BRUTAL ATTACK ON A FATHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9064, 26 May 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

BRUTAL ATTACK ON A FATHER.

WALTER Brightman, 32, and Thomas Brightman, 28, labourers, of 15, Andrewstreet, Silvertown, woro charged, at West Ham Police Court, on March 27, with assaulting their father Thomas. Prosecutor, an elderly man, employed at Beckton Gasworks, said that at about six o'clock on Tuesday night he had just sat down to tea, when his sons came in, and one hit him on the head with a chair. He was fellod to the ground, and then both of thorn knocked him about. Ho implored them to desist from their violence. Tlioy used several chairs and broke them over his head. He lost "about a quart of blood," but he hoped the magistrate would be lenient with them. Esthor Brightman, tho daughter, said she was in the kitchen when she heard a noise, and going into tho room she saw Walter on the top of hor fathor, who was on the ground! Ho had hold of his father's scarf, and Thomas was kicking him and attempting to hit him with a chair. He said to Walter, " Kill him." Sho ran for a policeman, and when she came back her mother was washing tho blood off her father's head and ho was afterwards taken to a doctor's. Before her father came in she had brought beer for her brothers. Walter pleaded "Guilty," and said ho wau very sorry; Thomas said he must have been out of his senses if ho did it—ho was drunk. Mr. Baggally said he had great doubt whother his power was adequate to deal with this case, and whether ho should not aond the prisoners for trial. But a« tho prosecutor askod for leniency he would deal with the cases. Prisoners would each go to gaol for six weeke, with hard labour.