HORSE-WHIPPING A PRACTICAL JOKER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1430, 13 December 1886, Page 3

HORSE-WHIPPING A PRACTICAL JOKER.

We find the followo-n in the New Zealand (Wellington) Times : —Ooo.-iderable excitement bus been occasioned in Nelson by a disgraceful practical joke, which has already endangered the life of a l.'-dy upon whom it was played, produced a horsewhipping for its assumed author, and is about to lead to a Police Court trial for assault A Nelson gentleman recently left with the intention of visiting Christchurch to see the races. His wife was in a delicate state of health, and a few d>ys after hla departure a letter was set t to her parport'ng to be written and signed by a well-kuown man who holds a responsible position in a business firm This letter stated that the lady’s husband bad met with a fatal accident on the Ohrlstchu'ch racecourse. On leading this the unfortunate wife fainted and f ■!' down, hurting herse'f severely in < olng so. On recovery she was delirious, a>o her h;a th is still in a precarious i-tata, although step - were imme ’lately taken to disprove the statements of the letter. In fact, e. talearam w-a received from her husoand, r.n i he at once hurried back, and gave the person whose name watschod totbele't raseverohorsewhipping. The latter laid an information for &ss?nlt. aud denies that he wrote the letter, but if it ia a forgery it is said to be an admirab'e one, and the iadividaol i. question has shown no anxiety to discover who it was that imitated his signature.