RACE GANG FEUD.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 10

RACE GANG FEUD.

FEAR OF GIVING EVIDENCE. - MAN SENT TO PRISON. Mistaken .identity was the defence in the case of Stephen Christian Martin, 2i, a labourer, indicted at the London Sessions for causing grievous bodily harm to Harry Bloom, restauran keeper, of* Commercial Road, on August 5. It was alleged that Martin was one of a racing gang, and that .'the affair arose out of a feud and was the culmination of a disturbance which lasted four or five hours. Bloom said he knew Martin and others as customers, but he denied any knowledge of a racing connection. He expressed doubt that Martin was the man who hit him on the head with a bottle. A youth was called, and his appearance compared with that of Martin. They both wore their hats and presented resemblances which led a police witness to remark that he might have mistaken one for the other, though he did not think he had made any mistake. Martin, in the box, denied that he admitted attacking Bloom. The jury found Martin guilty of common assault. In passing sentence of six months' hard labour Mr Whiteley, K.C., deputy chairman, said Martin had been twice convicted of assault. It was obvious that Bloom had been afraid to give evidence, and the police experience was that it was very difficult to get persons to give information in such cases, because they were afraid to do so