RAILWAY STATION ROW.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3526, 30 December 1913, Page 6

RAILWAY STATION ROW.

A YOUNG MAORI FINED

A young Maori named Joseph Christie appeared before Mr R. S. Florance, S.M., yesterday on a charge of having assaulted one Thomas Sinclair the previous day by striking him with liis fist. Christie pleaded “guilty under provocation,” practically a plea of not guilty. _ * Accused said that he was at the railway station on Saturday and went to the. urinal. <l I said 1 to Sinclair,” he added, “have you had your teeth out,’ and he turned and called me a black . I went away and Sinclair then hit me and called me by the bad name again. Then I turned to him and hit him.”

Mr Sargisson, a railway official, said lie saw the Maori bailing Sinclair up and he saw the latter on the ground bleeding. The Maori was sober, but the pakeha appeared to be more or less under the influence of liquor. : •s Thomas Sinclair said that .when he entered the urinal two Maoris came in and he heard someone say at the same time, “the place is full of black ’s.” Accused asked witness wliat he meant, and witness replied that he did not make use of the expression. The Maori then struck witness several times.

The Magistrate: Were you sober? Witness: Well, I had a few drinks

Christie interjected: “I no want to fight. This the first time in my life. His Worship (to Sinclair) : Have you had any training in boxing? Sinclair : Yes. His Worship: Well able to look after yourself, I suppose ? Sinclair: When I was a young man I was, but I am past that age .now. His Worship said the evidence was against accused, who must have hit and seriously injured the man. He, would bo fined £1 (half of which would go towards mqdical expenses), with costs (2s) and witnesses’ expenses (16s). Christie was allowed seven days in which to find the amount of the fine.