ALLEGED ASSAULT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 13, 16 January 1936, Page 9

ALLEGED ASSAULT

LAMBTON QUAY AFFAIR MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY [ r«r Press Association. ) WELLINGTON, Jan. 15. James Logic, aliac Kelly, agX! 35, labourer, was charged to-day with wounding Charles Crookc on January 9 and 10 with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Crookc, a, salesman, said that he occupied room 52 at the Columbia Hotel. On Thursday, January 9, he retuurned to his room at about 11 p.m. He switched on the light as he entered and found in the room the man he took to be accused. The man asked him to come in and he felt four wounda in the shoulder, but did not know what -weapon -was used. The assault occurred in the passage just outside the room, and he rushed downstairs. He concealed himself. Afterwards he went to the bathroom to wash himself, and a housemaid came along and saw blood. The following morning he went to the hospital and was seen by a doctor in the casualty ward. He came into the city and was in Lambton Quay at about 10.30 a.m., when accused approached and witness got a wound on the left side of lhe face. He thought the man in the box did it. He had no idea what it was done with and no idea where accused went afterwards. He went to a chemist and a boy took him to a doctor, who stitched the wound. Asked if he had received any wound in any other part of the body he said that there was a scratch over the heart on the Thursday night but it was nothing. Airs. Paynter. Housemaid at the hotel, said that Tier attention was attracted by c-omebody running downstairs, but she could not identify the figures, although slue knew they were men. JShe saw Airs. Rowiitrce, the proprietress, talking to accused ar. the iront door. She gave witness a key and asked her io go to Crookcroom and get accused’s hat. She found the I hat on the lop of Crookc’s suitcase. She walked to the dcor and handed it to accused. Asked, “Did it occur to you Indic.* 10 Lag the puiiee?” witness rupiied. “Air. Crookc said that he did nm want any trouble.’’ Witness said that she noticed cuts on Crookc, and saw him washing Jiis shirt in the bathroom. He refused attention for his wounds. Airs. Rownticc gave evidence that Logie said he w r as looking for “Charlie,” who was a. friend of his She told him that Crookc had guuc out and accused left, but returned later. Shy threatened to call the police if he did not keep away. Logic had bad liquor but was not drunk. Other evidence included that of a taxi-driver named Taylor, who said that accused engaged him at Vivian Street at about 1.40 p.m. on the Friday. He drove him first to Epuui Street and then to the hospital. Accused asked him to inquire* at the hospital if Crookc was there, and when it was reported that he had been sent home accused instructed him to go to the Columbia Hotel and ack fur Crookc. Two men cainy out of the hotel and accused stayed outside at a parked motor-car. As lhe men went lu their own car, accused threw two stones at one of the men, who ran round the car and seized a jack handle. A tier that witness drove accused back to Vivian Street. After Logie had pleaded not guilty and was committed lor trial, bail was r'O light. The magistrate asked what was behind the case, upon which Mr. HardieBoys, w’ho is wmtehing the case in the interests of Crookc, said: “lie instructs me specially to advise the Court that he is in no fear of accused. There has been a boiling over of some foolish sort.” The magistrate said that there was something hidden, but. after argument allowed bail, but said that it would by substantial. He fixed it at £2OO wi th su r i t i r -.