WANGAEHU EPISODE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19504, 3 February 1926, Page 5

WANGAEHU EPISODE

PECULIAR CASE. A FINE IMPOSED William Bernard Connors (Mr L. Craig) was charged at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court on AFonday with furiously driving a piebald mare, and with using threatening and obscene language to two boys who were riding the mare at Wangachu on December 13 last. One of the lads, in evidence, said they were riding to a shed to milk cows on the date in question, when Connors came up behind them on a horse, cracked his whip and swore at them. Their horse started to gallop and Connors continued after them. Connors said the next time he saw them on the road he would break their necks, and he also used bad language. Evelyn G. Pedersen said the boys were riding slowly along the road, when she noticed Connors come up behind them. She did not hear any remarks passed, neither did she a whip used. Alfred Rider, father of one of the boys, stated that he knew of nothing the lads had done to offend Connors. Witness and defendant had not been on speaking terms for some considerable time. The defendant in evidence said his horse was high spirited and became excited, and shied at the piebald mare. He denied • calling out to the boys. Continuing, Connors said he did not possess a stock whip. He did not remember having any drink that day. William Connors, junior, said defendant’s horse was a high-spirited animal. His father did not possess a stockwhip. In summing up, the Magistrate said he would accept the boys’ version that the defendant had urged his horse deliberately behind that of the boys. He further believed the story of the bad language. He would deal with the case under one charge. Defendant was fined £1 with costs.