A London Scandal.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1464, 25 September 1885, Page 4

A London Scandal.

(Per San Mail.) Mr Pearce of John Elder and Co., was assaulted with a stout stick by a man named Francis, an Inspector of Customs, on August 13th. The assailant was accompanied by his wife. He allege! that Pearce had seduced his daughter A reporter of the Pall Mall Gazette waited on Mr Pearco, who said the charge was absolutely false, and that it was a case of blackmail of a peculiatly bad kin I. An Atlantic despatch says that 1 Fran ;is has commenced criminal proceedingsfbr libel against Pearce m consequence of this statement. A later Atlantic despatch, dated London, August 21st, say i the solicitor for Pearce has published a letter m which he says he has been instructed by the client to refrain from prosecuting the father of Miss Francis on a common assault and battery for the caning inflicted on Pearce, because of trivial punishment which would attend conviction ; but to prosecute him on a far graver charge. The solicitor asks the public to suspend judgment on the whole case until its merits can be developed by the court. .