacked him. ' “He punched me in the stomach, and I hit him back,” continued witness. “He then tripped me up and threw me down into a ditch, at the same time sitting on my stomach and threatening to smash me to pulp.” Coulter then told defendant to get off, and when he refused, caught Mowat by the ear and pulled him away. Witness met defendant later in the day, when he threatened to fight witness for £IOOO. Witness stated that as neither of them had that sunu the fight was off. Defendant presented a petition, which witness refused to sign, whereupon defendant again threatened to smash his face to pulp. Witness threatened Mowat with a dog, and was then left alone. To Mr Inglis: Mowat came over to the car as soon as they arrived. Coulter got hold of Mowat by the ear, and told him he had to get off! Witness was held down, Mowat piftning one hand to the ground. Mr Inglis: “What did you do with the free hand?”* Witness: “I endeavoured to push him off with it, the same as you would have done.” Mr Inglis: “Mowat will say that you got out of the car and came over to him stating ‘What game is this you’re up to, Mowat’?” Witness: “No, I’m sure I didn’t"use any such language. Mowat came up to me.” • - • Mr Inglis: “But didn’t you shape up to Mowat?” Witness: “No, I did not.” -James Coulter, who accompanied Webb to Craigmore, stated that he saw Mowat shape up to Webb and attack him, at the same time using filthy language. Defendant threw Webb to the ground, and witness went to the latter's assistance. He asked defendant to leave complainant alone, and then caught him by an ear. To Mr Inglis: Blows were struck, and then Mowat closed with complainant and bore him to the ground. Mr Inglis: “I have a witness to say that Mowat got off Webb when you were standing alongside.”

Witness: “Mowat did not leave Webb till I got him by the ear. For some time I pleaded with Mowat to get off.” Mr Inglis stated that defendant would tell a different story, but could not produce anyone who saw the start of the fight. Complainant and defendant were in opposite factions concerning the erection of the school. When Webb and Coulter arrived at Craigmore, defendant alleged that the former came over to him and asked what the game was, and began to shape up. Defendant pushed him away and told him not to make a scene on Mr Elworthy’s property. Webb’s manner became aggressive, and defendant grappled with him to prevent a fight. “In his earlier days,” continued Mr Inglis, “Mowat was a boxing man, and if he wanted to assault Webb, it does not seem likely that he would have grappled with him.” What defendant did was to prevent Webb from hitting him.

Defendant stated that he had been at Craigmore about an hour before Webb drove up to the lawn. Webb asked him what he was up to, and accused him of trying to prevent the school being erected, on a certain site. Complainant breasted up to him and witness could have quite easily have hit him had he so desired. Witness decided it would be better to hold Webb until he cooled down, and this he did. All Coulter said was: “Don’t hit him, Fred.” Witness spoke to the gardeners after the scuffle, and told them that that was the sort of treatment a man got for doing his best in the interests of the district. “And I’d drawn my uncle, who is Secretary of Education, into it,” concluded witness. To Mr Campbell: The trouble occur-, red on the tennis court where the gardeners were working. Mr Campbell: “I believe you have been a .bit of a boxer?” Witness: “My mother’s brother was champion of the world.” Mr Campbell: "And you were a boxer too?” Witness: "Oh, well, I’ve had a few hidings.” Mr Campbell: “You’re a bit of a bully round the district, aren’t you?” Witness: "No.” Mr Campbell: “Have you ever been prosecuted for a similar offence?” Witness: “No.” There was a charge against him, but it had been withdrawn. Witness stated that he had the authority of the Education Department to take the petition round the district. The Magistrate: “To educate people in the art of boxing? Does your uncle approve of teaching boxing to people who don’t agree with certain views?” Witness made another effort to explain where the fight took place, stressing that it was on private property. Witness went on to speak of his relations in the Education Department, but the Magistrate cut ‘him short by stating: “Your relation in a high position has to decide educational matters, while I’m here to decide the assault.” To Mr Campbell: Witness denied that he called complainant filthy names. He did not remember anything about complainant’s dogs. Albertus Littleton, a gardener, employed at Craigmore, gave evidence of witnessing Webb being held down. The Magistrate: "Did you see Coulter give Mowat a friendly pinch on the ear?” Witness: “No.” To Mr Campbell: The fight was on the road and not on the tennis court. Witness did not hear anyone say: “Don’t strike him, Fred” Mr Inglis stated that he hoped the

Magistrate would make allowances for I the impression defendant had made in ( the box. It was hard to secure a I connected story. •The Magistrate: ‘Apparently he made a worse impression on the lawn.” ! “Ip the interests of higher educa- ! tion, defendant had no right to con- j duct the agitation in the manner he ! did,” said the Magistrate. Defendant 1 had not been satisfied with making certain threats, but apparently con- | sidered himself a master of the art of boxing. He had better take a little \ warning, for if this sort of thing hap- i pens again I will be obliged to bind j Mowat over to keep the peace. He ; will be fined £3, with costs amounting i to £4/7/-.”