The Peer and the Bookmaker.

Evening Star, Issue 7168, 23 March 1887, Page 3

The Peer and the Bookmaker.

Lord Deerhuvst, one of the aides-de-camp to Governor Loch, appeared at the Melbourne District Court on March 10, _ to answer a charge of assault preferred against him by a well-known bookmaker, Robert Sutton. There was a counter charge in which Lord Deerhurst complained of having received grievous bodily injury at the hands of Sutton. Mr Panton was accompanied on the Bench by nearly a score of honorary magistrates, and the Court was crowded to suffocation. Both charges were heard concurrently. The facts appeared to be that during the last Christmas holidays Lord Deerhurst met Sutton at a pigeon match at Hurlingham, and lost wagers to him to the extent of L2Bl. Some delay occurred in settling, and Lord Deerhurst was pestered by Sutton for the money. At length Sutton threatened to post Lord Deerhurst at the Victorian Club as a defaulter. Lord Deerhurst replied, offering terms of settlement, and adding that if Sutton did not like to accept these he could post him “ and be d The debt was soon afterwards paid ; but on February 19 Lord Deerhurst was in the back parlor of on hotel in Bourke street, in company with a friend, when Sutton entered with two companions. Sutton shortly afterwards demanded from Lord Deerhurst an apology for an expression contained in a letter. This resulted in a disturbance. No blows were struck, hut both parties considered they had been technically assaulted. A few days ago Sutton was expelled from the Victorian Club at the instance of Lord Deerhurst, and the first charge of nsiault was laid by Sutton next day. The Bench decided that Sutton and his friends had gone to the hotel with the deliberate intention of inciting a quarrel, and sentenced him to fourteen days’imprisonment. Notice of appeal was given. Sution had taken hia passage by the R.M.S. Carthage for England, aed intended to join the vessel at Adelaide next day. The decision excited great surprise. It was held that both parties should havebeen imprisoned or both discharged.