RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3233, 30 June 1879, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAT.

(Before Colonel Fraser, R.M.) ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.

William Plant was charged with using abusive ard; insulting language toward* one: George N. Brasgey, on Saturday last. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr Brasgey said the ease was laid, under the 4th section of the Vagrant Act, 1869. He then stated the ease, and asked for aa heavy a penalty as the Court oould inflict.

i »;i?V| r. ■; Jj\ JDanby, sworn,: deposed—l «aw Mr JBrassey and Mr Plant at a distance from me apparently* holding a friendly conversation. Mr Plant did not tell me he had said anything to Mr Brasiey. *G. Denby, sworn, deposed—On Saturday morning I saw Mr Plant in his shop. He told me that lie had spoken a bit of bis mind to Mrißrassey^about tke inquest. He gate me to understand that he bad spoken to Mr Brasaey warmly. By Mr Plant—What you safd led,me to believe that you had told Mr Brassey your mind about the inquest. G. N. Brassey, sworn, deposed—l am Coroner for this district, and on Thursday had occasion to hold,.an inquest on the body of a Mrs Craig, at which defendant was a juryman. "On passing defendant's shop on Satiirday he said " Well you got your deserts in this morning's, paper," re* ferring to his letters. He then said "Your, 'conduct was most ungentlemanly,"; and then said "Y our conduct was that of a blackguard." By Mr Plant—You nerer spoke about the charge to the Jury. The first of the conversation was about the letters in the

paper. The. defendant, sworn, deposed—l am a chemist, residing in Mary street. I saw Mr Brassey and other gentlemen in Mary street: I wished them good morning, and then in a jocular manner said to Mr Brassey, "I see you got some 'of your deserts in this morning's, paper." He asked me to what I referred, and I referred him to, the two letters. He said he was surprised at me saying go, and I replied that 1 was not surprised, after what ho had said at the

inquest. He asked mo to what I referred. I accused him of not putting down an answer made by Mrs Molloy—one of tho witnesses, and .-I .considered he had not acted the part of a gentleman. I never made use of the word blackguard, or even thought about it. His Worship said that even from Mr Plant's own statement language had been used that might have occasioned a breach of the peace. If Mr Plant bad a grievance against the Coroner to ventilate, he had the Press, which was as free an anywhere in the world, and if that dxdn t do, he could apply to the Minister of Justice. Judicial officers, and especially Coroners, must be protected from insult. However, as the words used were not of a 1 very aggravating nature, he would take a lenient view of the case, and fine defendant 20s and costs": , Court adjourned.