“The Press” In 1865

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 12

“The Press” In 1865

February 17 The trial which took place at the Police Court yesterday was a curious one, because it involved that much disputed point in social morals —when is one man justified, or indeed when is it his duty, to give another man a thrashing? We shall not pretend to determine such a point But one thing we are clear about If Mr A says to Mr B. you have been aspersing my character, and Mr B. denies the charge and asks for witnesses. —What did I say? To whom did I asperse your character? and Mr A. replies—“l shall not tell you; I want no accusers: l am your accuser myself, and u you don't apologise I will horsewhip you; under such circumstances we are quite clear that the horsewhipping is not a defence of character but a most

cowardly assault The curious thing in all these cases of horsewhipping in defence of character is, that somehow it is always a weak defenceless sort of man who has committed the offence. Surely there must be some special overruling Providence which provides that when it is desirable to protect one’s character by whipping somebody, a weak inoffensive creature is always provided by fortuitous circumstances upon whom the expurgation may be practised with the utmost safety. . . . The brutality of the thing stands on Captain Anderson’s own testimony . . . The only odd thing about the whole transaction was that Mr Brooke did not take up the cut-glass decanter on the table and knock him down . . . but Mr Brooke is unfortunately not a pugnacious man ... It is impossible to disconnect this assault from the election.