Journalistic Fracas.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2787, 19 January 1878, Page 2

Journalistic Fracas.

The following account of a fracas at the Argus Office, Wellington, wa« telegraphed to, and appeared in, last night's Auckland Star : — A serious fracas curred in the Argus office between E. T. Gillon, plaintiff in the late suit Gillon t. Mr Macdonald and others, and Mr Koborfc Kent, one of tile defendants in the action. About 10 o'clock this morning, Mr Gillon, acting* on the advice of his solicitors, went to the Argus office to assert his right as a managing partner. He was accompanied bj Mr Harry Seymour, representative of the New Zealand Sun. Upon entering, Messrs Giilon and Seymour made their way to the private office, and found Mr Kent there. Mr Gillon asked to seethe books. Mr Kent referred him to Mr Kennedy Macdonald, to which Mr Gillon replied that he insisted on seeing the books. Kent, growing warm, exclaimed " You shan't;" but further high words were prevented by the entrance of Mr Waters,another of the partners, to whom Mr GilloK preferred the same request. Mr Waters made a similar reply, to which Gillon responded that Mr Macdonald was only a sleeping partner in the concern. He then produced a cheque drawn and | signed by him in the name of the firm, saying it was for £121 Is, to defray the plaintiff's costs, recovered from Gillon in the libel action, Anderson r. Gillon, Kent, and Waters. Mr Gillen asked Mr Waters to sign it, but he refused to do «o. Mr Kent also declined sign it. Mr Gillon upon'that declared his intention of stopping until he saw the books. Mr Kent with heat .exclaimed* "We will see about that." Mr Gillon's next action was to open the door leading to the editor's room to tell Mr Perrier (editor) that he was not to insert anything in the paper without he (Gillon) first saw it. Mr Perrier replied that he had no official cognisance of Mr Gillon's position as managing partner. He could not, therefore, accede to such a request. After some further conversation, Mr Gillon walked intothepublishingoffice,anddeclared he would remain there until he saw the books. Mr Kent threatened to send for a policeman, to which Mr Gillon replied "all right." Mr Waters asked for the judge's order, and said he knew nothing of the verdict of the jury, he did not care for it. After some more remarks of a similar nature, Mr Gillon• said he would remain in the office until ejected: Mr Kent next 9hufc down the flap of the counter and defied Mr Gillon to go behind it. Mr Gillon replied that he certainly should do so if he wished; upon which Mr Kent approached Mr Gillon* and seized him by the collar of bis coat, attempting to push him back. Mr Gillon answered this demonstration by striking Mr Kent a heavy blow in the face. Mr Waters stepped between the combatants. Mr Kent ran into the yard at the rear, in a furious passion, and seized a heavy billet of wood, saying he would murder Mr Gillon. Mr Waters, and Mr Bannister; publisher of the paper, and Mr Perrier, prevented him from entering the front of the office again by force, and removed him to the rear. Messrs Gillon and Seymour then retired. Mr Kent has laid an information against Mr Gillon. The case will be heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court to-morrow.