BX May 15, 1916

Scathing Comment – John Lee Fined $20 and Costs for Assaulting a Recruiter

A severe lecture was handed out to John Lee of Northfield Centre by Police Magistrate Livingston at the police court this morning, when he sentenced him to a fine of $20 and costs or two months in jail for assaulting Q.M.S. Taylor of the 215th Battalion. The sentence given was the limit for common assault, and in scathing terms the magistrate denounced the farmer’s action, telling him, that if he could not help in recruiting he should not try to hinder it. “Where would your farm be if it were not for these men who have donned the khaki to fight for you,” he asked, telling him that he should be ashamed of his action of striking a soldier of the king who was doing his duty.

This was the first case of its kind that has occurred here and in giving him the limit the magistrate is determined not to allow recruiters engaged in serving their country to be interfered with by such men as those who have apparently only their own interests at heart.

The case arose when Q.M.S. Taylor drove to Mr. Lee’s farm one day last week to see a man working there, to which Lee made objection. An argument followed and when the sergeant did not immediately comply with the farmer’s command to leave the premises he was struck in the face, Lee taking the law into his own hands.