FURIOUS FISHER.

NZ Truth, Issue 250, 9 April 1910, Page 6

FURIOUS FISHER.

IS FULL OF FIGHT. Rides Over a Married Couple. \ Then Deals Out Biff. Henry Andrew Fisher, of Christchurch, seems to be a young person of ungovernable temper who finds its possession an expensive luxury^ One night recently he not only hiked into a married couple on the footpath, m the Avon Road, Richmond, but he knocked one oi his victims about when that individual ventured to protest, the sequel being a charge of assault m the Christchurch Magistrate's Court. The victim m question was a middle-aged man named Alfred James Hawton, who appeared m .Court with his nose and 'forehead swathed m sticking-plaster. He was proceeding peacefully along the North Avon Road with his missus, when a moving mass rushed into them from the darkness, Hawton being struck on the leg. When the tangle sorted itself out, Fisher and his bike stood revealed.; Hawton reproached the offender with the circumstance that he carried no light. Fisher's reply was an outbreak of exasperated blanky,' at the conclusion of which * he consigned Hawton to the torrid nether world, where' blankets are unnecessary \ and unknown. Hawton was annoyed. "Mind who you're talking to," he said. Fisher again replied with blanky. Hawton remarked, "You will soon find out who you are talking to," whereupon Fisher, for a brief round, emulated Bill Lang, and Hawton might just as well have been Tahmy Burns, who is reported as indisposed from over-indulgence m cucumber salad. He stopped most of. the whirlwind with his face till the neighbors came out to enjoy the fun ; then Eisher cleared. Hawton followed him up the North Avon Road and attempted to detain Mm, but Fisher had urgent business elsewhere and left no address. Mrs Hawton told the J.P. Bench that the light of a street lamp was jn their eyes when- Fisher biffed into them from the same direction. He hit the lady on the chest and head m the excitement of the moment, and knocked her ; hat m. He then removed his coat, and, with the glare of battle m bis eye, remarked to hubby, "Come out on to the road," whereupon „an unequal ■ combat was waged. The accused was described by the lady as, "This young gentleman here." . , Policeman Regan had to exercise the instinct of Sherlock Holmes to discover thcr offender, who left no clue to his identity. He was carrying defunct hares on his bike, which argued that he wasn't far away from home. Then it was discovered that a young man of similar description was sweet on a girl m the neighborhood, and visited her by night. The law accordingly planted itself near the palace of Juliet, and awaited the coming of Romeo. Romeo came hesitating to the corner, and, seeing more than the ordinary ' number oi people near the dwelling oi His love, suspected, and biked away. Kegan mounted . his own machine and followed, and, wiien close enough, called upon Ms quarry to stop. Mention of 'the police lent wings to Fisher (for it was he), and he spurted, but m his blindness took a bad section of the road, while the bobby smoothly, overhauled him on a rocJdess surface. Fisher was all defiance and acknowledged the stdush. "All I'm sorry for/"lie remarked^ bitterly, "is that 1. didn't 'kill the old blanier/" He tried to intimiiate the ccnstasle, and mentioned that as soon as he got over this, trouble he 1 d butcher Kegan, with the help oi his push; Fisher was one of a gang oi larrikins that gave trouble to the polic«. • At this stage, Fisher said he would like an adjournment to obtain the services of a lawyer. "There's too much against me," he said ; "too many lies been told. I want to get someone to speak Xor me, and speak troe." The Bench and police were willing to have an adjournment, but Fisher acknowledged that he liad no witnesses, and, as the best lawyer on the; globe would be powerless on lite facts, the. tease was proceeded with. Fisher acknowledged that he had no light, and got off his machine when hie' -saw Hawton and missus. -The old feUow* stepped one way and he stepped the same way, and there was a coMislon. He alleged that it was Hajrton who used, unf)ibiical language, and, advancing upon Fisher, threatened to settle him. It was •true that Hawtan was powerless before i Fisher's dirty left and his insanitary ■aright; but m his rage' he> attempted to damage Fisher's bifce. Fislaer desired to .get away from the disturbance, but Hawton followed him and seized his coaj .as security ; also he hurled himself 'on <to the bite with the object of destroying that means of retreat. Fisher was mot marked, Because Hawton's science Swas poor. • Hawton, recalled, contradicted the statement that Filter dismounted when 'he saw the foot passengers. He lost his seat when the collision occurred. Fisher was also charged with riding a lightlcss bike on the footpath, and, pleading guilty, was fined 10s and costs. The Bench (Messrs Seager and Wallace, J's.P.) couldn't find \erms strong to express its disapproval of Fisher's conduct m committing the assault, and imposed a fine of £5 and casts, hall the fine to be paid to Haw»ton to defray his medical and other xexes.