Norwich bulletin., 1911-10-06
JOHN DONOVAN FINED
 IN THE CITY COURT. Bill Amounted to $19.06, Which He Paid-Resented Being Called Irish m an

The Donovan Wilcox assault case was the reason for a large attendance of spectators at the Thursday morning session of the city court. Judge Brown was on the bench, and the proceedings were closely followed by all present in court, as well as furnishing topic of converse tion about the streets for a large part of toe day.
 The complaint, erad by Clerk Tibbits. charged John Donovan, county road inspector, with striking William B. Wilcox, second selectman. Mir. Dono- van pieades not guilty and acted as his own lawyer in teh conduct of this defense.
 City Attorney Hall called Selectman Wilcox as the first witness. He gave hi version of the assault, which took place near the corner of Main and She tuclxet streets on Wednesday forenoon. MT. Wilcox said Mir. Donovan ap- preached him and inquired if MT. Will Wilcox rplied NO" MT. Donovan ac- cued MT. Wilcox of talking about him, and he told MT Wilcox to stop it and he also called MT. Wilcox a vile name, according to the latter's testimony MT. Donovan threatened to whip him and then struck him a blow in the face, whish was heavy enough almost to cause him to lose his balance and fall.
 Policeman Maloney, who arrested MT. Donovan on complaint of Mir. Will cox, testified that he saw MT. Donovan bit MT. Wilcox just after the two men standing together.
 Saw MT. Wilcox Struck.
 Charles F. Lillibridge also testified to seeing MT. Donovan hit MT. Will cox. which he said happened when MT. Wilcox approached MT. Donovan, aft CT MT Lilli5ridge had asked MT. Will c9x il he allowed himself to be called such a. name on the street as MT. Donovan had applied to him.
 When Mir. Donovan proceeded to question the itness, he asked if MT. Lili ibridge was not taking so much interest sin the case because of a cer- tain letter which he had received from Mr Donovan MT. Lillibridge replied with warmth that ne didn't care about the letter. and he caused a commotion ln the court when he said something about settling his differences with gloves on in some cellar. Order was restored when the judge told the spec tators that they must keep quiet.
 After some more spirited exchanges between MT. Donovan and the witness, Mr. Donovan took the stand and said he would have to go back four years in his statement of some things which ne told the court were provocation for the present trouble.
 He told of MT Wilcox failing to get job of macadam work on North Main street while he (Mr. Donovan} was street commissioner. and also of a time when MT. WilsoX called him a liar and shook whip in his face on Laurel Hill, and wanted to fight MT. Donovan.
 Called Names.
 The accused also went at length in to different criticisms that he had heard il said MT. Wilcox had been making to other people about him. At one time MT. Wilcox had called him an Irishman and used 8 vile name to- wards him. Mir Donovan said he was born in Meriden and is not Irish.
 In reblttaI, Mr. Wilcox denied some ovan had accused him of. MT. Wilcox showed papers to show that he had done satisfactory work in road build = ing Mir Donovan did not cross exam inc MT. Wilcox.
 Charles Butler Chapman was the last witness. He told of seeing MT. Donovan hit Mir Wilcox. but did not agree with the other witnesses as to which hand was used.
 Mr. Donovan asked MT. Chapman a few questions. When both sides rest ed, Judge Brown said he was sorry that political discussions sometimes made so much trouble, and he made other suggestions about citizens liv- ing in peace and harmony. He inn posed a fine of $10 and costs. Mir Donovan stated that he would not appeal. He paid the sum of s19.06 and remarked that he would cheerfuliy pay for the privilege of giving him the Nhack.'