CALLING A MAN A HANGMAN.

Marlborough Express, Volume XII, Issue 903, 21 March 1877, Page 7

CALLING A MAN A HANGMAN.

We clip the following report of a case tried before W. Eraser, Esq., R.M., at the Thames, on Friday, March 2nd, from the Thames Advertiser, as we understand that it may have * local application, and teach certain malicious tongues to stop their wagging :— Matthew Kitt was charged ■with unlawfully, and for the purpose of annoyance and provocation, using insulting and provoking language towards one John Graham, such language tending to provoke a breach of the peace. 1 Mr J. A. Miller appeared for the defendant. John Graham deposed that on Tuesday, the 6th of February, he was standing at the Bank corner m Albert-street, when he saw defendant.

He came up and told, witness he was a hangman, and Detective Brennan had told him so. Witness asked him to repeat what he said, and he did so, saying Sam Brennan told hi>n so that morning, adding that he came down m the Eotomahana, that morning after hanging Curtain and had just come from Mr BuUen's after receiving £50 for the job. By Mr Miller : I don't know if I could have come down that morning after hanging Curtain. There were a number of persons present. They might have been joking with me. It occurred on the morning of Curtain's execution. I laid this inf ormation on the 27th February. I found that the rumour spread, but I thought at first it would die out. He said he met Sam Brennan that morning and he told him so. I By the Court : The report had hurt him m getting employment. He was pointed out as the hangman, and told when he went to look for employment that they did not want a hangman. Matthew Kitt denied putting the words m. the offensive way described. He asked complainant if it was true that he had been up to Auckland hanging Curtain. He did say that Brennan told him so. He meant Detective Brennan. His Worship reprimanded the. witness for his disgraceful conduct m telling a lie to the injury of an innocent man. His conduct would probably be the means of depriving the man and his family of bread. . , Patrick Whelan deposed that he was present at the Bank Corner when he heard Kitt say to Graham — "Halloa, Graham, have you come down from Auckland after hanging Curtain?" He did not say, "You're ab — hangman." • ' His Worship said this was aggravating the offence, trying to substantiate it after it had been admitted. Mr Miller said they were called there to answer a certain charge which they denied, and which witness denied. His Worship : "I am not speaking to you, Mr Miller." . ; Mr Miller: "Your Worship was looking at me." His Worship : " Surely I could look at you. Sit down, sir. Your client admits 1 the disgraceful offence, and your respectable witness also." Defendant said he meant no harm m what he said. He was laughing at the time, and those around him also. He was|only joking. His Worship said that he must be taught that such jokes could not be allowed when they njured a man's character and prevented ?,him from getting work, for he knew complainant had been injured by the report. He should bind defendant over m the sum of £50, to keep the peace for six months, and order him to find a respectable surety for the same amount, and pay the costs. i The costs were £1 7s 6d. Mr Samuel Alexander became surety.