COURT RE-HEARS ASSAULT CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17881, 24 June 1926, Page 9

COURT RE-HEARS ASSAULT CASE.

APPLICANT DOES NOT GET THE VERDICT. Recently Thomas Grace was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for assaulting Luther Moore. lie was not present when 'the decision was given and was successful in securing a re-hearing of the case, which took place to-day’. The Court believed Moore’s evidence and Grace will serve two months’ imprisonment. Moore charged Grace with having assaulted him on July* 18, 1924, and on June 9. 1926. ‘Grace, who was represented by Mr Batchelor, alleged that Moore had assaulted him. Moore said that he met Grace more than two years ago. He had a woman and two children with him and said that they* were starving and had no* where to go. lie took them inside and gave them food. Grace asked them where the priest lived. Witness told him he did not know. Grace went to see the priest. Later the woman told him that the priest had given Grace 10s. Witness found lodgings for the family* with a man named Sheriff. Some time afterwards, when they met, Grace hit him between the eyes. Witness informed the police, and Grace used insulting language and said that he would “ get him.” When witness served the summons Grace asked him to read it, and while reading it Grace hit him again. To Mr Batchelor: He agreed to pay Sheriff for ptitting up the Grace family. Sheriff told him that the woman with whom Grace was living was not Grace's wile. George William Sheriff gave evidence as to seeing Grace assault Moore. The latter asked Grace if he would go to the detective office. Grace replied, “I'll give you detective office!” and he struck Moore again. Mr Batchelor said that the defence was a denial of Moore's story, particularly’in relation to the second assault. Grace, in evidence, denied that lie had gone to a priest for money*. The reason he approached Moore was to find out the number of a house which was to let. Moore asked if he wanted a house, stating that he had a tenant who was behind with the rent. Witness paid £1 to Moore for two weeks’ rent. He had plenty of money on him, having just finished a contract. Later, when witness and Sheriff were in town together, noticed Moore in the street. lie said that he did not want to see Moore, and left. Moore approached witness, and asked where Sheriff was. When he said that he did not know, Moore called him a liar. He gave Moore a push. Referring to the second assault, Grace said that Moore came up to him in the street about a month ago and put something in his pocket, saying. “ Here is a bill for you.” Witness followed Moore, who struck him in the month. They rushed into a boarding-house where more, blows followed. The Magistrate found the defendant Grace guilty* on -each charge, and Moore not guilty. The informations against Moore were dismissed. Grace was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour on each charge, the sentences to be cumulative.