THE NORTON-MEAGHER FRACAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10910, 15 November 1898, Page 5

THE NORTON-MEAGHER FRACAS.

A CELEBRATED SYDNEY CASE. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. Sydney, November 14. Meagher has been found guilty of common assault on Norton, and was recommended to mercy on the ground of provocation. He was remanded for sentence.

At the Central Police Court, Sydney, on October 20, before Mr. Isaacs, S.M., Richard Denis Meagher, mining agent, and " illiam Lawless, clork, appeared on remand, charged with assaulting in company with two others John Norton, thereby occasioning to him actual bodily harm on September 2. Mr. Chenhall appeared to watch the case, instructed by Superintendent Read; Mr. \\. J. Hill appeared on behalf of Lawless, and Mr. Norton was present as prosecutor. The accused Meagher was not represented by counsel. Mr. Hill objected to there being two prosecutors, as there evidently would be if Mr. Norton appeared on his own behalf, and if Mr. Chonhall conducted the case for the police. The magistrate said it was competent for Mr. Norton to appear on his own behalf. John Norton, the prosecutor, gave evidence. He said the blows given _ him by Meagher caused him great pain, which he had felt ever since, together with nausea. After giving evidence with regard to the pursuit by him of Meagher, Norton continued that accused Lawless tried to trip witness up during the pursuit. Lawless gave witness a blow on the mouth, and afterwards made another blow, which the bystanders prevented. The othor two mon mentioned in the warrant assaulted the witness between the corner of Pitt and King Streets and the place where ho desisted from the pursuit of Meagher. By Meagher: Witness did not remember a Mr. Rankin coming to him and telling him that he (Rankin) was one of those who struck him. Rankin came to his office and said, "What do two men like you and Meagher want to quarrel for? I do not want to be dragged '"nto the case." Rankin told him that immediately witness fired the revolver he struck him a severe blow. Rankin said, "You know 1 caused that wound behind your ear." Witness never said, "It served me right, I should never have pursued him." Rankin saw him on one other occasion, and had written him a letter, but on other occasions witness refused to see him. By Mr. Hill: Lawless interfered while Meagher was assaulting him at the corner. Lawless interfered with him while lie was clutching at Meagher's coat. At the time Lawless struck him in the mouth witness was clutching hold of Meagher's coat. To the Bench: His recollection was just as vivid as to Lawless a a it was to Meagher. The oilier men did not interfere with him to prevent him using his revolver. As soon as he drew the revolver, not one man attempted to interfere with him. In the police yard there was not tho slightest hesitation by him in identifying Lawless. He did not give evidence about Lawlessjit the prosecution against himself, because lie did not want tho other side to know what he knew, and because he received information that it might interfere with the arrest of the other two men. Boyond describing Lawless as a man unknown, witness had nothing to do with hTo Mr. Chenhall: Lawless struck him before lie felt for the rovolver. As the result of tho blows he received that day witness could not properly follow his avocation. Mr. Ohenhall: Now, let us have all this about Rankin. _ Witness: Rankin some time after the assault came to mo and said, "It is a pity Meagher and you should be quarrelling like this. Your futures arc before you; you are both young men, and it will do you no good. Meagher wants to subpoena mo, and I do not want to be mixed up with the thing. Meagher objected to this evidence, as it was something which took place behind his back. , Mr. Chonhall submitted that inasmuch as some of tho conversation had been brought out in cross-examination by Meagher, the prosecution was entitled to have the whole of tho statement. The magistrate allowed the evidence. Witness, continuing: I said to Rankin, " If you do not want to be mixed up with it, why not tell Mr. Meagher?" He said, " Let me see; I was the follow that came up and hit you behind the car and knocked you down. I am sorry I hit you so hard." I then said, " Look here, you had better fix that up with Mr. Moagher, but you know there is such a tiling as laws to punish you for conspiracy and perjury." Rankin went on to describe what a good runner I was. and what a bad runner Meagher was. I said, "You can take what course you think proper. If Meagher does not subpoena you, I probably will. ' He said, " I don't want to be subpoenaed as a witness, as I have got an engagement up the country, and it will cost me hundreds of pounds not to go. Now, why do you not square the matter?"— the identical words used to me by a man on the Town Hall steps. A couplo of days later Rankin came to me again, and in tho presence of three or four of my staff spoke in a vory anxicus manner. I said, "You had better not talk about this case any mere. You know what you are going to do, and you krow tho risk you run." Ho said he was a friend to each of us, and he wuikl like to seo the matter settled. Rankin came again a third lime, and I refund to see him. He was there on olhei occasions when I was out. Then after all'Rankin sent me a letter, marked " private," talking most unaccountably to me in terms of friendship and goodwill. The case lasted till October 26. when Meagher was committed for trial. Norton had already been committed for trial for firing on Meagher with a revolver subsequent to the horsewhipping.