ELSIEGOOD AND LEAF.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 91, 13 December 1912, Page 2

ELSIEGOOD AND LEAF.

John Elsiegood (unionist) and Peter Leaf (strike-breaker) were charged with threatening behaviour.

Constable Skinner's evidence was to the ettect that he saw Peter Leaf in a lighting attitude, shaping up to Elsiegood, who was backing towards the embankment. When near the embankment, Elsiegood suddenly stopped, struck out at Peter, and knocked him down. The scabs then rushed for Elsiegood, and witness got between them.

Cross-examined, he said he didn't see Leaf strike Elsiegood, but saw him sparring for an opening, and was sure be intended to strike. If Elsiegood bad turned to ecala tit* beak h* would pxeb*.

ably Dave been hurt. Had. he., (witness) been in .Elsie-good's place, he would have done exactly as Elsiegood had done.

Constable Jackson gave similar evidence, showing that Leaf was the aggressor, and that Elsiegood could not with safety have acted differently. Bostock'd evidence was to the effect that there was no justification whatever for Elsiegood striking Leaf; that he had struck without provocation, and that he (Elsiegood) could have gone away with safety.

The magistrate held there was no charge for Elsiegood to answer. .