Mr. Frederick Newman Matthews, appeared as complainant in HM, Court yesterday when he described how a brick, which had been thrown by an Indian private watchman, had missed his head by inches. Other exhibits produced by Mr. Matthews included a spear and a long bamboo pole.
The accused, Achbar Singh, who had been employed by Mr. Matthews to watch his property on Hungjao Road, was sentenced to 28 days' imprisonment on two charges of having maliciously damaged property belonging to Mr. Matthews and of unlawfully assaulting him on October Giving evidence before Mr. I. T. Morris, Acting Registrar, Mr. Matthews described how fie had seen Achbar Singh, who was very drunk, "beating-up" his three gardeners and their wives, following which he had broken up the servants' quarters. Later witness was shown a heavy bamboo pole, a spear, a broken window together with other damaged articles, and injuries to one gardener and the man's wife, "Missed by Inches"
Accused arrived shortly after 8,20 am. on October 23, continued witness, and he was then very drunk. Through another watchman witness told accused that it would be better if he accompanied him to the Settlement so that they could visit Bubbling Well Police station. Accused seemed to agree but when he was asked to enter a car he waved his arms about and shrieked.
Through the other watchman he was then removed from the premises, went on Mr. Matthews, who added tħat he went to Bubbling Well Police station to ask for advice, Upon his return he was told that the man had been back and had used threats. "Five minutes later I was in the house, when I was informed that the man was coming back again," he continued.
"I went to a hole in the fence to watch out for him and was returning back to the house when I heard a shout and a brick (produced) missed my head by inches. Looking out for other bricks which might have been thrown I rang up Bubbling Wel Police station and they sent some officers only to find that accused had gone," Mr. Matthews concluded.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.