BARMAN AND LICENSEE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 9

BARMAN AND LICENSEE

FRACAS OVER'NOTICE,

John M'Donald, barman of the Terminus Hotel, was charged before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., this morning with assaulting the licensee yesterday. Mr. Scott appeared for the accused. Simon Edilson, the licensee, gave evidence that M'Donald had walked into his office at 5 p.m., and asked for his wages. Witness demanded notice, and taking exception to M'Donald's language, asked him to leave the office, whereupon witness was assaulted. He displayed, a blood-stained shirt and cracked lips as evidence. Mr. Orr~Walker: "Did you stand up and fight him?" Witness: "No." Lawrence Alan Marshall) a porter, i said that when he went into the office he found Edilson and JH'.Donald both fighting freely. Edilsoa hit M'Donald three times. Edilson was excited and rather dazed. Mr. Scott said that M'Donald had offered to give two days' notice, aud Edili sou had struck him first. The accused, giving evidence, said that he had asked to be paid up to that night, but when told he Would lose two days' pay, had offered to give two days' notice, but Edilson would not accept it Unless it was given the following morning. Witness replied that 48 hours' notice was all that he was entitled to, and Edilson then reached out and struck him. After that Edilson got the worst of it, until the fight was stopped. To Senior-Sergeant Lander, witness said that at one time he had been a boxer, and had seen a good deal of fighting. He would not have struck a man of Edilson'a size unless he had been struck first.

Police evidence was also given. The Magistrate. said he was not prepared to convict, as he thought the licensee had been himself to blame.