POLICE COURT.-Yesterday.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 17, 26 October 1871, Page 3

POLICE COURT. -Yesterday.

Before W. Fraser, Esq., R.H. Drunkenness. Samuel Bullen was charged with being drunk and incapable in Queen-street the previous night, to which charge he pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s, with the alternative' of 24 hours’ imprisonment. Threatening Language and Assault. —Samuel Withers was charged with assaulting Richard Wiseman on the. 20th October, and also with using abusive and provoking language. Mr Miller appeared for complainant, and Mr Tyler for the defence. —Richard Wiseman deposed : I am a tailor living in Grahamstown. The defendant was in my employ, and on the day in question he brought in a coat upon which lie had exercised his skill. Did not examine it at the time, but gave him another coat to operate upon. On inspection the work was found to be done in a very unworkmanlike manner. On remonstrating with defendant he asked “ what the h I knew about the trade,” and struck me a blow with bis arm on the chest which knocked me right off the board. —By Mr Tyler: The defendant has worked for me on and off for about two years. Discharged him on Saturday. He worked two days after this altercation took place. He did make the remark to me, “ it’s time enough for you to complain of the coat when I bring it to you as completed.” He struck me violently, and I felt the effects of the blow for some days afterwards. I did not induce him to leave Mr Bowden’s employ. These proceedings are not taken because defendant did not come to work on the Monday. The defendant was working piece-work. —William Macauly -deposed to being present when the assault took place. Saw Withers strike the complainant. They were on the shop board at the time. —ln support of the charge of provoking language. Mr. Wiseman said the defendant called him by the most opprobious language, and applied to him a term which is the vilest that can be applied to an employer, viz., a sweatter, one that gets all he can get out of the poor wretches in his employ, and gives them scarcely enough to keep soul and body together, as they do in the large slop shops in London. For this and other provoking epithets the complainant prays that defendant may be called upon to find surities of the peace.—Mr. Tyler having addressed the Court for the defence called the defendant, who deposed that he had been in Mr. Wiseman’s employ for two years, and never had any altercation before—Never knocked Mr. Wiseman down—Did call him a “sweatter,” but did not make use of any other abusive language—Witness told Mr. Wiseman he should leave the employment as soon as the job was finished— Never expected that any legal proceedings would arise out of the matter.—The R.M., considered the case of assault made out, and under somewhat aggrivated circumstances, for this defendent would be fined 40s. and costs, or in default of payment 7 days hard labor.—The R.M. did not consider the case of provoking sufficiently strong to warrant him in calling upon defendent to find surities, and that the case against him would be dismissed. Assault.— Thomas Taylor was charged with assaulting Edward Scott. Mr Dodd appeared for complainant, who stated that he is a painter, and on Friday last sawdefendant about a boat which he had taken without complainant’s permission. Asked him if lie had brought the boat back. He said no. Some, further conversation took place, and finally defendant called witness a very bad name, and struck him over the eye leaviug a mark The complainant cross-examined defendant to show that he bit complainant’s wrist. The defendant admitted this, but said it was done in self-defence, and that he did not commence hostilities,which were begun by the other side without any provocation.—Arthur McQuillan, laborer, deposed to seeing Taylor hit Scott a blow on the nose, which drew blood. Heard Taylor complain of having been bitten by Scott. There was an altercation about the boat between the parties. — Anne Dunstan deposed to hearing an altercation between the parties about a boat. Scott said he would wait for Taylor and ' have it out of him, and then Taylor struck

him. Some very bad language was made use of. Scott bit Taylor, and tried to kick him.—The R.M. considered the case made out, but at the same time that it was done under provocation, and under the circumstances ho would inflict a nomial penalty of 10s, and costs £2 15s.