OLD MEN’S FEUD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19802, 18 May 1934, Page 3

OLD MEN’S FEUD

MAGISTRATE ISSUES WARNING. i A feud of long rtanding between two I inmates of the Old People’s Home ! culminated in the appearance in the l Magistrate’s Court yesterday of Henry i Burns (60) on a charge of assaulting i Edwin Blackmore (80). i Burns pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Mathieson said that iin consequence of a complaint. Constable Ward had gone to the Old People’s Home on Wednesday, where 'he found that Burr had assaulted Blackmore. who was a man of 80. I Burns had come home well fortified | with drink and had expressed his inj tention of carrying out an assault on i Blackmore. In spite of warnings, he | went into the dining-room and struck j Blackmore three blows on the face, i leaving a mark on his forehead and cutting his lips. “He is a continual nuisance, always cadging beer in the streets,” said the Senior-Sergeant. Asked what excuse he had to give Burns intimated that he was prepared to take out a prohibition order against himself. The master of the Home (Mr E. Laverty) said that of the two men, he thought Burns was the better character. It was known to most people in Timaru that Burns and Blackmore had quarrelled for a long time before they came to the Home. The Magistrate said that the case was similar to the Ashburton case and might result in a death. It would not take much to knock out a man of 80. Mr Laverty suggested that both Burns and Blackmore should take out prohibition orders. The Magistrate said he could not make Blackmore take out an order unless he wanted to. When asked by Constable Ward whether he was prepared to take out an order, Blackmore, who was in Court said emphatically that he was not. The Magistrate: No, he doesn’t want an order. He wants to drink. Mr Laverty said that Blackmore also drank, and had had some liquor at the time he was assaulted by Burns. The Magistrate told Burns that there was only one thing to do—if he did not behave himself he would have to go to gaol. He would be ordered to come up for sentence within 12 months if called upon, a condition to be that he took out a prohibition order, kept the peace and did not molest Blackmore. “If there is any more trouble between you two one or other of you will have to leave the Home, and that will mean one of you wfil have to go to gaol,” remarked the Magistrate.