THE PEER AND THE BOOKMAKER.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1338, 30 March 1887, Page 6

THE PEER AND THE BOOKMAKER.

Lord Deerburst, one of the aides-de-camp to Governor Loch, appeared at the Melbourne District Court on March 10, to answer a charge of assault preferred against him by a well-known bookmaker, Robert Sutton. There was a counter charge in which Lord Deerhurat complained of having received grievous bodily injury at the hands or Sutton. Mr Panton was accompanied on the Bench by nearly a score of honorary magistrates, and tbe Court waß crowded to suffocation. Both charges were beard concurrently. The facts appeared to be tbat during the last Christmas holidays Lord Deerburst met Sutton at a pigeon match at Hurlingham, and lost wagers to him to tbe extent of £281. Some delay occurred in settling, and Lord Deerhurst waa pestered by Sutton for the money. At length Sutton threatened to post Lord Deerhurst at the Victorian Club as a defaulter. Lord Deerhurst replied, offering terms of settlement, and adding tbat if Sutton did not like to accept these be could post him " and be d *" The debt was soon afterwards paid; but on February 19 Lord Deerhurst was in the back parlor of an hotel in Bourke street, in company with a friend, when Sutton entered with two companions. Sutton shortly afterwards demanded from Lord Deerburst an apology for an expression contained in a letter. This resulted in a disturbance. No blowe were struck, but both parties considered they had been technically assaulted. A few days ago Sutton was expelled from the Victorian Club at tbe instance of Lord Deerhurst, and the first charge of assault was laid by Sutton next day. The Bench decided that Sutton and his friends had gone to the hotel with the deliberate intention of inciting a quarrel, and sentenced him to fourteen days' imprisonment. Notice of appeal was given. Sutton had taken his I passage by the R.M S. Carthage for England, and intended to join the vessel at Adelaide next day. The decision excited great surprise. It was held that both parties should have been imprisoned or both discharged.