RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 82, 5 April 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

[Before L. Broad, Esq., E.M.] James Grove, of Poxhill, was charged with unlawfully and maliciously writing a c rtain false, slanderous, and defamatory libel of and concerning one Koberfc Thomas Wainhouse, of Foxhill. Mr Pitt appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Fell for the defendant. Mr Hodgson, the Secretary to the Board of Education, produced the following letter on which the action was founded: — Sir— lt is my duty to inform you that Mr Combes' health has completely broken down, and that he is now confined to his bed in a dangerous state, under Dr. Oldham's attendance, who had to apply twelve leeches to his head, and adopt other extreme measures. I need scarcely tell you that the Doctor has ordered quietness for his patieut, but, notwithstanding, I have reason to think that it is the intention of a section of the Committee to open the school under the assistant teacher as though they had not disgraced the district enough by bringing Mr Combes into his present state, but must do their best to prevent his recovery by the noise of the children playiug about the sick room, such noise above all others being objectionable because of the school associations it would raise in his mind. I think it is quite time the Central Board stepped in to stop this literally hounding a man into his grave. Dr. Oldham, Mrs Combes tells me, gives no hope at all of Mr Combes being able to resume school duties, and the least we can do is to give to give the man a chance of recovering so far a*s to be able to leave his bed, and get out of the district thot has been so unkind to him. Mrs Combes was in great trouble last night when I called, and made me promise to state to you expressing a strong desire that it might come before the Board, that Mr Wainhouse had said " that he was glad Mr Combes was going to resign, because if he did not the Board would turn him out." This seems to have been the last straw and I trust is open to contradiction. Whether Mr Wainhouse made such statement I don't know, but Mrs Combes seems positive, and begged I would wriee to you that it might come before the Board. Waiting your reply as to what is to be done, I am, yours obediently, James Grove, Hon. Sec. The case was adjourned until Tuesday next. J One or two Culliford cases were heard, in one of which a knotty question of law was raised. His Worship reserved judgment.