Christmas Feud at South Karori

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 7

Christmas Feud at South Karori

Fists Fly in all Directions REVOLVER AND AXE IN BACKGROUND. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. A “battle royal” in South Karori on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was described by witnesses in the Magistrate’s Court to-day during the hearing of ten assault charges against five different defendants, and other charges involving the possession of an automatic pistol and ammunition. Several of tho defendants had had to receive medical attention as a result of the battle, one being kept in hospital for five weeks with a broken jaw and injuries to his sides, chest, throat and tongue. The end of the contest took place on the afternoon of Christmas Day, when eight persons were involved, three being knocked unconscious. John Gordon Kilminster, a farmer, w'as charged with assaulting James Robert McKenzie and with having an automatic pistol, and ammunition adapted for the use of it, in his possession. His brother, Frederick Percival Kilminster, a farmer, was charged with assaulting Eileen Mehlhopt and James Robert McKenzie, aud a third brother, Lawrence Victoi Kilminster, a farmer, was charged with assaulting Ruben Mehlhopt and Albert Henry Mehlhopt, farmers, and also McKenzie. Lawrence Kilminster, in his turn, charged the Mehlhopt brothers with assaulting him, and John Gordon Kilminster charged McKenzie with assault.

Mr. J. Morling, S.M., was on the Bench. Mr. W. Goodwin appeared for the Kilminster brothers.

Detective-Sergeant P. Doyic, who prosecuted, said that on Christmas Eve the Mehlhopts, who were farmers in South Karori, had a Christmas festival, and at about 10 p.m. John Gordon Kuminster, an uninvited guest, but still a friend of the Mehlhopts, arrived. Although slightly intoxicated, he was offered some drinks and accepted them. Subsequently, it was suggested that the menfolk should put in 4b 6d each to pay for the liquor. Kilminster demurred, and another guest, McKenzie, suggested that if that was the way Kilminster felt about it he, McKenzie, would pay the other’s share. Kilminster immediately struck McKenzie several times. They were separated. Kilminster took off his coat, vest and shirt, and was clad only in his trousers. Fighting drunk, he charged McKenzie, but missed him, striking his head against the window, which broke, cutting him about the head. He had something to eat, and decided to go home, but had only just got on his horse when he saw McKenzie in tho garden, and, jumping off, rushed him aud again assaulted him with his fiats. A light took place in .the garden, and Kilminster was knocked down in the process. He went home, but his brother Frederick arrived at the party at Mehlhopts at 1.30 a.m. and then assaulted McKenzie, hitting him three times when he was sitting down. He mentioned that his brother John was in a bad way, so Mehlhopt went around to see him aud asked Frederick to come back and get some whisky for John, whose jaw was apparently broken. A further light then occurred. On Christmas Day, continued Mr. Doyle, Frederick returned to apologise to Mrs. Mohlhopt, saying to McKenzie, in passing, that they “would get him.” Later, Frederick arrived with his brother Lawrence. McKenzie was grabbed from near the door and pullod backwards over the gravel with his shirt over his head, so that he could not see. Lawrence started to jump on McKenzie’s stomach. Mehlhopt intervened, but was knocked out by a blow on the forehead with a stick. Ruben, his brother, came to his defence, but was held with one arm and struck in the face with the other, so that his false teeth were broken. They also pulled his trousers off. McKenzie was meanwhile crawling back into the* house. Frederick Kilminster throw Mrs. Mehihopt, who was also taking part in defence, against a wall, rendering her unconscious. Constable Cattaiach was called iu and had to summon medical assistance immediately.

McKenzie, in evidence, said that though he offered to shake hands, Frederick Kilminster threatened 4 'to tear him to pieces” for assaulting his brother. When John Kilminster got off the horse ho knocked down both witness and another man, Livingstone. Witness got up and said, “Come on, I’m ready this time,” and after John Kilminster had charged, he (Kilminster) was carried inside.

Witness produced a shirt in ribbons, and stained with blood, w r hicli Ihe said he was wearing. “The Only Way’’

Cross-examined by Mr. Goodwin, witness said that he stood in the doorway with an axe, saying, ‘ 1 Come on now, come on,” because it was the only way. Lawrence said to his brother Frederick when he saw the axe, “Let’s go.” Albert Henry Mehlhopt, in evidence, said that he remembered coming to, on Christmas afternoon, with blood streaming from his face. Frederick was then punching and strangling McKenzie in the porch, and his wife was holding the inside of the door against Lawrence, who was trying to break in. He re-