THE ASSAULT CASE.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 68, 31 December 1881, Page 245

THE ASSAULT CASE.

Ix was not in our power to comment on the assault case, the editor of the Ojbsekveb v. Weston, in last issue, for, though the paper did not (owing to our fear of committing contempt of Coiirt by discussing an affair that was sub judice) come out till Saturday morning, it was five parts printed and all set up on Thursday ; indeed, we had the greatest possible diiiicuity to get hfilf-a-dozen lines inserted announcing the result of the trial, and could only do so by subjecting ourselves to considerable expense and the machinists to an aggravating delay. Whilst this explains our mysterious silence on a current matter, it must also explain the immoderately bitter terms in which our opponent, Weston, was spoken of in these columns. When v man grossly insults a newspaper scribe for no reason whatever (and, in truth, it must be admitted that there really was no genuine provocation in Wcston's case),* the only means the insulted person has of retorting is by his pen ; and people need not be surprised if, whilst smarting under the remembrance of a recent and unmerited assault, he attaches too much importance to ill-natured stories about his opponent, and puts down statements which, when calmer moments supervene, lie views with regret. Mr Weston is not a Joseph ; neither does he lay claim to being stricter as regards sporting ethics than his fellows. We are informed, however, that lie bears one of the best reputations in the Ring for squaring up. Though lac lost heavily over the C.J.C. Meeting, lie paid the Grip stable £1000 early on the morning after the race, and why he should have taken to himself our par. of November 19th, re some of the Southerners not settling up promptly, we are still wholly at a loss to conceive. Perhaps the truth of the'matter is that Mr Weston is peppery, and assaulted us on the spur of the moment whilst feeling irritated at the non-mention of his arrival. Well, avc are qiute ready to cry "go " and drop the subject. Many unjustifiable things have been said and written on both sides, and if in our last issue we forgot everything save our anger, and struck out rather intemperately, Mr Weston lias retaliated in like manner through his friend, the Vulcan-lane editor. Anyhow, we are not proud of our part of the business, and hope to have to say nothing more about it. The affair has been the reverse of creditable to both parties, and the sooner it is allowed to drop into oblivion the bettor.