SCENE AT THE DERBY

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1930, Page 8

SCENE AT THE DERBY

FIGHT ON TOP OF BUS. Fashionably-dressed men and women crowded Epsom Police Court when Major Victor Beaufort, described aS of the Goring Hotel, Ebury Street, London, summoned Sir Basil Clarke, of Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea, for common assault. It was alleged in the wording of the summons that Sir Basil “did unlawfully assault and beat the said Major Victor Beaufort at Epsom Downs on June 4.”

The summons was dismissed and the chairman said that there would be no order for costs.

Mr. Ben Thomas, for Major Beaufort, said the summons arose out of an incident on the top of an omnibus at the Derby.

Major Beaufort and his wife and stepson bought three tickets for places on a St. Dustan’s omnibus, and Major Beaufort took up his position in the gangway between the two front seats, intending to watch the race. Admiral Sir Henry Bruce was seated on the major’s left, and behind him was Sir Basil Clarke and Lady Clarke. The admiral complained that he could not see the race with Major Beaufort 'Standing in the position he was.

Major Beaufort asked another smaller man to stand in front of him, which he did, and when the race finished there was some dispute regarding the winner, and for the general information of those on the omnibus, Major Beaufort stood with one foot on the left scat and one on the right to see the number. “Whether he fell or whether the admiral pushed him inadvertently or not,” said Mr. Thomas, “Major Beaufort fell forward as if to go over the front of the omnibus.

“Saving himself, he asked the admiral what he thought he was doing. Before he could recover, Sir Basil dealt Major Beaufort a blow in the face —a blow of. such force that he cut the inside of his mouth against his false teeth and blackened his eye for a week afterwards.” Mr. Thomas added that Sir Basil followed it up by attempting to throw Major Beaufort off the omnibus, and went at him with raised knee as -if to kick him. HEAD HELD “IN CHANCERY.” Major Beaufort, in self-defence, took Sir Basil’s head under his arms and held him “in chancery” until he saw there was no more light left in him. Mr. Thomas said he could only describe it as “ruffianly conduct,” and 'for a man in Sir Basil’s position it aggravated the offence. Major Beaufort gave evidence bearing out the story related by his counsel. He said, when questioned about his size, that he stood 6ft and was 40in round the chest.

Major Beaufort denied that he was standing in a way calculated to make everything unpleasant for those not as big as he was. If any witness stated that he adopted a threatening attitude toward Admiral Bruce it would be a lie.

Mr. Fox-Andrews, on behalf of Sir Basil Clarke, said Sir Basil, under ithe impression that Major Beaufort was about to strike the admiral, was of the opinion that it was his duty as a gentleman and in law to prevent an unjustifiable assault. He did what any decent Englishman would have done, and hit Major Beaufort. Sir Basil took that course, and, having done it, did not regret it. Sir Basil Clarke gave evidence that. Major Beaufort obstructed the view, and his answer to various requests to sit down was always, “You shut up.” He said when asked by the conductor to go to his seat, “I am going to stop here.”

Sir Basil said Major Beaufort strode up in a manner which gave every evidence that he was about to strike the admiral.

“I stepped forward and gave him a blow with my left fist,” he added. “He turned round on .me and I gave him another with the right. Blows fell very quickly, both right and left.” There had been previous trouble with the major, and an hour and a-half of arguing.

Mr. Fox-Andrews said certain references had&been made to Lady Bruce. She had been dead many years, and another woman was with the admiral on Derby Day. Sir Basil Clarke, cross-examined by Mr. Thomas, remarked in regard to Major Beaufort, ‘I thought he was a bounder, but did not say so.” He denied that he went at the major with his knee raised. The major tried to pull his ear off and later he had to have it dressed.