Assault Case at Wrights Bush

Southern Cross, Volume 17, Issue 26, 9 October 1909, Page 9

Assault Case at Wrights Bush

The Tothill-Williamson troubles ended in a prosecution for assault on Wednesday morning-, when John Williamson, farmer, was charged with assaulting George Tothill, gardener. The parties are neighbours, Tothill having a lease of some of Williamson's land for a market garden, and although ' neighbours relations have been somewhat strained, and our worthy S.M. (Mr Cruickshanks) listened attentively to both sides of the question. It appears that on a recent Thursday Tothill put his dogs on to one of Williamson's fowls which was in his garden, and Williamson went over to investigate, but his Burns-.I ohnston instincts got the better of him, and although severely punished, George took his gruelling like a man, and his face in court bore ample evidence of the affray. Williamson said he haa nr grudge against Tothill, but as he was afraid the man was possessed of , a revolver, which he previously had in his possession, he hit him in self-defence. Tothill outlined his side of the business, and spoke of repeated trouble with horses, etc., getting into his garden. He had a. revolver, but he never intended to use it on the man, but on a sow that came in—it would kill him to use a revolver on a human being. The sheath-knife he sometimes wore was for cuttinr vegetables, which was a very reasonable explanation. Evidence was given by Phillip Rogers, who saw Tothill knocked down, and by Robert Mills and Harry Fitzgibbon, who spoke in the highest terms of Mr Williamson's character, and in relation to conversations that took place. The magistrate said he was satislied there had been an assault. There was no provocation to justify the man knocking the other down. Defendant was convicted and fined £2, with £2 14s 6d costs, half the fine to go to Tothill. Mr O'Beirne, for defendant, asked that the fine be increased to £5 inorder that he might be able to appeal, but the magistrate said no, adding that if he was not unable to untangle a small assault case he had no business on the bench.

Mr H. Macdonald. for plaintiff, asked that Williamson be bound over to keep the peace, but the magistrate said he would not do that, as it might increase friction, and he advised the parties to try and make it up and live at peace with each other. Let us hope that both Williamson and Tothill will now shake hands, and act on the belief that there is room enough in this world for both of them.