AT THE COURT-A SCENE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1125, 12 May 1911, Page 6

AT THE COURT-A SCENE

♦• SOME "WORDS" INSIDE. AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER. A mild sensation was caused in the Magistrate's Court yesterday by the extraordinary action of a defendant against whom judgment; had just been given. One of the plaintiffs' witnesses was a local solicitor, who .-.rated that, during an interview with defendant the latter had referred to witness as "the miserablest man I know." Subsequently defendant was proceeding to cross-examine, on this point, when the magistrate (Mr. W. G. Hiridell) stopped him, remarking that the time of ino Court was not. to bo wasted with personalities. At the conclusion of the hearing the solicitor referred to was awarded half a guinea expenses, and this evidently upset defendant for, when the witness was leaving the Court, he (the witness) suddenly turned back, and addressed the Bench as follows: "May it please your Worship, the defendant has just kicked mo as 1. passed him in the Court.'' "Very well, Mr. ," said his Worship, "you havQ your remedy. The Court did not notice ihe assault." "t only mentioned it, your Worship, because this is the second time he has insulted me." When the solicitor was again leaving the Court, defendant, who was now rather excited, met: him at the dop of the stairs, and, it is alleged, approached him, hut was restrained by his wife, on>cbutoivted himself with a vocal attack. Outside the Court, defendant espied one of the plaintiffs, and promptly seized hiin by the beard. There .was a scuffle for a 'second or two, then the parties Fepnratod, and walked oil in different directions.