“A COWARDLY CUR.”

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1041, 30 May 1883, Page 2

“A COWARDLY CUR.”

At the Christchurch Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Joseph Aanansen, who had been arrested in Wellington, was brought up, on remand, before Mr Beothara, and charged with having thrown boiling water over one Mary Sheehy, a fellow-servant at the Clarendon Hotel. Mr Stringer appeared for the accused. The evidence of the girl, a waitress, and that of two witnesses, the cook and chamber-maid (says the Telegraph), was that on the morning of 2nd May, while breakfast was being prepared and the parties were in the kitchen, the accused, a waiter in the establishment, persisted in mauling about and otherwise teasing .the girl. She resented it, and threw a loaf of bread at him. He returned it. She filled a teapot from a kettle of boiling water, and while doing so he placed his hands on her. She told him if he did that again she would; throw some of the water over him. She then laid the teapot on a table and went out. Reluming again immediately, she began to fill a jug with hot water, when ho again went over to her and put his i hands on her. She turned round quickly, and, in doing so, some of the water spilled out of the jug on to the floor. Accused, on that, cried out, “ Would you scald me," 1 and seized the teapot, and either threw it at her or emptied ils contents over the side of her face, neck, and shoulders. She rushed out. and plunged her head into a tub of cold, water, and was afterward taken to the hospital, where she remained eleven days suffering from severe scalds on the parts named. His interference was entirely unprovoked, as she had not encouraged him in any way. The defence was that the affair was the result of skylarking. Accused had received some of the contents of the jug on his legs, and on the spur of the moment had taken up the teapot ..when the

cook rushed Up, caught hold of his arm, and caused the contefata of the teapot to -be spilled over the girl I The Magistrate . said", he did not believe that the girl had-, thrown water over him, If she had it would have served him right. He was a cowardly cur, who had kept on pestering her in spite of her repeated warnings. Perhaps he did not think he would have injured her so much, mid would get the benefits of that possibility, although ,it was-to bc feared that he was being treated too leniently] He would be fined £lO, the half of which would be paid to the girl. In default of payment, accused to be imprisoned for fourteen days.