"A WILLING GO."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 960, 9 March 1917, Page 11

"A WILLING GO."

IN THE WRONG PLACE. THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT. George Wells, a tall young man, and I Edward Cotton, whose height was in the region of "live feet nothing," collectively and with one voice answered "not guilty" at the Magistrate's Court to-day to a charge of using threatening behaviour in the public bar of the Excelsior Hoi el on February 24. Mr Cassidy appeared for Wells and Mr Alpers for Cotton. Evidence was given by John Council that the two accused commenced an argument in the street. "That ! gentleman there," said the witness J pointing to Wells, "hit the other chap first." The "other chap" (Cotton) thereupon walked into the bar of the Excelsior Hotel and was followed by Wells, who again followed up the argument with a blow. Cotton retaliated, and a scullle on the floor was ended by the barman joining in the fray and ejecting both combatants. • The barman gave evidence of the fracas and io his summary method of participation. Mr Cassidy (io Ihe witness): 1! was merely a "iillle exercise" between Iwo gentlemen, eh? The witness: Yes, a little bit of sport. Mi- Cassidy: What they say in spoiling circles as a "willing go"? The witness (dryly): Yes, hut in the wrong place.—(Laughter..) For the defence, Mr Cassidy stated that Wells appeared to have been

punished enough,-as he lost 25/- out of his pockets in the wrestling bout on the floor. It was not a case for a penally. "My client is a licensed cabman," said Mr Alpers, "and a conviction would injure him as regards his license. He was not the aggressor, but showed by his actions he was clearly a man of peace. In fact, possibly his lack of inches induced him to the belief that discretion was the better part of valour, and after the first altercation he tried to get away by entering the bar. "But as Shakespeare says," continued Mr Alpers, " 'it is a long worm which has no turning," and when hit again in the bar, the small, but plucky Cotton showed he was a man of courage, and struck manfully back." The Magistrate, Mr Bailey, remarked that Wells appeared to have been the person wholly responsible. Wells would therefore he lined 40/and costs. The charge against Cotton would be dismissed. »—■ *_