Glasgow Courier. — 1857-06-13 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

BRUSISIAGENI QUARREL.  On Saturday, • remarkable case of assault was brought up at the Birmingham Police Court, the parties concerned being Mr. J. R. T. Hodgson and Mr. E. H. Collis, stated to be respectable solicitors in that town. The following are the circumstances of the case :—When Mr. Ratcliff, the Mayor, and his guest, the Duke of Cam • bridge, left the banquet at Dee's Hotel on Monday night, his Worship asked Mr. Hodgson to take his place as chairman. According to Mr. Hodgson, Mr. Collis, who was also present, afterwards told him it was the Mayor's desire that the proceedings should not be continued much longer, it being then nearly 12 o'clock, though Mr. Collis says the Mayor's name was never mentioned, and that it was nierely a private suggestion of his own. Be this as it may; there is no doubt that the Mayor had , expressed no such wish. Hearing next day, however, that his hospitalities had been cut short earlier than he expected, he inquired the reason, and Mr. Hodgeau told him it was done in consequence of the message sent through Mr. Collis. Mr. Collis thereupon sent a letter to Mr. Hodgson, demanding to know whether he adhered to die gatement, and Mr. Hodgson replied that he did, couching his answer, however, in conciliatory and friendly language. In an hour afterwards—at two o'clock in the afternoon of Thursday last —Mr. Collis desired an interview with Mr. Hodgson at his offices in Waterloo Street, and then occurred what the latter thus described in his deposition : ' I sat in my chair with my feet under the desk, when Mr. Collis entered the room. He came up to me holding the letter in his hand, and said, "Hodgson, do you withdraw that letter ?" I said, "No, but"—and before I could add another word he struck me a violent blow in the face with Ids fiat. I said, "Collis, let me have assistance, you know I sin lame" (referring to the effects of a fractured right arm), but he immediately struck me another silent blow in the face, which produced blood. I called out, " Help!' "Murder!" and, wheeling round my chair, I picked up the tongs. In doing this the poker fell towards Collis, and he lifted it up and brandished, it over my head. Ile struck me with his fists eight, ten, or a dozen times. I became insensible, and remained in this state until Dr. Ileslop came.' Mr. Parlces, a clerk in Mr. Hodgson's office, proved that he had to burst the door open before he could render his employer any assistance. Ile found Mr. Hodgson bleeding and almost senseless. , Mr. Collis was brandishing the poker, and said. Stind back, or l'll lay you straight; a dangerous man.' Mr. W. J. Beale, solicitor, and Dr. Ileslop also gave evidence as to the state in which they found Mr. Hodgson. In defence, Mr. Collis gate the following version of what passed in the room : 'I said to hint, " Mr. Rodgeon, do you adhere to the statements contained in this letter?" After some, hesitation he said he did. I then said, in a menacing tone, "Mr. Hodgson, when you wrote this tissue of falsehoods you were of course prepared to take upon yourself the consequences?" Mr. Hodgson then said, " Oh, Collis, I'll withdraw it; l'll write you any apology you like." I said, 'Mr. Hodgson, isn't that lettera lie from beginning to end ?"' and he admitted that it was. Ho again said, "I will write you an ; Apology you like," and I said, "write it, sir.' He began to write, but suddenly snatched up the tongs, flourished them over Me, and cried "murder" louder thnti lever heard in my life. I immediately rushed to him, caught the tongs with my left hand, and knocked him down with my right. As he passed me on his way to the door I repeated this right and left. I only struck three times."Vhe magistrates committed Mr. Collis to take his trial at the burgh sessions. Ile was defended at the outset of the case by Mr. E. Wright, but having called Mr. Hodgson 'a liar' in open court, the gentleman threw up his brief.