ALLEGED ASSAULT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2353, 20 November 1908, Page 4

ALLEGED ASSAULT.

A SERIOUS CHARGE. MAN WOUNDED WITH A WOOL HOOK. A telephone message avas received at the Police Station about 9.30 p.m. yesterday to the effect that a man had been very badly knocked about in Upper Gladstone Bond, and Avas m i.i critical condition. Sergeant Hutton immediately despatched Const-able Pratt to the scene, avho upon his arrival (it Boebuck Boad found a man named 1 William Harvey leaning against the fence Avit-h his head, face, and neck literally covered with blood, AA’hich was even then flowing quite freely. Harvey stated, in the constable’s inquiries, that he was a boarder at Air. .John Brooking’s house, AA'hich is in the immediate vicinty of Avhere he Avas found. Ho was sitting in the kitchen AAhen somebody knocked and kicked at the back door. He rose from his seat and opened the door, and saw that it Avas a man named James Jackson, Avith Avhom he had had a few drinks during the day. Harvey alleges that Jackson, Avithout any Avar ring or provocation of any kind, attacked him, first striking him several severe bloAvs on the head with a avool hook, and -afterwards pummelling him Avitli his fists. Eventually Harvey escaped from his assailant, land sought refuge in a neighboring house, Avhere Qiis wounds Avere Avasdied, and the police sent for. After attending to Harvey, Constable Pratt proceeded to his residence and arrested Jackson, conveying him to the lock-up- Harvey Avas also brought to the Police Station, where his AAounds Avere stitched and dressed by Dr. Coker, after Avhicli he Avas escorted home.

Jackson is a poAverfully-built man, about the middle height, and Avas for a time a sailor on t-he barque Empreza. Lately he has been emploA-ed loca’ly as a wharf laborer. Harvey is a comparative stranger to Gisborne, and has been for some months employed as a laborer at the railway works at Waihuka. He can give no reason Avhy Jackson should have assaulted him. but it is thought that th© cause of the trouble Avas jealousy concerning la Avoman. Jackson aailL appear at the Police ' curt this morning charged with having assaulted Harvey, with intent to inflict actual bodily harm.