The Benalla Ensign and Farmer's and Squatter's Journal (Vic. : 1869 - 1872)(about) |
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Friday 1 October 1869
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2 corrections, most recently by Trevor.Poultney - Show corrections
MANSFIELD POLICE COURT. Tuesday, September 21. (Before Messrs. Kitchen and Smith, J.P's.) The police appeared against William Collopy for com- mitting a violent assault upon the person of one Joseph Todd on the previous night. Joseph Todd, on oath, said.—I am a packer residing at Jamieson. Last night I was at Kelson's hotel, Mansfield, playing cards with prisoner. I found the prisoner cheating me and accused him of it. I also called him a liar. He struck me from across the table with his fist, and afterwards with a lamp that was standing on the table. The effect of the blow made me insensible. (The fragments of the delf pedestal of a lamp were here shown to Todd, some marked with blood.) This piece (produced) was taken out of my cheek. Met prisoner afterwards, and he said he was sorry for what he had done. Had no conversation with him about the matter. When the assault was com- mitted, there were a number of persons in the room. George Daley, in the employ of Mr. Kelson, stated.— I saw last witness on Monday night in the hotel in company with prisoner, and was there when the assault took place. They were playing cards, and I heard words pass between them, and, afterwards, the lamp fall. Todd tried to get away from prisoner, who, following him up, knocked him down. I did not see him strike prisoner. Do not know what led to the row. Saw Todd bleeding, behind the bar counter. Elizabeth Lowes, in Mr. Kelson's employ, on oath, stated that she saw prisoner strike Todd with his hand, and then with a lamp. He struck him twice with the lamp, and said if he killed the man "he did not care." By prisoner.—This was in the room. To the Bench.—Todd gave no provocation. He tried to get out of prisoner's way. Issac Kelson, residing at the Royal Hotel, deposed.— The prisoner and Todd were in the room at the back of the bar playing cards. He heard the lamp fall, and went in and caught a glimpse of prisoner as if in the act of striking. Was not aware of any provocation being given. Two constables stated that they were called from the camp by Mr. Kelson's groom who told them that a row had taken place at the hotel. They proceeded to the spot and saw the man Todd bleeding. Medical aid was sent for, and Mr. Traeger came and extracted the piece of delf (produced) from a wound in Todd's face. Mr. Kelson gave prisoner in charge. Dr. Reynolds deposed to having examined the wounds in Todd's face. Such wounds might have been the result of the means stated. It was not a dangerous case, and the scar caused would wear off in time. This closed the evidence. The prisoner admitted the charge, and expressed his sorrow for having done what he did. The Bench retired, and after an short deliberation re- turned, and asked the police if the prisoner had been before the Conrt on a similar charge previously, to which a reply in the affirmative was given, but they did not know the penalty inflicted on the occasion. Mr. Kitchen said, that after mature consideration they were of opinion that a violent assault had been committed, and only for the provocation—a very slight one, indeed — the case could have been beyond their jurisdiction; and they would have sent it to a higher Court. The prisoner was fined £5, in default, one month's imprisonment. Wednesday, September 22. (Before Messrs. Smith and Kitchen J.P's.) The police proceeded against a man named Emil Reisaneur, the hired servant of Peter Peters, packer, of Jamieson, for cruelty to animals. The Sergeant stated that the prisoner was arrested while in charge of nine laden pack horses, by Con- stables Costigan and James, who brought the animals to the camp. The Bench proceeded to examine the horses, and found them in a frightful state, they being covered with bruises and sores caused by the heavy loading. The prisoner was remanded till to-day, bail being allowed. "Death on the rafter" is the way they an- nounce hanging suicides in Louisville. An exhibition of postage stamps is now being held in Paris. Henry Ward Benecher says it will never do to "preach cream and practice skim-milk."