Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1866-03-07 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

VIOLENT AS9AULT BY A MILITARY OFFICER.  Lieutenant Maddock Davies, of the 92nd regiment, recently returned from India. son of Mr Davies of Cwmfelin tin works, pleaded guilty to a charge of having violently assaulted Mr Thomas Robert Mason, a clerk, in tue employ of Messrs. RiJbards, Power, and Co., ship brokers, Swansea. The complainant said: Last evening about six o'clock - .  I left the Office of Messrs Richards-, Power, and Co., where lam employed, to go home. I was accotnpanieu by my wife, and on going up Wassail-street the defendant passed me. As he passed me I said to Mr Johns who was with me "Good Night." The defendant turned round and said " What are you insulting me for :A" Before I could turn round to reply he gave me a blow on the head at the base of the scull on the side of the ear, which sint me reeling into the street. Whilst I was picking up my hat, which hod fallen off, the defendant hit me again, and followed it up by striking Inc in true Irish fashion with ft thick stick which I should like the magistrates to see. The superintendent of police saw it when the defendant was brought in custody to this court. My wile who was with me was, and still continues to be, greatly affected by the assault. The two gentlemen (Mr David White and Mr James Alderson) who have just left the court, and who are my witnesses, rescued me from the defendant ; if they had not done so I believe I should not have been here to have preferred the charge, for I think I should have been murdered. I am not aware of having given him any provocation. He passed me very quickly, and I should scarcely have known him again had Ile not a,saulted me. I prefer this charge not from any malice but because I consider the public ought to be protected against the defendant who, I think, is not tit to be at large. In reply to the Bench the defendant said ha had no questions to ask the complainant. Mr Davies, father of the defendant, said he should like to ask the complainant a question. The magistrates said he could do so through his son. The defendant: It's of no consequence, father. The magistrates then asked the defendant if he had anything to say in extenuation, and he said that the complainant had insulted him. The Bench told him that he should have asked the complainant such questions as would have brought out the fact, if it were so, after he had given his evidence. The defendant then replied that he had nothing to  say. The Bench: Though it is somewhat irregular, yet if you think you can get from the complainant any evidence of his haring insulted you, you may ask him the questions now.  The defendant I have nothing to say. The magistrates having consulted said the assaultappeared to them to be a most unprovoked and unwarranted one. They felt it their duty to impose the heaviest penalty the law would allow which would be a fine of including cpste, or in default two months' imprisonment. Besides this they could not allow him to leave the court until he had entered into sureties to keep the peace, himself in £lOO and two sureties in £.50 each. The Bench was sorry to see a gentleman of his respectable family connections in so disgraceful a position. The money having been paid and the requisite recog nisances entered into, the defendant left the court.