THE WOODVILLE DISTURBANCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1904, Page 5

THE WOOD VILLE DISTURBANCE.

CASES BEFORE THE COURT. [BY TELEOHArn — I'IIESS ASSOCIATION.] WOODVILLE, 24th August. Tho Austial Guards Bniul cases wore fully ventiki&d in tho Police Court today. Tito hearing of the changes excited unusual interest, and the Court was crowded throughout tho day. The cases were called on at 10 a.m., and the evidence was not concluded until after Uvo o'clock. Messrs. Mow tan (Palnierston North) and Trewin (Poildlng) appeared on be- | half of the members of the band, and Mr. Gotlnvrd for tho local residents consented in the cases. There were four charges in all, Tho first case taken watt that of Bandsman Johns, who charged Eccles, driver of the mail coach, with assault Informant alleged thnt Eccles flogged him with a whip as tho band was proceeding from the station to the town. A number of witnesses were called, but the evidence was of a very conflicting nwturo. The Bench held thnt Eccles was guilty of assault, but- characterised the offence as a very trivial one, and fined accused go« shilling and costs (22s 6d). In the case of Eccles versus Gore, a charge of using insulting language, whereby a breach of the peace might have been occasioned, defendant's solicitors admitted the use of the words "detestable our " contained in the information, but submitted the words were not calculated to create a breach of tho peace.' The Bench upheld thi» view, ana dismissed the charge without calling on the defence. Tho oases arising out of the fracas at tho railway station vrere next dealt ■with. Eccles and Johns w.ere jointly charged' with creating a breach of the . „ peace. The evidence disclosed that the ban daman (Johns) took .in unfair advantages of Eccles, and the Benoh decided that Johns was responsible for the trouble. The case against Eccles was dismissed, and Johns was fined £2 and costa (19s), in default ten days' imprisonment. Bandsman Gower and Rosenberg (a civilian) won similarly charged. The Bench decided that the bandsman was the aggressor, but held thnt the other defendant might have avoided the trouble had he chosen to do so. Gower was fined £1 and costs (10s 6d), in default seven days' imprisonment, and the other defendant 10s and costs (10s 6d).