SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF COLD PLATES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 77, 13 April 1877, Page 3

SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF COLD PLATES.

(Otago Daily Times.)

A few days ago Thomas Parker, described by his council as " a gentleman who had recently arrived with the intention of going into business," was sued in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, by Katherine Pledger, a lodging house keeper, for £20 for an assault, and for £3 for damage done to crockery. Plaintiff stated that she kept a boarding house, and defendant stayed there- On the 7th instant, at dinner time, defendant asked witness for a hot plate, and because it was not given him at once he threw a leg of lamb that was on the table out of the window to his dog, and followed this up with the potatoes. He then turned the plate upside down on the floor, tore the blinds down from windows, smashed a number of dishes, and attempted to throw out some beans they were having for dinner. Witness would not let him throw out the beans, whereupon defendant slapped her across the face and shook her violently, Either defendant or his wife tore the blinds down. Witness took up a chair to strike defendant, but that was after he had assaulted her, plaintiff refusing to give him ahot plate. Defendant stated that the affair arose through plaintiff refusing to give him a hot plate. Witness then said, "If I can't have my dinner the dog shall have it, and seizing the lamb he threw it out of the window. Witness thought it was a proper thing to do. to throw a quarter of lamb out of window, if he could not get a hot plate— be would always do such a thing under the circumstances. It might not be a gentlemanly thing to do, but he had done so lots of times. The potatoes followed the lamb, and then he tried to throw beans out. He did take hold of plaintiff by the shoulders or the elbows, but said he would never strike a woman. His worship thought it would have been far more creditable to all parties if the case had not been allowed to come to Court. It appeared to he a landlady's and boarder's quarrel, and the damage was not so serious as had been made out. Judgment would be given for '.plaintiff for £4 ; £2 being for the assault, and £2 for the damage to crockery.