FREE FIGHT IN A COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 24 December 1885, Page 2

FREE FIGHT IN A COURT.

At Adelaide, on JSToyembev 80, William Gunby, Government engineer and surveyor, was committed for trial on a qharge of abducting Catherine Theresa Waugh, under fourteen years of age, and refusing to return the child when demanded by her mother, Mrs Prince, whose daughter she was. Gunby, who was corroborated by hj? wife, pleaded that he had not suri rendered the' chil*} owing to the ill-treat-mei)tshc>|iiffered' by |er motljer, iyj}o frequently aranli:' 'At {lie cofteliisibir' 'of jijjjj'gse as.cene'pf jinparaliejed -disorder occurred, sj}jj|e£e|ii}ant' wijs oii tlie point of giving the necessary faffffjp 'his liberation, when the mother of the "girl—rtliQ, latter having appeared as a witness for the defendant, with whom she had been sitting whilst present in court—made, a movement towards her child, with the object of securing her. Mrs Gunby was, jjpnapjily prepared for .the -poytje, an| slie gprapg fy frnji of the •ghild, who was immediately'-'surrounded by rest of-th§ females \yit!i wljQm uhe iad "been convei'S\ n fi\ Nothing daunted Mrs- Prince forced"her w'uf to tho child, who was screaming pitiously, ana managed to get hold of her arm, when the wiiole of the counsel engaged in the case were gepp join in the melee, A scene law clerks, policemen, private detectives, and. others w,ho we*e in 'the building dashed .violently against tlie mastf : of' shrieking women and struggling m'eii, arid giving, to the scene the appearance of' a' eeneralfree fight. Backwards'and forwards the mass swayed, and, as the conictfflg'pjrties eaeh had a firm hold.of the poor girl ifc anpearerl as though she would be literally, dragged .to pieces,' and 'the screams that emanated from her lips and'thb i "deathly pallor other countenance went tostrengthen that idea, Several of who joined in the disgraceful affdir were innifed to do so by the ill-treatment ;the .'child was receiving. At first the gencrdl 'desire appeared tb .be to secure'possession bttlie girl; but a'bfellicbiie ; spirit seemed to.td:^ !^Ms«ioon.iaf (in', the 'Struggle, 1 and they' allowed ~thk 'jyomeri" to continue the 'unmerciful struggle for the girl,' whilst tHey pillfed each other back from the surging scene, At onetime Mr Kingston, was •seen on the outskirts of the crowd with his high

hat kuocked from its :perpendioalar f andMr E.W. Hacker was s'trugglincf in his armj,: tho picture -of' rage-; whilst the next minute Mr Holland had ■ seized Mr Nicholson, who had - been struggling with great - bravery against the attack on an articled-clerk, and a muscular policeman, and twisted them round in a manner that at one : time threatened to send that gentleman to. -earth. -: So professional waß the twist, in fact, that -Mr Nicholson evidently recognised the. sii- ' perior abilities of the opposing and retired behind the clerk V table, gesticulating wildly to Mr Beddome, who had been stoldily watching the proceeding from his desk. Nicholson repeatedly called out" Can't you do anything in the matter?" Mr. Beddome, however, remained mute.'aiidMr Nicholson, receiving no support from that quarter, returned to the floor ot the building v and was soon afterwards again conspciuous in the struggling crowd.' The next combatant to retire was Mi Hawker, who, having been relieved by Mr Kingston, 'had rushed with such valor- into the" fight that , his opponent had considered it necessary to use greater violence, with the'result that the face of Mr .Nicholson's partner presented the appearance of a r pugilist's. This gentleman considered it' necessary appeal to Mr Beddome for assistance; but the Magistrate remained silent." At this time the girl, who had for some time ' been crying bitterly—calling out " Take riie away I Take me away !"—managed to break from'the grasp of those who held her, and rushed towards the railings, with, the evident object, of. throwing herself, amongst the spectators.-• Just, however, as she reached the fireplace-the parties secured her .again, and, with a rush the • struggle was transferred to the northern end of the building, Mr Chipp, who had appeared as a witness for the defence, and had stuck close to the girl throughout, was brought forcibly to the ground, and his prostrate body at one time threatened po: bring several others down. At this period quite twenty-five persons were engaged in the scrimmage, and the struggle was continuing with unabated vigor, when Mr Burley (ex-con-stable) suddenly lifted up the girl, and, shaking off all opponents with an almost superhuman effort, rushed out of the eastern door, closely Mowed by Mrs Prince and two or three others. Outside a cab was standing, and into, this the girl was thrust and rapidly driven off, As the man who had obtained possession of the girl was recognised as one of Mr& Price's faction, tjie result was lopkecj o.n aq (t victory fo,r the' mother. Mr Beddoniq having' previously ordered the doors of the Court to be shut, only two or three persons had mado their exit. When order had been restored, he remarked'; "I will sign warrants for everyono concerned in the riot, and everyone charged aliall bo locked up to-night," This announcement was followed by a profound silence. One by one the solicitors and others left the building, their departure being the signal for loud cheers or hisses, according to the views entertained'by those who had witnessed the struggle from the body of the Goiji't—SAge.t

ODD FELLQWS 1 WBAIjTH. The enormous wealth acciiinula&d by the MancTie'gter Unity bf' Odd Follows is shown in the Financial statement of -tjie o"rder fqp tho ye ft r BfQon>tier'3i3t, 1884. Inclining tlip subpi<lpy-fijiss, amounting to £301,f8812s 6d, 't|)e jiptal accumulated capital of tfip Order at tho abpye date was £5,732,708 ljjs Gel, of wllioli £5,51)9,350 belonged to t!w Biol a«4 funera), and £163,448 to district funeral fimds. These figui'oa show an ingrease fop the past year of £213,200, and yield an average of £9 15a per member, which make? the body,the wealthiest friendly society in. the world, The annual income last year was £840,526, of which the TO fi? £(jip'j l 8 Qs lQcl was ffflm 1311,112 15s B<j frpn? gnd £10,035 from initiation fees, On the awei !'. and - tlw payments only amounted to £585,714 i4s id, w' :!:!?*! £407,807 was for sick benefits to members, and £117,947 for funeral payments on the death of .members, Accordingly there was a surplus'of £254,811 to t>e added tp the accumulated ..capital,'' 4|:iiyG returns relate to 4,29,4 lodgesj ''with 533,850 members'; but' there'"are in addition '8,721 members telonging to Home and Colonial lodges''from 1 wlioiu the necessary returns have not been received; ' '' '