ONE BREAKS HIS LEG. A Fight Between Two Aldermen.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 220, 17 September 1887, Page 3

ONE BREAKS HIS LEG.

A Fight Between Two Aldermen.

Thk Melbourne "Argus" reports that an extraoi dinary quarrel took place at the meeting of tho Ballarat Town Council on Friday night between Councillors E. Murphy, M.l*., and T. Walker, and resulted disastrously for Councillor Murphy, as it, was found, on his injured leg-, the right one, being examined by Dr. MoriLSOii, that it was broken, just above the ankle. The scullle took place during tho ordinary meeting of the council, and the councillors are disposed to be rather icticent on the matter, which they rightly legard as most discreditable to the Avholc municipal body. Councillor Murphy, it appear, wont i' l^ 0 tho council meeting after business had commenced and walked round to w hero Councillor Walker was picting, in a disputed chair. ]Io asked Councillor Walker to give him the place, and then a^eited his intention of taking it. A-> Councilor Walker did not move, Councillor Murphy overturned him and the chair, and he fell on the floor. -lumping up, Councillor Walker seized the chair, and Councillor Murphy also tool: hold ot tho seat, which between the two ot them \va« speedily pulled to pieces The two councillors grappled with each othci, and Councillor Murphy cried out that lie would have Councillor Walker, who is a ]u*tico of the peace, struck off the i uIK if he sti uck him. The two combatants became excited, and affer come blows were struck Councillor Murphy took the back of tho bioken chair, and made a move towaids ( ouncillor Walker, who met him with a blow v ith his fist, which felled him to tho floor, hm ing this exciting contest, which did not la-,t many seconds, the other councillois weic either ]\indysed with astonishment or occupied in requesting the combatants to desist, and to remember what was duo fco themselves and to the council. When Councillor Murphy was knocked down his right foot twisted under him, and some of the councillors ejaculated " No kicking, no kicking," buttheydcclinetosay to -\\ horn they *aid this or w ho was kicking. Ultimately some ot the council's officers (at all meetings of the council the officers .sit lound the room) interposed between the two councillors, and Councillor Murphy was a--isted to a chair. It was then found that he was injured so much that it was noce<-» aiy for him to betaken home. lie shows tho marks of a severe blow under one oai and of another on his nose, and ho sa^ s. that these and the fractuie of Jn's lug weio cai'-ed by Councillor Walker lacking him. Bu-incss was resumed as soon as the affiay \\aso\er, and conducted in unusual quiet. Councillor Walker says that he j suuek Councillor Murphy with hi« right hand in selt-defence, and tho councillors aie of the opinion that the fracture was occasioned by Councillor Murphy's leg doubling under him as he fell when knocked down by Councillor Walker. The latter ( s\\ s ho did not kick Councillor Murphy. The difference over the seat at the council table i.-* of lather a singular character. It appeals that some time ago, owing to little contentions for the mayoralty, the council in their united wisdom resolved to make the niii} 01 ally an honour taken in rotation by tin* councillor s seniority giving precedence. At each annual meeting the councillors change then seats, each councillor going one place neaiu' to the Mayor's chair, and the cv'-ma\ or passing into the position of the junior member ot the Council. Any new man entei ing thcC'ouucil takes placcimmediately altei the >o\mgest already in it, and so on. Councillor Walker was in the Council before Councillor Murphy, and, in fact, was reelected at the very time Councillor Murphy uib ictiirned. At the time of his re-election Councillor Walker was Mayor. When he left the chair he took precedence of Councillor Mm phy on the ground that the latter, a new man, was junior to any old councillor in the council chamber. The whirlgig of time has brought round the dispute as to the seat next to the mayor's, and Councillor Murphy contends that, Councillor Walker being mayor when he (Councillor Murphy) came into the Council, although the mayoralty then was only for a few weeks, it is his (Councillor Murphy's) turn to attain to the mayoralty bdfore ( 'ouncillor Walker gets into the chair again. The councillor? generally do not desire to go into the matter of the next mayor, but have mostly declared their intention of supporting Councillor Murphy next year.