A CURIOUS ASSAULT CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2088, 15 March 1889, Page 3

A CURIOUS ASSAULT CASE

' (PKtt PRSBB ASSOCIATION.) Christohuroh, Maroh 14. Oonfclderab'e Interest wbb takon In tin assault oase brought ty Mx P. Selig, of the " Referee " newapsper, against Mr O. M. Gray. The C_ur*i wos crowded during the he_riDg. Messrs O Whtttfoord, R.M., R. Wostenra, and A. Whito were on the bench Complainant deposed that ho was coming down Munobeate/ itreet at 730pm. on February 18th. Gray sprang out and struck him, saying "Here you — — Seller," and atrnok him with a itiok on tbe head. Witness closed with him snd put him down. On gaining his feet G ay contlnoed to abuse wltnesr, calling blm " a b— — -y Jew" and " contemptible sneak," and asked blm why be had written an anonymous letter. Witness denied having written the letter. Gray said "Then you know who did." Defendant then picked up his wig, hat and stick, and oommenoed fl mushing hla stlok. Witness told him to stop or he'd strike him with • •tick be held. Thomas Oromptob, a boy abont fifteen years old, deposed that be saw the assault, end heard * lot of bad language used by Gray. O. M. Gray, the defendant, said that a day cr two before the affray he reoelved an anonymous letter. He wonld first ask leave of the Oourt to explain that some time ago he had refused to give Selig " tick for a wblte sbirt, and Selig had talked about him In bars and billiard rooms. On Saturday, February 16th, he got a letter laying, " beware of the 'yld' with glglamps. He has set watoh on you. Look out for farther developments." (Selig wears speotaolea). He had also reoeived another letter which he had thrown away. Ha met Selig by accident near the rink, and quietly aaked him about the letter. He denied that be had used any bad language whatever, and ho did not strike Selig with a stick, but with his gloved hand. Complainant's evidence about tbe wig was absolutely untrue. Tbat there was any talk abont women was absolutely untrue. Sellg's evidenoe was a tissue of Ilea. Selig used suoh expressions as " Your are a beantifnl teetotal fanatic," which corresponded with similar expressions In the letter, and oaosed him to believe tbat Selig waa tbe writer. Before ualog these expressions Selig waved his arms aod stick about In an excited way, and that witness thought justified him In striking complainant. Witness' wig waa never off during the struggle. Tbo benoh was of opinion tbat the affair was brought about entirely by Mr Gray's conduct. Having thought fit to aak oomplalnant a question and havlDg got his answer, be should bave taken it aud gone away without raisins an altercation* Instead of that defendant oontinued— " Oh If you didn't write the letter you know who did." The affair did not appear to ba very serloua, and a fine of 40a would meet tbe oase with costs £1 10s. Within an hour after the completion of tbe oase the amount of the fine was subscribed and left at Gray's shop by a few sympathising friends. I