SUPREME COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17036, 9 May 1923, Page 8

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. TO-DAYS PROCEEDINGS. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court were continued to-day, his Honor Mr Justice Adams presiding. ALLEGED ASSAULT AND ROBBERY. Ernest Nichols and Edward Myers were charged with having robbed Francis Leonard Chapman of £9 and a wallet, and with having used violence to Chapman. They were also charged with theft from Chapman and with having assaulted him. Mr H- K. M’Dougall appeared for* Myers. Nichols was not represented by counsel. Chapman, a footballer, said that he had come to Christchurch from Wellington at- Easter. He left a concert at the Christchurch Football Club’s dooms at 11 p.m. to find the Queen’s Hotel. Th© two accused met him and offered to take him to the hotel. They played a game of tossing on the way. He lest 10s. He was knocked down several times. A man on a bicycle chased Myers and brought- him back. Witness had no doubt as to the identity of the two accused. To Mr M’Dougall : He last saw his wallet about- 10.30 p.m. Witness, at the time of th© affray, was quite capable of looking after himself. The wallet had not been returned to him. Joseph Ernest Hobson, grocer, and William P. Cole, storeman, gave evidence. Cole stating that at the time of the affray Chapman was excited and had had a- “ spot,” but was not drunk. Sergeant O'Brien said that Chapman accused Myers of robbing him. Myers denied to witness that he took the wallet. Myers said that he ran from Chapman because be did not want to be mixed up in any row. Witness searching Myers., found a few shillings on him. Constable M’Glurg said that at th© accused’s boarding-house after the affray he searched Myers's luggage, but found no money or wallet. Nichols denied any knowledge of the affray the previous night, saying that he was not in Myers’s company that night. To Nichols: There was nothing wrong-with Nichols’s hands when witness inspected them in the boardinghouse. Detective-Sergeant J. Connolly said that Nichols, when arrested, said that he was at Sumner on the night on which the affray was alleged to have occurred. March 31. John Strickland, porter at Bell’s Boarding-house, called by Nichols, said that on March 31 Nichols had money, and said that he won it at the races. To Mr Donnelly: The accused boarded together, occupying the same room, and often went about together.