“STOPPING HIS TONGUE.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3562, 29 June 1912, Page 5

“STOPPING HIS TONGUE.”

AN ABUSIVE CHARACTER. 'i Lf/i'xn ovKit r ro keep the PIC ACE. An interesting case* was heard be- • faro Sir W. A. Barton yesterday, when Thomas Donovan was charged with using threatening behavior to on< William Adams. Complainant, mr whom .Air Burnard appeared, usmxi that Donovan should be bound over to keep the peace. Mr Coleman detendAclams said lie was caretaker ofdvlr Newton's stables and detendant had m) right to bo about these stables. Defendant had been there with a pack of dogs nearly every day fertile past six weeks. Ho had dug holes in t..e ground, which were a source of dang.'r to the horses, and erected barb wire, which injured one horse- On Tuesday last defendant called witness an abusive name, and said if bo caught him hv himself ho would kill him? Defendant came at him, and witness cleared out. The same aiternoon, when witness returned, defendant was chopping trees, and lie chased witness with uu axe, and used tin eatcuing language. To Air Coleman : Witness had the pitchfork with liim last night, tie slept in the loft. Witness took some tools over to Mr Newton’s, for ho was afraid defendant would kill him with a, spade. Witness did not know they were defendant’s tools. Defendant did not complain about witness using the tables for hovse-tiainmg purposes. Defendant said d J t- eo«t liim £IOO he would have witness sluited. He never threatened to get defendant into trouble about two years ago. . , Further evidence was given bv Alfred Adams and J. E. Newton. Defendant said it was arranged that lie should cut down a hedge near the stables and plant -some trees. He went in his spare time to do this work. On Tuesday he went to get his tools to finish the work, and they were missing. Be asked ootnpUunan for them, and the latter told witness to get off the place. Complainant had a pitchfork in his hand- Witness said if it cost him £IOO he would get complainant out of the stables. He asked for his tools again, and complainant said they were at Newton s. in the afternoon, when complainant returned, witness asked fur ..the tools, and ccmnlainant said he would have witness* settled. Subsequently the tools \vcr> brought hack. Witness denied making threats, and said he never eliased complainant witn an axe. till ad no intention of hurting him ; it lie had lie could easily have stood him on his head. ... His Worship said ho was i.uaio from past cases that defendant was ol a very quarrelsome and abusive disposition. He was satisfied defendant did use threats, which, to say Hie least of it, was very cowardly. Defendant could not be permitvod to goon threatening and annoying, people in such a way. Defendant would be bound over to keep the- peace in sureties of £lO and two sureties ot £o each, or one in £lO. “If this does not have the effect of stopping your tongue., 1 will h are to use mord stringent measures,’ concluded His Worship. ,