LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] The Horsewhipping Case. Auckland, Friday Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2221, 2 October 1886, Page 2

LATEST AUCKLAND NEWS. [BY TELEGRAPH — OWN CORRESPONDENT.] The Horsewhipping Case. Auckland, Friday Night.

A MAN named Sissons, clerk to the Sugar Company, who horsewhipped Spencer, kauri gum ornament maker, at Mechanics Bay, was fined 40s and costs, to-day. Defendant pave the following account of his reason for committing the assault : — A few months ago a young lady came up to Auckland from the South to recruit her health, and resided with a widow lady friend in a retired part of the city. She was in a very delicate state, having been dangerously attacked by brain fever, and consequently perfect quietness was absolutely necessary. Prosecutor paid her frequent visits against her will, and during her stay in Auckland made her one of many offers of marriage, which was politely refused. Not to be de nied he visited her residence again on Saturday, 18th September, and after most unwarrantably intruding upon the privacy of the young lady, quietly informed her that he had " telegraphed to her friends in the South, informing them that she had returned to convalescence, and that she was leading an abandoned life," and in fact that he had been keeping her in Auckland as his mistress, and the only feasible way to redeem her honour was to enter into a speedy marriage contract with him. I went up to the residence of the young lady on the 21st September to inquire about her health, and was informed that she was suffering from a dangerous attack of hysteria, accelerated by mental perturbation, produced by complainant's conduct. When fully aware of what had transpired, I, after carefully considering the case, decided that a thorough castigation in the shape of a horsewhipping would not be considered by any impartial person who was acquainted with facts anything but justly meritorious and I forthwith horse-whipped him.