A HOUSE DIVIDED

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 85, 13 May 1929, Page 2

A HOUSE DIVIDED

Special to Telegraph.

YOUNG LOYEB CAUSES ENMITY. G ROSS ASSAl'LT ON FATHER.

.HAWERA, This day. Full of action, iovo and liato — likc a inclodrainatio novcl — was thc strange story toki in tlio Alagistra tc's Court by Edwanl Wright, a carrier, aged 55, who asked the Court to requiro Frank Wilkinson, a blacksmith, to find sureties to kcep the pcace. Wilkinson, who is 10, has been keeping compnny lor a year with one of Wright-'* daughtors, aged 30. Wright, who appcared with his arai in a sling. tohi the Mngisfrate tliat lio was afraid of Wilkinson, and tliat Wilkinson on April 15 grossly assaulted him. breaking liis right arai witb kicks and blows, cufting his lip and clicck and kicking his faise teeth out. I Wright said liis home for a long time had not been his own, and liis life liarl been prctty miserable. Wilkinson used to como liomc evcry night, of tbe week, and sometimes twicc a day. He had told Wilkinson repeatedly to "get out," but Wilkinson defied him. Wilkinson had tlie sympathy of liis CWright's) wife and daughters. The lovers used to liang around the gato of the hoine, which was dark and lonely. Twicc Wilkinson had put his foot out and tripped him. When he asked Wilkinson to stop A'isiting tho home he replied that the daugliters had as mucli "say" as their father. When Wilkinson was greoted with "Good evening" he woukl ignore Wright. FATHER HELD ON GROUND. Wright said he would not allow his daughters to sit 011 Wilkinson's knee in 1ns house, as it was not decent, bnt IMrs Wilkinson said he (the father) was "always complaining." On one occasion he told Wilkinson five limes to get out, but he ignored tlie order. He pnshed Wilkinson out, but Wilkinson field him 011 tlie ground for nearlv an liour, and liis wife and daughters said, "Jlon't ict iiim up." Witncss said he had asked for police protection, but had been told it was a family matter. On tlie night of tlie assault Wilkinson gave him a final kick and said, "Take tliat, you . It will keep you quiet while I get away." AVilkinson's counsel producecl a brown paper parcel. labelled "fragile," and nnwrapped a sliovel bandle which was in two pieces. Wright denied using the handle on Wilkinson. AYright said that since Wilkinson came to tlie house he had lost the affcction of his wife ancl children. POLICE OFFICER'S IMPRESSJONS. Sergeant Henry said the father was a weli-conducted and inoft'ensive man, but the youth seemecl to be the whole tronble. Wright liacl the shovel handle aud he rushed out ancl jabbed AVilkinson iu the stomach and hit him on the head. This brobe the handle. Wilkinson denied kicking or tripping Wright. He said they had a "stand-up fight." Once, when passing him in the street, Wright struck him in the face. AYhen he left after the scuffle Wright threw stones at him, despite his broken arm. When asked, "Are you going to tlie house again ?" Wilkinson said, "Not if I can belp it." The Magistrate said tliat even though AVright's wife and daughters encouraged Wilkinson's visits, a man was entitled to liave his home to himself. The young man had perpetrated a gross assault and he was extremely lucky to-be before tlie Court only on the present matter and not 011 a more serious oue, He oydered A\ilkinson to find within seven days a surety of £50 to keep the peace, in default a prison terni not exceeding twelve moiitlis. He also ordered AVilkinson to pay the full costs of the action.