The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-29 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY ASSAULT.

At the Petty Sessions held at Wealhridge, near Pon-
tefract, last week, a farmer named William Lund, of
Stubbs-Walding, was convicted in two several penalties
of 40s. and costs each, under the following c;rcum-
stances, as detailed in the local papers. The defendant
was charged with having assaulted the Hon. Stan-
hope Hawke and the Hon. Martin Blaydon Hawke, on
the 15th inst. The magistrates on the bench were Lord
Hawke, brother to the complainants, who retired from
the bench during the hearing of the case, Mr. H. M.
Greaves, Mr. R. Jones, Mr. R. Lee, and Mr. J. M.
Hepworth. The facts established were these:—On the
morning of the 15th inst. the complainants were riding
out to meet the hounds ; on their way they met the de-
fendant, who had a double-barrelled gun on his shoulder.
Mr. S. Hawke said to him, "You are after your old
trade again ; I saw you shoot a hare on Tuesday ; and
if I catch you again I shall summon you.' Defendant
answered, "You never saw me shoot a hare." Mr.
Stanhope replied, " I did, the other morning ; I was
close by you." Defendant again denied the charge, and
called Mr. Hawke a liar. Mr.Mawke rejoined, "If
you say that again I will knock your --head off," at
the same time turning round and approaching the defen-
dant. He also took hold of the small end of his whip,
and after wrapping the Irish round his hand raised it as
if to strike the defendant. Defendant then took hold of
his gun about the middle with his right hand, and held
it up as if to protect himself. A witness, who was the
only person besides the parties concerned that saw the
transaction, and who was brought up with reluctance to
give evidence against the complainants, said he was quite
sure the defendant did not present the gun at either of
the complainants in a threatening mariner. Mr. S. Hawke,
in his evidence, affirmed that the defendant raised the
gun towards him and his brother as they were ap-
proaching him, as if to shoot therm In his cross•exami-
nation Mr. Hawke admitted that he turned back again
to the defendant ; that he raised his whip to him ; that
it might have been in a threatening manner, and that it
was alter he raised his whip that defendant raised his
gun. The magistrates, after a short consultation, said
they had carefully considered the case, aed had come to
the conclusion that a most savage assault had been com-
mitted, and they therefore convicted the defendant in
the penalty of 2/. and costs in each case, which was im-
mediately paid. Mr. Wood, solicitor, who appeared
for the complainants, applied to have the defendant
bound over to keep the peace towards the complainants.
The Chairman said the Bench had already made up their
minds to do so. Mr. Palmer, the defendant's solicitor,
objected to the law being strained for any such pnr-
pose. The defendant had been summoned for two
assaults and had paid the penalty, and no other pro-
ceeding could be adopted. The inagiqtrAtes regretted.
that m
they could not ake an order upon the defendant
to give sureties of the peace, but called upon hire for an
assurance that he would not molest the complainants in
future, which his solicitor adviStcl him to do.