A COMBATANT'S LEG BROKEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1667, 20 September 1887, Page 3

A COMBATANT'S LEG BROKEN.

Lately at the Towa Council meeting m B*llarat a row occurred, which has resulted m a broken leg to one of the cambatants, who ia a member of the Legislative Assembly. The Mayor is elected by the Council, and the prospective Mayor sits m si chair nearest tlvj holder of the aeal . For the possession of this chair Councillor Murphy, who fa a member for thy district, and Cju jci lor Walker fought, Both are balky mm, but unaccustomed to the noble art, ho that the fi^ht was of the rough aud tumble sort. Wnlkor got the chair, and refuued to nr ye, whereupon Mnrphy overturned him and the chair, and hd fell on the 11 >nr. Jumping up Walker seized thi chair, and Murphy alsj took h;ild of the seat, which between them was speedily pulled to pieces. The two Councillor fought with each other, and Murphy oriel oat that he would have Walker, who is a Juatice of the Peace, struck off the rolls if he struck htm. The two combatants became pntvted, and after some blows wbb Ntinok» Murphy took the bao kof the brukuu ohair and made a move towards Walker, who met him with a blow with his fiat, which felled him to the floor. During the exciting contest, which did not last many aeonn la the other Councillors were either paralysed with astonishment or occupied m requesting the combatants to desist, and to remember what was due to themselves and to the Council, When Murphy was knocked down his right foot twisted under him, and some of the Councillors ejaculated, "No kicking, no kicking," but they declined tv say to whom they said this oe who was kloking. Murphy was injured so much that it was necessary for him to be taken homo. Ha thowß marks of a severe blow under one ear, and of another on his noae, and he says that these and the fracture to his leg were caused by Walker kloking Walker said that he struck Murphy with his right hand m self-defenoe, and the Councillors •re of opinion that the fracture was occasioned by Murphy's leg doubling under him as he fell when knooked down by Walker who says he did not kiok Murphy. i