A PUGNACIOUS WOMAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 897, 21 May 1903, Page 3

A PUGNACIOUS WOMAN.

LAN .EXCITING INCIDENT,

An unusual and .somewhat, exciting incident, occurred in tiie Magistrate's Court at Wellington on Tuesday,when an elderly woman named Flora McDougal assaulted a man named Hubert Wright, from whom she was seeking to recover a sum of £J, paid for work which she alleged had not been well done.

The plaintiff was excited, and grew violent when Wright called a witness ,who bore out ids statement. Leaving her seat, she rushed upon the defendant and overwhelmed h m with her size and her Jists, giving him a pummelling before the bailiff could pull her off. Speaking in stern reprimand, the -Magistrate, who had previously cautioned her about tile way she had addressed the witness, said that people must not so far forget themselves in a court of justice. The woman replied, “ It is not a court of justice ; it is a court of injustice.” She added that all the parties were in a conspiracy against her, and named the Magistrate and the Clerk of the Court as taking sides against her. Filially site gave way to tears. . The defendant, on recovering breath,said that tlie woman had attacked him in exactly the same furious way the oilier day in one of the city streets. He wanted to give her in charge, but there was no policeman about. Ills Worship (addressing the woman) : Have you anything lo say why you should not be committed for contempt of court ? The woman : No. She was sentenced to four days imprisonment for having committed an assault within the precincts of the Court. Whilst judgment was being deliver-

ed, the bailiff and court orderly were keeping guard over the woman. The orderly then said, “Conic along with me.” Rising from her seat in a seeming spirit of meekness she proceeded to loilow I lie ordeily, but, when passing Wright she again pounced upon him. and had given him another pummelling before the bailiff anil ordcrlv pulled her off. Wright, who suffers from a weak heart’, was very much upset hv the incident, and had to he taken away to rest awhile. Judgment in the civil action went against the woman.