STREET AFFRAY Domestic Differences Breeze Between Counsel
The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860-1954) Saturday 4 February 1933 p 10 Article

STREET AFFRAY

Domestic Differences

Breeze Between Counsel .

A charge of assault was heard In the Hobart Police Court yesterday before Mr. P. N. Stops (Police Magistrate). It was mentioned that there were other assault charges. One defendant was called, but Mr. J. D. Morris (Ogilvie, McKenna, and Morris), who appeared for Hugh Herbert Hughes, abjected to that charge being taken first. His client's complaint, he said, had been lodged several days before the complaint that was called first, and only after the complainant had laid his complaint defendant sought to get his opportunity, believing that the best weapon of defence was offence.

Mr. E. AV. Turner:' You are not telling the truth. -

Both' counsel endeavoured ' to state their position to the Police Magistrate, Mr. Morris claiming that Mr. Turner had accused him of lying, and insisting that the remark be withdrawn.

Mr. Turner said that he would with- draw the remark. He did not think Mr. Morris had wilfully, lied about; it. Everybody concerned expected the police to take proceedings in the matter, but they decided not to do so, and at once his client Watt laid the charge. There were two separate days on which the offences took place.

Tho Police Magistrate said that he would-hear the cases in the order in which the'complaints were laid.

Harold Watt was then charged with having assaulted Hugh Herbert Hughes on January 22. He pleaded not guilty Mr. Morris appeared for complainant, and Mr. Turner for defendant.

FIGHT IN STREET. , .

Hugh Herbert Hughes, of Little Arthur Street, said that on January 22 he was at Mrs. McAllister's residence at Quarry Street. Witness saw defendant in Quarry Street, and there were also present a Mrs. Bradley, Miss Watt, Mrs. McAllister, and defendant. Defendant caught hold of Mrs. Bradley and "speared her across the footpath." Mrs. Bradley came back again and said something to Miss Watt, who pushed her off with her foot, Watt caught Mrs. Bradley by the hair and swung her round, and she fell on the. footpath. Mrs. McAllister, Mrs. Bradley's mother, told defendant not to hit her daughter, and said, "Now you have hit her, hit me." Mrs.- Bradley picked up a clod of dirt und grazed defendant's face with it. Defendant rushed at Mrs. Bradley "like a lunatic." Witness got between them, but defendant hit him two or three times below the belt. Witness fell and defendant came on top of him. Defendant continued to punch, blacking witness's eyes. They were separated by a man named Stansfield. Defendant called out that he would go home to get a batten and would kill her. He went home, and reappeared, but a man took him back. Alfred Park, living at 7 Hamilton Street, said that he and others were watching the argument from the other side of the tip. Witness saw Watt push Mrs. Bradley.' When the latter walked up to Miss Watt', she was pushed away three times with the flat of Miss Watt's foot. Defendant said, "You will not touch her," and caught Mrs. Bradley by the hair and pushed her Into the road with his foot. Mrs. McAllister said. "Hit me." Mrs. Bradley threw a clod of grass at defendant, and he rushed at Mrs. Bradley, and plaintiff barred his path. Witness corroborated plaintiff's story of the alleged assault.

Mrs. Bradley, of 19 Little Arthur Street, said that Watt (defendant) grabbed , her by the hair, and told her not to hit his daughter. H He then turned her round, and pushed her on tb the roadway with his foot. Witness picked up a clod of dirt and threw it at defendant, grazing his face. Defendant said ? he would kill her, and when Hughes attempted to Intervene, defendant knocked him down and jumped on him with his knees. Watt ran to his house and got a batten, saying he would "kill the -." A man named Holloway prevented Watt from going any further.

John Davis, an eye-witness of the occurrence, corroborated complainant's version of what happened. In his opinion, Watt was raving mad with temper.

DEFENDANT'S VERSION.

' Defendant stated that Hughes made insulting remarks,to him, and he told Hughes to mind his own business, Mrs. Bradley struck Watts son, aged 10 years, and he pushed her into the roadway. Hughes struck witness In the back of the head and witness closed with him, both of them falling to the ground. When he got up, Mrs. Bradley was attacking his daughter on the footputh. Witness, pulled Mrs.'Bradley away from his daughter. Mrs. McAllister then arrived; and she and Mrs. Bradley and Hughes attacked witness in unison, using stones and boots. Hughes stuck his finger in witness's mouth, and tried, to gouge his teeth out. Witness received abrasions, to the face. He went into his home and secured a batten, but did not go outside the gate with lt.

Witness stated that his daughter was unable to attend the Court to give, evidence, as she had been under a doctor since the Incident with nervous trouble.

To Mr. Morris: It was correct that Stansfield came up and separated Hughes and: witness. . ,

Re-examinod by Mr. Turner, witness said he and his 'Wife were waylaid by Mr. and Mrs. Bradley at North Hobart the previous evening, and Bradley, who was, in his shirt sleeves, challenged him to fight. ' Witness, however, declined.

John Joseph Holloway, a young man, who witnessed the fracas, said that Mrs. Bradley started the trouble by call- ing Mrs. Watt and Miss Watt Insulting names. '-'.Watt came up, and Hughes challenged "him to tight. Mrs. Bradley struck Watt's son with a handbag, and Hughes struck Watt on the head when he pushed Mrs. Bradley out of the way.

CASE ADJOURNED.

As there were still several witnesses for the defence to be heard at G.45 p.m., the case was adjourned until to-day at 10 a.m.

Close
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The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860-1954) Monday 6 February 1933 p 5 Article

POLICE COURT NEWS
HOBART.
In the Hobart Police Court on Saturday, before Mr. F. N. Stops, Police
Magistrate.
. VERDICT FOR COMPLAINANT.
The case was continued In which
Harold Watt was charged with having
assaulted Hugh Herbert Hughes on
January 22. Mr. J. D. Morris (Ogilvie,
McKenna, and Morris) appeared for
complainant, and Mr. E. W. Turner for defendant.
After further witnesses had been
heard the Police Magistrate gave a verdict for complainant, and ordered defendant to pay £4 ISs. costs.