BRUTAL ASSAULT.

Evening Star, Issue 3827, 31 May 1875, Page 3

BRUTAL ASSAULT.

On the 27th inst., Mr M'Culloch, R.M., at Invercargill, attended at the local hospital to investigate a charge of assault with intent to commit murder, preferred against two men, respectively named John Canfield and Michael Cavanagh. _ The complainant, John Loftus, was (according to the ‘ Southland Timea’s * report) in a fearfully abused and disfigured state, particularly about the head and face. In evidence he stated that he and Caufield are married to sisters, Cavanagh being brother to their wives. Caufield resides at Rakahouka, near Myrossßush, and Cavanagh lives with him. On Tuesday last, Loftus, together with his wife attended the funeral of the boy Finnerty, who was killed on| the Winton-Kingston railway. He saw Caufield and Cavanagh at the cemetery on the Bast road, and spoke there to Cavanagh, both of them in a commonplace, but friendly manner. He did not speak to Canfield, with whom he had not been on speaking terms since Canfield had sued him and got him fined for an assault some three months, ago. Loftus left to go home in company with ms wife, she riding on horseback. On nearing the road turning off to Gardiner’s mill, his wife came off tiie horse, and went a-head on foot, the dray driven by Mr Brown having passed prior to this. Loftus stayed arranging the stirrups in order to mount the horse himself. He got on the horse and walked quietly along the road. While he was approaching Squire’s gorse fence, Cavanagh came quietly over the road, caught the horse by the bridle, and pulled Loftus, who suspected no evil in Cavanagh, off the horse. Cavanagh kicked him with his boots on the bead; ana Oaufield then came, caught him by the arms, and kicked him twice violently with his boots on the head and in the face. Loftus then became insensible. On recovering slightly he heard Ca vanagh say “ He’s dead.’’ Caufield then caught him again, observed with an oath that there was no fear of his being dead, dragged him a little farther, kicked him severely several tier, es, and then left him lying insensible on the ground. No one witnessed the assault. N cue of the'parties were the worse of liquor. Cavanagh and Loftus had never been on ill terms, ana the only thing that had ever been between him and Caufield was the law case previously referred to. Caufield had probably acted for the sake of revenge, and he had so much influence over Cavanagh as to be able to persuade him to do almost anything. The prisoners vrere remanded for eight days, being refused baift.