RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1174, 25 December 1868, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THURSDAY, December 24. Morris -Lent/ was charged with assaulting It. Freeman, clerk to Messrs. Curtis Brothers. Mr. EjngdON appeared for the defendant and explained that there had been some little political excitement at the time the offence was committed, fqr he admitted that his client had struck the plaintiff, but he thought an inspection of the complainant would show that no damage had been sustained, the case might be iustly dealt with by a very insignificant fine. The Magistrate : Probably an arrangement could be.come to between the parlies. Mr. Freeman: No, sir, I have appealed to the law, and by that it must be decided. The Magistrate said he would hear Mr. Freeman on the matter. Mr. Freeman : I was not out for any electioneering purpose, but on an errand to Messrs. Adams and Kijjijdon's, when I saw a board stuck up against our pommifctee room The Magistrate . What do you rail " our cooir mitt, c room." That looks very like electioneering Mr. Freeman : Thai' Ban inadyertency on my part. J do. not deny fchat I should wish to see Mr. Shephard succeed. The Magistrate : Ypu do not suppose that there ipas any malicious intention on the part of the c|ef''ndant, Mr. Freeman: No. Ido not. H* struck me plump on the ear with his closed hand. There njay not be any mark, but there is an uncomfortable pain there. Jf ho hnd struck me a little further Mr. KiSGD "-n : Oh, never mind what would have happened, if he had done sompthing else which ho didn't do. The M4<Jl3Tßate said he thought the caße would be met by the infliction of a nominal fine, ths assault not.hating been a deliberate one, but induced by the momentary ebullition of temper at the time of an election contest. He should flue defendant 13. Wjd costs.