West Sussex Gazette 14th June 1855
Samuel Freeman v Zephaniah Greenfield - A charge of assault.
Mr Greenfield, in answer to the charge, said, I did strike him under great provocation.
Chairperson - Perhaps you had better plead not guilty then.
Mr Greenfield - Not guilty
The facts were briefly as follows:- the plaintiff, who is a shoemaker, and in poor circumstances, suspected the defendant with having told the parish board that he could earn 12s. a week. Three of four weeks ago complainant went to the board, as usual, for relief, which was refused; he afterwards saw the defendant in the shop of Mr Tate, a shoemaker, who occasionally employs the complainant, and charged him with having told the Board. Defendant denied it repeatedly, when complainant called him a false man, and a liar. Defendant told him if he called him so again he would hit him, and as he did so defendant spat his face with his open hand, upon which the complainant pulled off his coat, and threatened the defendant, calling him hideous names. The defendant then again spat his face, and set him on to the floor. A tussle ensued and, to use the complainants expression, the defendant "throated him with all his might and main." The complainant's own version disclosed a very great amount of provocation, whilst his witness said the blow was not a hard one, and that the provoking language was used before the first blow was struck.
The magistrates were unanimously of opinion that the case was so trifling, considering the provocation, and dismissed the information.