SCANDAL AT WESTPORT.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 96, 11 January 1868, Page 5

SCANDAL AT WESTPORT.

TilK Westport Times of 31st December, contains a letter from Mr. Apted, the editor of that paper, narrating the particulars of a violent assault upon him by Mr. Commissioner Tvynnersley, the Chief Magistrate in the kelson South-west Goldfields, which letter refers to another‘which appeared in the issue of the previous day. This last mentioned, but first published letter, is one of a sketchy series, more or less clever, signed “Bohemian,” and containing on this eventful day a paragraph full of blanks and' dashes and initials; but which, whatever force it might have in the immediate locality,—and although it contains some sound moral lessons and just conclusions respecting the conduct and public demeanor of persons who occupy positions of rule and authority in a community,—would have been passed over by persons at a distance, but for this subsequent letter of Mr. Apted, who tells the public that Mr. Kynnersley endeavoured to batter in his face with a heavy handled riding-whip. We can hardly bring ourselves to believe that such a thing could have occurred; and meanwhile, as the matter is one involving issues most important to the welfare of the community, we refrain at present from making any comment on this strange and most deplorable story. The following is the peccant paragraph from “Bohemian’s” letter;

“ It was a lovely day. and I was glad to see both tho principal booths well patronised—the rank including Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Giles, patronising on the previous day Morey’s; while tho fashion—the demi-monde —patronised Corcoran’s. I’m afraid I shall offend "Truth ’ when 1 say that it was hardly the place to expect to find our worthy tlie centre of attraction, placed between the gay Florence and the equally gay Mrs. R To be sure a man can do as lie likes, but wheu a gentleman occupies a public position, it he does not care about himself being respected, his position demands something, not to say anything about tho slight or insult implicitly conveyed to the ladies in the other booths What would be said if Sir H. M. Sutton, the Goyernor of Victoria, seated himrelf at the opera iff* race between two ol the ladies belonging to Mrs. Frazer’s establishment, or Sir George Bowen between Mrs. Kinder and a proteyee of Mrs. M" Donald’s—and tills a similar posi-

tion in Westport. To say the least of it, it was a gratuitous insult to the people there assembled. There was no attempt at maximise horde in tho matter. There is a clause in the Vagrancy Act which we recommend to active Constable Rhodes, which empowers him to make inquiries into the mode of life of a certain class ol females, it is a pity he does not pay a little attention to what is an obvious portion of his duty. I have seen magistrates, Mr. Dalton, for instance, send women to gaol under this clause; I wonder whether could find it in his heart to do so, especially if her husband happened to he in prison 1 Scandal was busy enough before relative to certain proceedings, but I hardly thought that would have gone the length he has ; to blazon forth to the world his utter disregard for the morals and usages of civilised society. Ao doubt lie may say ‘society be ; what do I care for society ? I will do as I like; hut ho ought to know that any scandal on society not only grows stronger as it grows older, but eventually overthrows the scaudalizer. Noscitur ex sociis is a good old Latin phrase that may apply in this instance ; and when 1 consider that next to Mrs. R sat another lady of tho mode with a gentleman very well known in society, I might say Par nohile fratrum. Sufficeth to say that 1 care but little about the usages of a great deal of modern society ; but I think this is carrying contempt a step too far.”

Aud this is the letter of the assaultededitor:

“ Gentlemen, — Having placed my resignation in your hands this morning, in consequence of some misunderstanding relative to the conducting of your paper, and in consequence of my refusal to divulge the name of aoy of the correspondents to your journal—a point of honor with gentlemen in my situation —I was little prepared for what was to follow. About four o’clock this afternoon, while reading in your office, I was rather surprised to receive a visit from our respected Commissioner Kynnorslev, who inquired tor me by name. Upon rising to receive him, he asked me to accompany him over to Hamilton’s hotel. Not knowing what this might bo lor, and seeing that he had a heavy riding whip in his hand, I refused to go, believing, as I had never received such an honor before, -that he had some ulterior motive, and in this I was not deceived, as the facts will show. Ho then asked for that morning’s paper, and having produced one, he wished to know who was tlie writer of the letter signed ‘ Bohemian.' As I had previously refused to comply with his request. Ho then wished to know if I was the author of it, aud I refused to gratify him, upon which he said it attacked him privately, aud on my proceeding to argue the matter with him, he, without a word of warning, struck mo unawares, and knocked me down iri a bunk, and then proceeded to ‘ hammer' away at me without any further ado, while I- was in a defenceless position. Assaulting me in such a brutal manner that I had to send for Dr. Bruen, and I am not certain whether rny nose is not broken. These are the plain facts, anti 1 leave it to the public to decide whether this is the way for the head of the law to treat an editor of a newspaper who considered ho was only doing his duty. “ I shall not let the matter rest here, and believing that a cabal has been formed against me here, I shall seek redress elsewhere. “ Thanking you for your past kindnesses, 1 beg to remain yours, &c. « Wm. F. Apxbd, “ Late Editor of the Westport Times and Charleston Argus — Colonist.