FLAGSTAFF TRESPASSERS.

Evening Star, Issue 11682, 14 February 1902, Page 3

FLAGSTAFF TRESPASSERS.

LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. After w* went to press yesterday the charge brought by John George Green that he was assaulted on February 5 at Flagstaff by Benjamin Budd was heard at the City Police Court, before Mr K. H. Carew, S.M. Mr Solomon appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Emslie for defendant, who pleaded guilty. Mr Solomon started the facts to be that Mr Budd, the defendant, was a propertyholder in the neighborhood of Flagstaff, and had been before the Court once or twice before under similar circumstances. On the present occasion Mr Green had been for a walk with his step-son to Flagstaff, and when coming down was hailed by the old man, who demanded that they should "come out of that" Thinking he was by trespassing on bis property. Mr Green said: "AH right, as qnick os I can." He got out of the old man's property as fast as possible, but when he got to the road he found the old man waiting for him, and the latter wanted to know what he meant by trespassing o nhis property. Mr Green said he was sorry if be hod done so, and that if he had done any damage he would pay for it. Rudd was very angry, and seized hold of Green, and a bit of a scuffle ensued, and both fell to the ground. MiGreen ultimately wrenched himself away from the old man, his necktie being left in the hitter's hands as be got up. Rudd also seized his gold watch chain as he whs rising, and that was broken, and part left in Rudd's band. Mr Green said : " What right have you to treat me like that," and stooped down to pick up the chain, and then the worst part of the affair occurred, the old man rushing at him and kicking him twice behind the ear very violently so that he bad to be attended by «- doctor all that, night and next day. It was only fair to state that he knew from past experience that the old man was much annoyed by trespassers on his property. Mr Emslie said Solomon had put a fair statement of the matter before the Court. He would like to point out, however, that practically speaking the whole of the top of Flagstaff was Rudd's property, part of it freehold and part leased. On holidays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays a number of persons were frequently walking through and trespassing on Iris ground, though in this case Mr Green had assured them he was an innocent tresfxisser. Mr Rudd had to stand this annoyance year in and jcar out. Considerable damage was often done to his fence and any crop he might have. It was admitted that during the tussle Mr Green was kicked. ?nd he bad therefore advised Mr Rudd to plead guilty. Mr Rudd had no way of getting any redress, and it was a caw ior merely a nominal penalty. His Worship said that it was a difficult thing to know what to do with this moo, whether he should not be punished or s-?nt to some place where-he could be controlled. Only about a week ago, as he himself knew, he was following some young women up an J down in the Kaikorai tram, but they managed to keep him in the tram while the young women escaped.- (Mr Rudd:' " These women had been annoying me and damaging my property.") If he went on as he was doing he was sure to land in trouble. He would be convicted and fined 20s, wit ft professional costs (two guineas).