AFFRAY IN OFFICE

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19596, 7 June 1935, Page 6

AFFRAY IN OFFICE

YOUNG MAN CHARGED.

PLEA OF NOT GUILTY.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, Thursday. The case in which, as a sequel to an affray in a city office on May 17, John Leslie Spicer, aged 23, was charged with assaulting two men and demanding money with menaces, was continued.

Replying to questions from Mr Jenkins, who represented accused, Alfred Richard Buchanan said he was not really alarmed hy what accused said to him, because he knew he had already ? seen the bank officials in the matter. “The threat did not worry me,” he added. “It seemed silly and futile.” Corroborative evidence was given by Norman Kenneth Sligo. A Scene of Disorder. The disorder in which he found the office was described by Eric M. Heape, a member of the honorary staff of the St. John Ambulance, who had been called by telephone at 10.10 p.m. “I saw Buchanan lying in a corner of the room, with the telephone around his neck," he said. “lie appeared to be in a semi-conscious condition, and was bleeding profusely from a wound over his eye. Buchanan was asked what had been going on, and he pointed to accused, and said: ‘Get him arrested.’ There was blood over the telephone, the desk, the Iloor and part of the wall. Two chairs were overturned, and one was brokeu.” » Detective-Sergeant McHugh said that with Detective Mills and other officers he went by car to the Windsor Buildings. Witness said that when questioned, accused said: "My name is Jack Spicer. 1 cleaned them both up, and I made a proper job of him," pointing to Buchanan. Spicer denied having used anything more than his fists, however.

Mr Jenkins raised the point that since Buchanan had admitted not having been worried by accused’s alleged threats, his remarks did not come within the scope of the section under which he was charged. The magistrate said he considered the case should be sent on. Accused pleaded not guilty to all charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was lived at £3OO.