FAIR PLAY IS BONNIE PLAY.

NZ Truth, Issue 81, 5 January 1907, Page 6

FAIR PLAY IS BONNIE PLAY.

TO THE EDITOE.

Sir,— l would like to ; draw your I attention to a piece of injustice reI een^.y perpetrated m -the Christchurch Magistrate's Court, m which a. man named Timber was fined is and costs J for an ■' aasault on Bailey, . the careI taker of the' Brighton Pier. According to 'the unsupported evidence of Constable Roe, the caretaker was drunk at the time. Why Bailey's counsel did not produce a dozen witnesses to prove the contrary surprised many who were spectators that Sunday. Permit me to put the facts before the public. Bailey had "just pulled a man out of the surf,, <md his promptitude no doubt saved the man's life. While coiling his life line, he was accused with throwing Timber's bicycle from 'the shade of the pier into the sun. Denials and reassertions followed, and Bailey naturally excited after just savins a life, and irritated at "being charged with so mean an action used strong language, the result being the assault as reported m the papers. A well-known J.P. m Linwood and many others can testify to the caretaker's sobriety at the time ; and it is hard lines, on a man who ' has been the means of savins about a dozen- lives during the last few vegrs to be. at the mercy of any hoodlum with a fancied grievance. If you can spare the space for this letter m you columns, you will greatly oblige Mr Bailey's friends who would like to see his character vindicated.— I am etc., . FAIR PKA.Y,