TALE OF A TAXI

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15024, 22 August 1922, Page 5

TALE OF A TAXI

A DESPERATE AFFRAY. DRIVER’S STORY OF ASSAULT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Monday. The tale of a vicious affray was told in the Police Court this morning, when Percy Evans (27) and’ Austin Victor Ward (25) were charged with having assaulted a taxi driver named George Goodman. Mr J. J. Sullivan (for the accused) stated that there was a counter-charge against Goodman of having assaulted Ward, causing actual bodily harm. Mr Ziman (for Goodman) drew attention to the fact that the police had not charged Goodman, but the accused had retaliated by summoning him. There would be a claim for compensation ai’ising out of the assault, and he wished it to be dealt with in a civil case, because the damages were heavy. Dr. Kinder, of St. George's Bay Road, gave evidence of having examined Goodman, and found him to be suffering from abrasions to the head and the face, numerous bruises on the body and limbs, and a badly injured finger. The bruises and abrasions could have been caused by kicks, and the injury to the finger by a bite. Goodman .staled that on the night of August 12 he took over the accused and two young women as passengers from another taxi driven by a man named Haig, who had been engaged for another job. The men had bottles of drink with them and were somewhat noisy. He did not like the look of them much, and asked Haig, who said that he thought they would be ail right. Driving out on the way to Telford Avenue the men were abusive, and said all taxi-drivers were mongrels. This made witness feel uncomfortable. (Laughter). Arriving at Telford Avenue the girls got out of the car and went into a house. After some altercation, Ward struck him on the head and pulled him out of the car, and the other man commenced kicking him. When he put up his hand to push Ward off he had his finger badly bitten. He got away, and staggered to the middle of the road, but was followed by the men, who punched and kicked him all the while. He broke away again, and fell exhausted, begging the men to leave him alone. They dragged him against a stone wall, and he seized a stone and hit Ward in the face with it, then staggered to his motor and managed to drive off. He had called for assistance, but none came. Two independent witnesses gave evidence. For the defence it was alleged that Goodman was the aggressor. The Magistrate commented upon the improbability of the assertions of the defence. Ward was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and Evans was fined £lO, in default one month.