BARTER'S BOOTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1932, 6 March 1885, Page 2

BARTER'S BOOTS.

From the Evening Press. A case of more than ordinary interest, [ and one which created considerable amuse- ' ment was held at the R.M. Court yesterday aftepf]qon. IJri; Walker, of the 1 Melbourne Hotel, was dipmoned by a j wellrknown theatrical manager named | Eqcles, for an assault said to have been ' committed on the 22nd inst. The dispute ' between "th# parties appears to have J arisen through Bome person or persons hiding a Mr Barter's Boots, Mr E, J Shaw appeared for the complainant, and Mr Gully for defendant. Mr Shaw in opening his . case, said on the night in questiQiu Mr Barry O'Neil, a celebrated tragedian, waa about leaving Wellingtom for New South Wales, and a. number of his friend# congregated round ] him at the Melbourne hotel, to wish him 4

good luck, amongst those present was Mr Eccles, the present complainant. At about 11 jun, n gentleman named Barter a Mr Howard Baiter, was noticed by Mr Eccles with a pair of strange bootßon. (laughter)" Eccles asked Barter what had become of his own boots, and the latter roplied," I havo lost them uid put on tho first pair 1 could find," Eccles then advised him to take tho boots off,' ai he was certain to get into a row for it. Eccles then at the request of two of the number present consented to go on a hunting expedition for the lost boots (laughter). Mr Eccles was in every way qualified for such an grand, as he knew ,how to use his fists, having travelled with Jem Maco, tho pugilist. On reaching. the third floor of the hotel, Mr Eccles found ladies, two barmaids a'nd.one'ho'usemaid, one of whom, was in, her night-clothes (continued laughter). Previous "to this, Mr Walker, the landlord of the house, had hunted for Barter's boots, but could not find them, and refused.to go a second time. Then his batter half held a survey, and heard somebody talking to the girls. She then looked into.tho. bath-room, and there found Mr Eccles. (loud laughter), who went there simply to loep the girls from getting into q.iowj because they Certainly would haveiad. a gopd'talking; to had Mrs Walker cauglit-ihem vtajj^^^Blf, their night-dresses. After entettW®! ' bathroom Mrs Walker took hold of a bucket of wate.r and threw it oyer Eccles (roars of laughter), she subsequently gave him a wipe across the'face with-a bar cloth, Walker had written to his wife, stating that he had been found; m one 'cf tho girl's bedroom's, it • wa?: ;for that chiefly that the present- proceedings had been taken,' Every effort had been taken ■ to tiy to keep the case oSt of 1, court, but Mrs Walker would'not listen to.jiim. The following evidence was 'given Howard Barter stated- he waa'a gentleman ' Maiding " in- Bellington. He remembered the iiight in question. He was at the Melbourne Hotel . with/some others wishing Mr Barry O'Neif good bye. Lnew Eccles,! who waß.one of the number present, About -11? o'olock wont iipstajrs. He - heard that tl}ore \yas to he' s practical jqko played, and he had a presentiment that he was in it Mr'T, King asked him to go upstairs and not to'mike a noise, and he took off'his boots!' After walking along one of" the passages he returned to tho place where he ..had left his boots, but they were'gone (lauglitor). He could not say whether thesis saw 1 him or not, lie put en'the first' palp fif boots he could trot hpld'of and oamV down stairs, Whim ho reached the : fpot of the stairs his boots wore thrown at' him, When Eccles came down stairs after 1 looking for the boots : lie > was wet, decidedly wet (more daughter). 1 Eccles was attired in his Sunday 1 clpthing. By Mr Gillly: Eccles was present when J tppk f>ff my boqts on the ■ firgt jlqor. After the water was tiirqwn 1 P v » him,' he looked very picturesque witjj ; the mni^H l,o dripping 1 off his clothes, ' Eccles was not long making his appear: 1 ance at t]|o bqltpm of the stairs after Mrs 1 Walker wont up, At this stage His Wor- '■ ship had the Orderly; placed in the body of the Court to stop the continued 1 laughter, i Hurry Eccles, a theatrical agent, remembered being called out of the drawing- ; ing room by Mr King, who said there was a lark on. Went '.upstairs and had <t few words with ono of-the barmaids who 1 was in the secret. Barter afterwards told witness that King had hid his boots. Wit- ' ness then went to look for the boots, ! Saw one of the young ladies in her ! chemise and was just going to ask her wjiere Barter's boots were when the young lady said, ' '.' Look oi|t, hocf] oomes Mrs Walker," Witnoea, not wishing to get the girl, into a row, stepped into tho bathroom. . Before,- going into the bathroom, saw two girls and heard the voice of a third. ; Mrs Walker came upstairs and asked'the girls what all tho row was about.She then went into the bathroom and found witness, Struck him in the face, saying, " Get out of this, you low curi" Witness replied, "If you'll wait a minute 111 explain ■ why I'm here." Mrs Walker said " I'll explain you," and threw a'bucket of water over him. Witness 'theriUeft fcj}o batjitppjii, and defendant threw a flat candlestick at him. They subsequently met at. the foot of the stairs, and'witness expressed a.wish to'have a few words, but defen. dant said "Get' pijt'-you low mongrel." Witness replied, '*x|iat is riot very ladylike language'; you M better be careful." The next day across the face with a wet rag..' By Mr Gully: Mra Walker refused to apologise. I might; have said that I would expose her'doihgs in the house. 1 commenced my search for the boots by asking the figure in white in,the shape of a woman. Thero was a light in the girls' room. 1 saw one girl in bed. I was not in tho bedroom. I, Stepped into the ba'ffi, room to prevent a disturbance. I was not hiding under a matt&ss. 1 had heard that Mrs Walker had written to my wifo, exaggerating the facts. . I hoard that Mrs Walker had written to my wife stating that sho had found me in bed with one of the barmaids. Elizabeth Bai'ronj a barmaid, said she remembered the night Barter's boots went astray. She had. been ill for some time being attended by Dr Hutchinson, and in case she wanted to sing out for assistance, she kept her bedro.om door open. Mrs Vine slept in the same room as witness, she could swear tliat Eccles camo to her room and knocked Soveral !times' Heard him striking matcjien along tho pawagof She 'called qufc is,there ) r! but there was no answer. Witness woke up Mrs Vine, who got;up and looked, out of the door, and found'Eocles there. Witness told lilm: to cleat out or she would summon Mrs Walker, Mrs Walker shortly after ma|<T,her appearance, and wanted to know'what all the noise was about. A minuto, ifter she heard a splash of water. By Mr Shaw : T knew Eccles before. No,man entered my room before or on that night. Was 1 not aware that .Barter was walking,-abqut'the passages with his boots off. 'There was another lady in my room at qp tjme during the night, but there were 'only twpwhen ,tho ducking took place, Mrs Walker-told us she did not want any of the sirljito.tell .lies for her, . U i Mr Barter, recalled stated that he never knocked at the girls' bedroom door, ' By.MrShaw: What your- object in taking off your'boots; Witness looked - perplexed, and his Worship said; Her did not think the question relevant., ' Witness,' v King 8 ® hf girls a carriage hag, ducement from the girls tp gp Mrs Walker made .'a effect that sho found EdcWs In 1 rcom and thew the water ovef him. His Worship thought that Mrs Walker's conduct was in 'no way discreditable to the management of; the hotel, but bn'tho'contrary, she was t.rylpg tp majntajp p6|jr, There was that wereihere'wew girls was frqqiiently/jrejy difficult to keep order. by tho landlady :in a' very' J q ueatioifiibla position, but his ',WoMhip;jdidrinot that Mrs Walker wm the water over him. Defendant' would Ke flned Is, without costs. • a