LATE TAPANUI ASSAULT CASE. To the Editor.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 422, 2 January 1875, Page 3

LATE TAPANUI ASSAULT CASE. To the Editor.

Sir, — As the account of the late assault case Mayo t. Keres, Aitkenhead, and Thomson, is so very one-sided as it appears in your journal, I shall feel obliged if you will kindly insert the following, which Tl send with all -the -more- confidence, as a J.P, who was accidentally present', can and will substantiate what I advance. On the sth of December at about 7 p.m. three men rode up to Mr. Mayo's stable and. asked for liquor, Mr. Mayo being -very deaf, did not " notice at first what the men were demanding. The Justice of the Peace above referred to, said to them "no liquor is kept or sold here." One of the men, Adam Eeres. persisted in demanding drinks, and struck the J.P. on being refused. When Mr. Mayo saw this gentleman struck he came forward and said • " I am master 'here, and I will allow no one to be insulted on my property." Adam l£eres, who is a powerful young man, then vent forward and savagely struck Mayo, who, is advanced in yearb, and far from strong. Then Seres again struck Mayo as he was coming out of the stable. Mayo naturally tried to defend himself, and was assaulted also by Aitkenhead and Thomson. At this time Mrs. Mayo hearing the noise came out and entreated Aitkenhead to leave, and asked him why they had been beating her husband. Ho replied, " We demanded drink and were refused." Thomson then walked up, and struck Mrs. Mayo several times on the head aud back, young Mayo arriving with his team) from the Victoria Saw Mills,' dragged Thomson away from his mother, and then ran to help his father, whom Keie3 and Aitkenhead had thrown down upon some stones, and seriously injured his leg ; so much so that Mayo had to be carried in and have his leg dressed and bandaged. Thomson ' again assaulted Mrs. Mayo, striking her . .about the breast with great violence. Mrs/ * Mayo at this time struck Thomson with a stone but for 1 this few will blame her, as she " was. defending herself, and striving like a ' true woman to defend her husband. At the best Thomson proved himself a cowardly fellow, in laying his hand upon a woman, and that without provocation.-- When the case was called on, Mr. Inspector Thompson informed the Magistrates that David . Thomson was a disreputable character, and had frequently been before the magistrates -charged with various, offences. Mr. and Mrs. Mayo, never having been in such a case before, and being entirely ignorant of law , proceed'inge did" not apply for a postponement of the case, as they should have done. The J.P. above alluded to promised to attend if telegraphed to7but this could notbiLdonels but three hours notice was given, and he was 40 „or 45 miles' distant. As to being '^justly rebuked " Mrs, Mayo was told by. one of the magistrates, Mr. M'Kenzie, that she had no - right to interfere, that is, .no right to try>and „ save her husband, from injury' and suffering. This was the rebuke ; I leave your readers to form their opinion as to its justice or otherwise.-, Perhaps it should be noticed, that although the case was ordered for 5 p.m/it did not conic off till midnight of Tuesday, Btb December. In conclusion permit me to state that Mr. and Mrs. Mayo have always 6us- ■ tamed the character of honest, sober, and r ' industrious people, doing many acts of kind- -. nes»lo their neighbours, and -being generally ©•teemed. — lam, &c- . ASpbscbibeb.' - •-■ Pomahata,, December 28.~~ i-