ASSAULT UPON a CLERGYMAN.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 894, 30 November 1871, Page 3

ASSAULT UPON a CLERGYMAN.

The late assault upon the Rev. Mr Bardsley, at ISofala, was the subject of a magisterial inquiry at Bathurst, last month, and excited a great deal of interest. Harry Bridson, the defendant, is the son of the Police Magistrate at Sofala, and, in limine, pleaded guilty. The facts, as stated for the prosecution, were as under:—Some time ago Bridson wished to become a candidate for confirmation, and presented himself to Mr Bardsley to undergo the usual course of instruction: Mr Bardsley, it seems, ascertained that he was not a fit person to be admitted to such a rite, and having privately expostulated with him, declined for the time to receive him as a postulant. Bridson then told Mr Bardsley that it was not his wish to be confirmed, only his mother's. Subsequently, Mrs Bridson, evidently under the influence of some misrepresentation her son had made to her, wrote to Mr Bardsley a not agreeable letter; but after an interview the matter was explained, Bridsen (the defendant) admitting that he had told a false version of the story to his mother. Shortly after this came from Bridson a threat to horsewhip Mr Bardsley, but the matter ended there for a time, Bridson having gone to Wagga Wagga. Prom that place he sent Mr Bardsley an insulting letter, and on his return committed the assault he had threatened. The day after he sent a bottle of vinegar and water, bearing en it a label directing the application of the liqu'd to the bruised parts of the body as occasion might require. Some other ■deeds partaking of the nature of a persecution are spoken of in reference to this affair, showing a strong animus on the part of Bridson. The attorney for Mr Bardsley said his client did not desire to press the matter to any extreme. No evidence was taken, but the Bench, seeing that Bridson pleaded guilty, stated that if the case was gone into they should have thought it their duty to commit him. He was fined £5 with costs. The circumstance of this case had previously occasioned a good deal of public indignation in the town and district. Erom the " Times" it appears that the assailant met with some treatment in character with that he had adopted towards Mr Bardsley. That journal says: —"The cowardly follow who attacked Mr Bardsley was seen strutting through the town with his mother and sister and as the latter went into a store leaving him outside, the opportunity came to bring him to task. AMr Grice (all honour to him) then stepped up and thrashed the fellow manfully with his fists—thrashed him in fact till the coward took refuge in flight. Then followed an extraordinary scene—a crowd of two or three hundred persons assembled round the store and hissed and yelled at the party within. Rotten eggs were pelted at them, and at last they had to be escorted home by the police to escape the fury of the people. The next night the mother and son were burned in effigy in the front of their own residence, by the townspeople, who assembled two or three hundred storng and marched to and fro headed by a band of music."— "Sydney Mail."