TROUBLE OVER A CARTOON.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13510, 2 July 1914, Page 2

TROUBLE OVER A CARTOON.

A case that attracted a lot of public interest was, dealt with in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington on Monday, before Mr D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., when Arthur Claude Geddis, subeditor of the "Free Lance," proceeded against Eccledonne Frederick Hiscocks, black and white artist, on a charge oi assault, and also asked thai defendant be bound over to keep the peace towards him. .

It was stated (says the "Times' " report) that the defendant was. np to the day of the assault, employed upon the "Free Lance" staff as an artist. He was commissioned to draw a weekly cartoon upon topical events. This particular week he was instructed to prepare a cartoon relative to the doings of territorials at the Takapau camp. Defendant requested a loan of 10s as an advance upon the picture, but as 10s had already been paid him Mr Geddis ignored the- request. The consequencewas that Hiscock went away and loft the paper in the lurch. The "Free Lance" appeared that weok without its usuai cartoon. The next week a strange artist brought in a cartoon which the proprietors accepted. Mr Hiscocks came in and. sneered at the work, whereupon Mr Geddis mildly remonstrated, stating that even Hiscocks, when a beginner, no doubt did a bit of copying of other artist's ideas. Hiscocks then used some vile language within the hearing of some lady members of the staff and went away. A few moments later he returned with. Mr Frank Morton. Hiscocks went up to Mr Geddis, who was sitting in a chair writing, and struck him a severe blow in the mouth, cutting his lip. Hiscocks then said he would deal later in similar fashion with Mr Geddis, senr.

After the evidence had been taken Mr Cooper said that in tins case the assault was admitted, but defendant had stated that it was on the spur of the moment. Mr Geddis and Mr Ballantyne had-both said that quite five minutes elapsed between the time of the "words" and the actual assault. There was no necessity for Hiscocks to go back; if he had such a temperamental nature he ought to try and control himself better. He thought it was rather a cowardly thing to do to hit a man sitting in. a chair. He would impose a fine of £2, with costs amounting to £2 3s.