Quarrel Between Public Men. A MAYOR FINED FOR INSULTING LANGUAGE.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 116, 17 May 1895, Page 4

Quarrel Between Public Men. A MAYOR FINED FOR INSULTING LANGUAGE.

At tbo Albury Police Court on the 7th instant, John Wilkinson, SI P. for Albury, summoned D. S. Watson, Mayor of Alburyi on a charge of using insulting language towards him in a public place. The words complained of were :—": — " You are no good I'll punch your head, you ." The Court was crowded. The defendant pleaded Not Guilty. 3he evidence Bhowed that at the ceremonial opening of the Talgarno B-idge, on the 2Gth ult., Mr. Wilkinson, in the eour.-e of a speech, commented adversely on the absence of the Mayor and Aldermen of Albury from the fnnotion, and said ho supposed that "they were engaged night and day on matters of weightier interest." The defendant was muoh annoyed at ttiese comments, and on meeting Mr. Wilkinson in a publio street a few days afterwards he approaohed the plaintiff, and said, " I'll knock your eyelids off." Mr. Wilkinson tried itp persuade the defendant not to make an exhibition of himself, saying, " If you have no respect for yourself, have some rospeot for your office as Mayor of the town." On this Mr. Watson, it was alleged, became more excited, and made use o" the language complained of, persisting in saying that he would punch Mr. Wilkinson's head Thereupon Mr. Wilkinson said that if Mr. Watson was determined to fight, he would accompany him to the Volunteer Drill Hall, where, with a pair of boxing-gloves., they could settle their differences, and not disgrace themselves by fighting in a publio street. This evidence was corroborated in part by one witness. The defendant deposed that when he accosted Mr. Wilkinson he protested against the remarks made by the member at the bridge opening, but that he used no had language. Thereupon Mr. Wilkinson challenged him to fight in the drill-hall. Defendant then beoamo so excited that he did not reoolleot what he said or did. The Police Magistrate said the 'charge had been proved, and that lie could take no consideration of the sooial position of the parties. He inflicted the full penalty, and fined the defendant £5, with £3 8s 6d costs.