COROMANDEL NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 75, 1 April 1897, Page 2

COROMANDEL NEWS.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Coromandel, this day. The following are the local returns for the licensing election held yesterday:—From Lower and Upper Township polls respectively : Hornibrook, 215 and 54; Swindley, 203 and 53; Burch, 192 and 49; Me* Donnell, 190 and 50 ; Wesb, 182 and 52 ; Deeble, 116 and 42; Horn, 100 and 44; Catran, 96 and 41; Robertsou, 8 and 38; Purnell, 91 and 39. Several outside returns are not yet received. Comparatively little interest was taken ia the election here.

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr P. J. Tierney and Capb. Swindley, Justices, several cases of more than ordinary interest were heard. Bapbista Ross and John Pettcrson were charged with stealing two kauri rickers, value £2 10s, tho proporby of Mr Green. Accused pleaded guilty. The Bench said bhe practice of stealing timber had boon going on for some time past, and thoy intended bo pub a stop to ib. They inflicted a fine of 10a, and costs 10s, and ordered accused to pay the value of the timber, £2 10s, or in defaulb take 14 days' imprisonment.

Patrick Laary and Alexander McMillau were charged that they did on Tuesday night maliciously stab a mare, the property of Mr J. D. O'Brien, and steal a saddle from the same. On the application of the police accused were remanded till April 7th to allow for the ovidenco being taken.

Peter Bracken was charged that on March 18th he did attempt to commit an indecent assaulb on Mrs Dyer, wife of William Dyer, nigbbwatchman. Constable Law conducted the case for the prosecution, Mr Shortland appeared for defence. William Dyer, in evidence, stated that on returning homo early on the morning of the 18th he found his wife in bod feeling unwell with her head tied up. On the 23rd witness had to leave for Auckland, when his wifo commenced crying and said she did not wish to bo loft alone. Witness abked for an explanation. Mr Shortland here objected to anything said by prosecutrix to" her husband being heard in evidence, such statements boing mad© five days after bhe alleged assault. Tho Bench ruled thab such statement be taken. In cro? examination witness said he would n->: -.year ho had nob seen accused at 12 o'.-ook on the nighb of the 17bh, or that bhe >,_.j-ecutrix was his wife. Mrs Dyer deposed thab ab-one a.m. on the morning of the 18bh accused came to her tenb and attempted to commit the offence named io the charge. She resisted and accused then made off. Cross-examined she said her name was Ada Stanley. She had not informed her husband of the matter because she was afraid he would do something to geb himself inbo brouble. For bhe defenco a large number of witnesses gave evidence to the effect that they had been with the accused at a dance in the Caledonian Hall and in his company till 3 o'clock on the morning of the 18th, thereby clearly proving an alibi. The Bench held that the charge had nob been proved and dismissed the accused without a stain on his character.