An Assault Case.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XX, Issue 6439, 25 December 1895, Page 3

An Assault Case.

(BT TfKLEOtUtPK.) Ckrjstchcucs, December 24. At the Magistrate's Court this morning Dr de Benzt. T. D. Barman (solicitor); Richard Brown (bone-setter), and Alfred Reynolds (hairdresser) were charged with assaulting Bichard D. Thomas (solicitor). In hit* opening statement counsel for the prosecution said that on the 19th inst. Thomas received a telephonic message to attend at Barman's office. He went round and found the defendants there. D» Renai said that he wanted to ask Thomas what had been said about him at ik meeting of the Hospital Board. Thomas declined to tell him. and turned to leave the office. Be Ranzi said. •* No you don't. You said I ought to be prosecuted. Put up your hands." Thomas replied that he had a weak heart, and was physically unfit to combat. Hwtnan did not interfere. De Reuzi then pulled up his shirt sleeves and struck Thomas in the face* knocking him against the window. Thomas then got ant of the room. A letter was seceived from Harmon stating thai: he was no party to the fracas ; that it all happened so suddenly that be could not interfere. Reynotds was asked by Brown to the office to witness a signature. Evidence was then taken. The first) witness stated that de Rear had toM him that Thomas had been making slanderous statements about him at the Hospital Board and he wished the latter to repeat them before witnesses, so that he (de Renai) would be able to clear his character. That was the reason the others were in the- room. Thomas was in the room only about two minutes. A witness named Conway stated that Thomas put up his hands to defend himself, bat de Beast broke down his guard and punched Thomas in the eye. Bar* man then caught de Renai round the waist end palled Mm away. After the assault was over Thomas said his heart was affected and he was unable to defend himself. Thomas did not appeal to Barman to alfcnr bin to leave the room, and no other person than de Renai prevented Thomas front leaving the room. Witness understood that thereaaeo for bringing Thomas to Barman's office was to ask him to repeat the statements made by him at the meeting of the Hospital Board. __ Thomas, the complainant, sa now m the witness; boat and it is probable that the ca*»win tat tiß late in the day if it is not Whtm cooaael aw tnpgad and there) fa a very tog* attendance, of tk# poblk.