MAYOR ASSAULTED

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 July 1925, Page 7

MAYOR ASSAULTED

SEQUEL TO ELECTION.

. “I immediately recognised my position and the place we were in so 1 restrained myself from the demonstration J myself have made,” said Mr J. Bridger, Mayor of Eltham, in the local Magistrate's Court as the complainant in an assault charge, and the defendant in a counter cnarge.

Gerald H, J. Fitzgerald was charged with having assaulted Bridger, and Bridger in a cross action was proceeded against for assaulting Fitzgerald.. . • Sergt Henry explained that Bridger and J. AV. Stubbs stood in conversation near the Post Office steps discussing the recent election, when the former was elected Mayor of the borough. ' Fitzgerald was standing near-by listening to the conversation. He then approached in a threatening attitude, and later struck the Mayor on the face.

Giving evidence Bridger said that Fitzgerald was standing on the top step, and came into the discusison uninvited. AVitness and Stubbs were talking about certain letters witness had'sent out; prior to the election, and Fitzgerald, not fully understanding the question under review, broke into tneir talk by saying “Yes, a sort of Ku Klux Klan propaganda.” AVitness retaliated by asking “Is that the sort of stuff you sent out ” Fitzgerald immediately sprang from the step and grabbed witness by the arms. AVitness said he threw out his arms to prevent himself from falling, but not in such a manner as to make an aggressive action. He told Fitzgerald not to be an ass.” AVitness denied giving any provocation.

I'itzgerald, in his evidence, said that Bridger- had made certain derogatory remarks concerning returned soldiers, placing them in a class with Bolsheviks, Coffimunists, and other disloyalists. He was annoyed, and adopted a vigorous means of protest. John William Stubbs, J.P., gave evidence supporting the Mayor’s side of the story. “Except for the fact that this unseemly affair occurred on the steps of the Post Office at midday, and but for the official position occupied by Bridger, I would be inclined to treat this matter in a different manner,” said the Magistrate. He felt that Stubbs, being the only disinterestedperson, had to be believed, and Stubbs had said that Fitzgerald was the aggressor. If the Mayor of the town had taken upon himself to insult returned soldiers or Fitzgerald personally, there wn R a remedy according to law, but Fitzgerald had no right to take the law into his own hands, even presuming/ that the Mayor had used the language complained of. The charge of Fitzgerald’s against Bridger would be diemissed. On the police charge Fitzgerald would be fined £1 with costs.