A BAILIFF’S EXPERIENCES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1688, 19 January 1888, Page 3

A BAILIFF’S EXPERIENCES.

A bailiff's life in Auckland is not always a very happy one. At the Onehunga Police Court a few days ago three men were charged with assaulting a bailiff while executing his duty. One of the defendants occupied a house, for which he owed ten pounds rent to a mortgage company. The bailiff in an evil hour undertook to oust the tenant and seize upon his goods. This was easier said than done. The defendant, his wife, and a couple of friends objected to the bailiff’s programme being carried out. These objections took a very vigorous form, The bailiff wasfseized by the collar by the wife and quickly “ sent spinning ” by the husband. As the tenant’s reinforcements arrived each new comer appeared to think it incumbent upon him to mark his disapproval of the proceedings. This was done by striking the bailiff. This form of protest becoming monotonous, the defendants sat down and quietly discussed the advisability of dissecting the assistant bailiff and consigning his mutilated remains to an adjacent well, one,of the conspirators going so far as to go out and inspect the well’s holding capacity. After this the complainant was jammed against the wall, and the defendants commenced to bite his ears. Finally the poor instrument of the law was flung out of doors, and knocked down with a blow which sent him partially into the well. After the previous suggestive conversation, contact with the well, no doubt, shook the bailiff’s resolution, and he says significantly, “ I then had enough of it, and got up and left.” We should think he had. Evidently, in this free country, Onehungans have not yet been educated to taking kindly to evictions.