MAGISTRATES' COURTS

Press, Volume XXII, Issue 2854, 1 October 1874, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, September 30. [Before C. C. Bo wen, Esq., R.M.] DRUNK. Catherine Boyle, an old offender charged with drunkenness, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor as a vagrant. Archibald Knowles for drunkenness was sentenced to fourteen daya imprisonment with, hard labor. WIFE DESERTION. J. B. Rogers, arrested at Wellington, was charged with having deserted bis wife Mary Rogers. Mrs Rogers stated that her husband left her in Christchurch in July last without any means of support. He had only sent her £1 since that time. She had sold nearly all the things she had, and had gone into debt to live. Defendant said that be had no intention of deserting his wife. Ho went .to Wellington, as he could not get anything to do here. He was quite willing to support bis wife* and would have Bent her means if be had obtained work. He was willing now to support her if he could get anything to do. His Worship said be would remand tbe defendant for one week on his own reoogniranee, and he (his Worship) would then see what defendant had done during that time to make provision for his wife's support.

INDECENT ASSAULT. t James Stewart, arrested on warrant, was charged with an offence of this nature. Mr Thomas appeared for tbe defence. Sergeant Kennedy deposed to the arrest of tbe prisoner, and to tbe female having told him (witness) the previous afternoon of the alleged assault by accused on Sunday night. In cross-examination by Mr Thomas—Sergeant Kennedy stated that complainant was looked up on Sunday night for drunkenness, and so far as he heard, she made no complaint at that time. **

The complainant gave evidence of the particulars of the assault, and stated that previous to this, prisoner had made her take some brandy, which he got at the City Hotel, and shortly afterwards she became insensible. When she recovered consciousness, she found herself in the lock up. After she left tbe Court on Monday morning, she made a complaint to her brother-in-law \ she also complained to the women who were iv the lock up with her, and they said that, if she reported it to the police, she wduidbe kept in prison for another day, that was why she did not report it at the time. She was certain that the prisoner was the man, and there was a tall young man with him wireb he first spoke to her. - — John Joyce stated that be was a distant relation of the camplainant's. She came Jo bim on Monday morning, and said that the barman at the Boro' Hotel had given her brandy and assaulted her. He called the barman out before a roomfull of people, and taxed him with this, when he said that ha /witness) was mistaken.

William Priston, proprietor of the Borough Hotel, stated that his wife drew his attention on Sunday night last to some person screaming in the paddock at the back. He went there, and found the complainant lying on the ground, nearly unconscious, with her umbrella at Borne distance from her, By Mr Thomas—-All I, could understand from the complainant, when we returnfd, was that she lived in London, and "that her mother should have seat her 16,000 miles to get drunk." Bhe did not appear as if she baa been assaulted, The accused was in, bed»* ten o'clock that night. He (accused) dm been eighteen months in his service, and be bad always found bim a very respectable young man—and one not likely to commit this offence. The complainant made no co lo plaint when he spoke to her that night* - % By Mr Inspector Buckley- She was not .in a fit state at the time to make any complaint, s' * - Complainant recalled bjr his WoMWP—i was never drunk before in my life. „*?* prisoner said that it was at the City Bow l he got the brandy that night, ; _i? The witness Joyce, recalled by his wop ship, said he had known the complMß»>» for about -four years, and bad never Wojro her to be drunk before. _\ Inspector Buckley asked for a the production of the women to vrDom complainant had spoken of the assault In «w IOCIC'UD ''■':* J Mr Thomas contended that there was no occasion for a remand, as the aß ßflul A ß Mf as the evidence had gone, There was also evidence that the «0W» could have avoided the man if she liked tn« W His Worship said that he should Ip?*. **? matter of the drink having beenP>t«?ea and given to a woman whom it was ancgeu had never been drunk before, thffl«Wj investigated. He would remand the accufloa Thomas'desire, hia Worshipjieftrf thelvidence of Be» jamm Fielder, staying JJ the Borough hotel, who stated that be was with the prisoner on Sunday last at Sumner, where they had spent the afternoon t n«y returned about 8 o'clock, and tfwa w«e *r

the Caledonian road and came back together. Tbey went to the Borough hotel and retired to bed.' He bad never seen the complainant nntil the previous day, when he saw her at the hotel. He and/ the accused were not •enarated more than for five minutes all that ntebt, and he (witness) sat on the accused's be! while he undressed himself. The accused want to bed about niue o'clock. By Mr Inspector Buckley—The prisoner and I w ere P ftlted on * T * or R boot five minutes, and this was about half an hour before he went to bed. Complainant re-called—The last witness was with the prisoner when he first spoke to mc on Sunday uight, and when the prisoner went away with my umbrella this witness whistled after him. Joyce re-callei, stated that Fielder had acknowledged to him having seen the com plaisant standing in front of tbe Borough Hotel on Sunday night. By Mr Thomas—Fielder and I have bad a falling out about this, and a good fight. His Worship said he would like to have all the evidence obtainable, and would remand ♦he accused until Saturday next. Bail would be granted in two sureties of £60 each. . TRANSFER OP LICENSES. James Heath applied for a transfer of tbe license of the Valley hotel, from R. H. Cbattaway. Appb'cation granted until next quarterly meeting of the Licensing Court.