A MEMORABLE MEETING.

Mataura Ensign, 16 May 1912, Page 4

A MEMORABLE MEETING.

CHARGE OF ASSAULT. AX INTERESTING CASE. At the Gore Magistrates Court to-day More Mr H. A. Young, S.M., Jamas Mackay (Mr Inder) was charged on tho information of tho police with assaulting Angus Mackay at Glencoo on April 22. Angus Mackay gave evidence to tho effect that he attend* d the householders' meeting at Gleneoe on April 22 for the purj>o.se of agisting to elect a School Committee. The. defendant said that at the meeting Mackay objected to witness-and Mr Mcintosh being present. Witness said ho had a right there and defendant then struck witness several times across the arm with a- walkingstick. He gave no provocation. Cross-examined: The arm was bruised arid sore for a day or two. Witness did not report the case to the police nor did he complain to anyone. Witness lived in his hut on his farm. Ho would not swear that Mcintosh (the chairman) had said he had written to the police. When witness said to M:i"kav. "Thas is ; enough of that!" Mackay did not hit i him again. The business of the meet- ! in:', went on all right. A arm named I Hay suggested at the meeting that j Mai-kay should be put out, but the i meeting proceeded quietly. Win. McDonald gave c-roborntivo evidence as to defendant striking Angus Mackay on the arm with a stick twice. Defendant went to the door and said he would throw Mcintosh and Mackay out, hut he came back and resumed his seat. Someone said that defendant i should bo put out, but matters settled down and the business was proceeded I with. Mcintosh complained to the poliee about defendant's action. The | mutter was not a trivial one. j Joseph Mcintosh said he was chairi man (if the householders' meeting at, •Gleneoe on Ap.-il 22 last, and gave oor- > roborativo .valence. Defendant used | a good deil of vile language and odI dered witness and Angus Mackay out of j the building. Cross-examined: lie was a bachelor. As chairman of the meeting he oomplainod to the. police regarding defendant's action and did not consult Angus Mackay on the matter. Mr Indor ask.nl for the dismissal of the case as trivial. The magistrate said that the police acted properly In bringing the case. It was just as well that public meetings in the outlying districts should be eonducted pro]HMly, and a man should not bo allowed to enforce his arguments by force. Tfier© was a case to answer. James Mackay, the defendant, said that neither Hay, Mcintosh, nor Angus McDonald had children going to school. He gave evidence as to what took place at the meeting. He wanted to find out why a certain letter was I written to the returning officer which defendant considered reflected on his ■character and he wanted the minute | read which authorised the letter. Angus Mackay made a remark that witness would not be heard and witness replied that he would be felt. Witness just tapped Mackay on the shoulder ae.d said, "You will see!" He dkl : not assault Mackay nor had he any attention of doing so. Cross-examined : Witness expressed regret to Con ;.ab!e Portions at what jhad hao;e:ied. He f.-lt hurt at the I tone of tho ! ;:, r which had lien writ- ! ten to the n turning oi'iicer. | '1 he magistrate said an assault had j been committed and dial, this tiling ! should be stoj.j.ed. !t was refreshing Ito see such interest taken in School Committee elections, but this was not the sort of way to act at such meetings. The as.,;iu't was not a severe one end the d■•ieinlant would lie con-vict,-.1 ran! ofi-'f. ;i i. i pay w'tm •e ," oxoense;, .".!V-..