An “After Dinner” Episode.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 368, 24 October 1889, Page 3

An “After Dinner” Episode.

Gifbornx is ordinarily Buch a peaceful community that any little disturbance wakes things up a bit, and early on Tuesday morn ing it was no surprise to see a “ full house ’’ greet the worthy B.M. when he took his seat half an hour before the usual time, and there was such a proportion of colored gentlemen (better known as Maoris) as to suggest that they take a peculiar interest in these proceedings. A chap named Shannon, who as a pugilist went under the name of Newton, was charged with assaulting Jack Weston by striking him on the face, Mr Chrisp appeared on behalf of the accused. Sergeant Bullen t-aid that if the statement of informant was correct, the sooner a check was put on this sort of thing the better. “ Although,” said he, " we can put up with having professional pugilists in the place if they behave themselves, we cannot put up with having professional bullies in the place,” Mr Chri.p thought it would save trouble if he at once raised an objection which he considered would be fatal to the cate. He contended a man could not be charged with two offences under a summary information, and by the way in which this information was drawn up two offences were indicated. The Sergeant admitted the weight of Mr Chrisp’s argument, but in any case the fact that the defendant had not been misled by the information he considered sufficient, Mr Chrisp further contended that the information could not be amended. His Worship overruled the objection, being satisfied that the accused had not been misled. Infor mint's evidence was to the effect that he was in the Argyll Hotel on the evening of the 14th. uuder the influence of driuk, and when leaning against Ihe table accused struck him—he could not tell how often—on the face, breaking the skin, He had never previously had a quarrel with Shannon, nor had he a quarrel with anyone previously that evening. All he knew of the occurrence was that accused said he would see him home, and defendant asked what business was that of Shannon—he could sec himself home. In reply to Mr Chrisp informant said that when in his cups he (Weston) was a bit elevated hitnself. He had been a bit of a boxer and people reminded him of .it when he was drunk, and he sang and danced and got lively, but no worse. He had been previously convicted of drunkenness and on one occasion for swearing. AgustusFlux, a mildlooking young man, gave his version of the storr, which was more remarkable for what he did not know than what he did. He had been attending to his ordinary duties as waiter at the Argyll, and heard a loud conversation in the room which Weston and Shannon were in, but having other customers to attend to he took no notice until he heard a " rustle," and when hs went into the room Weston was lying on the floor, his face bleeding. Weston then accused Shannon of striking him, and Shannon said he would sea him home and then see him about the matter in the morning. Nothing further passed in the house and both men then left, The break in the skin on Weston’s face might have been caused by the fall. Hare Weipu then came up smiling, as though he were going to receive a handsome presentation from the Bench. He was sprucely dressed in a velveteen coat, and had a comical halfwinking style about him that gave him the appearance of being a knowing cuss who would sooner sit down to a meal of favorite shellfish than get mixed up in a pugilistic encounter. Mr Booth : Do you speak English ? Hare: No; Maori. Harry couldn’t make out for a few seconds what they were all laughing at, even the Bench, police, and disputants being beyond restraint. At any rate Mr Booth interpreted, and smiling Harry went on to say that the two parties concerned had a korero. though not an excited one, but the upshot of it was that Shannon struck Weston with his two clenched fists, and Weston fell against the partition. Weston did not strike Shannon before or afterwards, but Weston rushed at accused after being struck and they closed and fell. Weston did not assume a fighting attitude first. Harry could not be shaken in his statements, and on being asked whether he had not been conversing with Weston as to what he should say, or whether he had lately brought firewood for him, he repudiated the idea ; the only time he had spoken to Weston afterwards was when he was with the police, man the same night; he worked for Mr Cooper and had never worked for Weston. Before cross examining him Mr Chrisp, with a stolid face, asked Harry if he could speak English. Harry looked at Mr Chrisp, then at the Bench, then at the audience; his eyes then cast a searching glance over the velvet coat, but that did not convey any intelligence, beyond the assurance that it had been neatly brushed. Then Harry looked Mr Chrisp square in the face, and rattled off a little speech in the Maori language. Again there was subdued mirth, but when Mr Booth interpreted the speech, which meant in effect that Harry had heen “ had ” once and was not going to be had so easily again, there war a regular outburst, and Harry looked round with a merry twinkle in his eye, which was convincing that he meant all he said. At a later period Mr Booth, in intrepreting made use of some English words which Harry appeared to perfectly understand, much to the amusement of the Court. When Harry left the box hs was wreathed in smiles, as the Americans would say, and be got so familiar as to give Constable Pardy a gentle dig about the region of the heart, but instead of being arrested for contempt Harry went to a corner to watch how the pakehas could manage after they had done with him. The defendant deposed he was perfectly sober Qn the night in question. He went into the Argyll with a couple of friends, and after a few words of friendly conversation he told Weston he was drunk and ought to go home, Weston said be could not send h|m home. He (defendant) said he would take him home if he was so bad. One word led to another and Weston shoved him, and the result was from a shove by defendant Weston fell against the partition and got his face cut. Weston said he (defendant) was a fighting man, but he (Weston) would fight him for anything he liked. Defendant said no ; he would take him home and they could talk about that In the morning, He had not used his clenched fists. Richard Finlay deposed that Shannon had stayed at bis house for four months, and had always behaved himself well, and had iu no way shown a tendency tq be rowdy, though Weston h"d often been more lively than pleasing. F. Gault said defendant had stayed at his place for six weeks and had always conducted himse f well—as well as anyone he had ever had in his house. His W.-rehip said there was a conflict of evidences, he was suspicious there was an assault but in the circumstances he must dismiss the oaeq,