A NORTHCOTE SCANDAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 296, 21 December 1885, Page 2

A NORTHCOTE SCANDAL.

The Butcher, the Bootmaker, and tho

Groen-eyed Monster.

Edwin Bird, of Northcoto, was brought up at thu Police Court today ova charge of using threatening and abusive languago to one Thos. Goodaerc. Defendant pleaded notguilty through his solicitor, Mr Cotter. Mr Edward Coopor, wiio appeared for tho prosecution, said this waß oni! of v long series of offences. Defendant had bcod brought up once before, and was bound over to keep thu peace towards Uoodacre. This was eight or nine months ago. Almost as soon as the period tor which Bird was bound over had expired, tho annoyancos rocammenced. An injunction was recently laid against dofendant, and was withdrawn upon an apology being made. The evidonco of tho complainant was to tho effect that defendant was constantly annoying and making threats against him. Witness kept a loaded gun in his houso in conscquenco of these throats, and nevor wont up tho rond alone without protection. Ho never mot Bird without being insulted, and invariably crossed tho road to avoid meeting him.— Mr Cotter, in cross-examining tho witness, put Bonio questions respecting tho maternity of his children. Mr Cooper objected to the question, as the answer would have nothing to do with the case. Mr Cotter rotorted that it had, mid said that, liko many other casos, thoro was a liuly in this. Mr Cooper submitted that tho question was an attempt to damage Mr Goodacro's character rather than sot up a dofence. The Bench ruled that tho quostion might be put. Defendant, under cross-examination, admitted that he had two children by his housekeeper, Mrs Miller. His wife died sovoral yoarg ago, and of that ho was quite suro. Ho had still two children alive in England. Mrs Millar hadbeon living with him and kcoping his houso for four years. He was not in tho least degree jealous of Bird. He had complained to Mrs Millor of her conduct in speaking to Bird, but that was not what ho was annoyed at. Ho might have punished Mrs Miller for being in communication with Bird, and might have struok her for thai reason. Accused culled him a dog, and said if he lived another day ho would poison him. Witness missed somo books from his placo tho other day, but did not accuse Bird of taking them. However, ho had reason for bolloving that nobody olso took thorn. Ho did not get a search warrant against Bird, but his honso was searched by the police A boy named Curtis was called in corroboration, and while douying any animosity against dofendant. ho admitted that Ilivil accused him of taking a bottlo of bcoul from his place, and he confessed to it, holding at. the same Hint tho bottlo which was under his mattress had been given to him by tho housekeeper. Mr. Cotter, In defonce, urged that Ooodttcrp, who admitted living in open adultery with his housokcopor, was annoyed at tho friendship between her and accusod, and honco tho information being laid, llird was called, and denied having spoken to (Joodacro for thrco months. Ho llatly contradicted Goodacro's evidence of tho threats. Tho| Bench elicited the further facts that tho parties livod in adjoining houses. Ono was tho village bootmaker, and the other tho butcher. Tho caso was eventually dismissed, each party to pay his own costs.