ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4287, 26 April 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

ASHBURTON.

Friday, Ap_i_ 25.

[Before O. CoxandJ. Beswick, Esq., J.P.'s.] : Dbt/kkbnnbss.—George Neavewas charged with being drunk in oharge of ,a horse. He had previously been under treatment for lunacy from drink. Fined £1. Wm. Hay, for drunkenness, was fined 10s. John Gilfoyle, was charged with being drunk at the railway station, and with using abusive language to the station-master. Prisoner was fined £2 10s. James Austin was accused of being drunk at the railway station, and with assaulting a railway servant. _ Tbe Bench I severely reprimanded prisoner, arid fined him j £2 for drunkenness," and £2 for assaujt, with the alternative of nine days'irnpriaonmenfc, i also to pay 5s damages to the railway ofilcer's clothing. > J Assault.—James Wilkie was accused, on the information" of William, MoOutcheon,with assaulting him on tho 19th April, and on the 16th ApriL Mr Branson appeared for j the informant, and Mr Ireland for the defendant. W. McOutoheon, farmer and contractor, Wakanui, said he was on the platform on the 16th inst. talking to Mr Ifess and. Mr j Quigley, WhenWilkie came to him, seized him by the coat, attempted to drag him off the platform, and struck him on the ear. A second blow was struck by Wilkie, and then wifcnesspushed him off. plaintiff gave irim no provocation whatever, ' Had not spoken to Wilkie for five weeks previously. Wilkie threatened to do the same again the next time he met him. On the 19th," in Mr Anderson's shop, Wilkie struck him with a whip, and two or three times with his hands: Was in fear that he would be assaulted again. By Mr Ireland—-Had a contract with tbe Boad Board, which was not yet, finished.; Had said.the Road Board .had detained money- from him on a contract, but never said so of Wilkie. .-,- Complained to the Board of not getting the money. By Mr Branson—' Wilkio wanted to become a partner in one of the he had from the Road Beard, but witness would not go in with him. Had said he held a dishonored cheque of Wilkie's. Had never said Wilkie had tried to do unfairly by him, , Wilkie iad always been a friend to him in tho Board. -. Joseph Ivess said he was standing on the platform of the railway station on the afternoon of the 16th, and saw the assault. He heard Wilkie speak of a mare and foal which, he said Mr McOutoheon had of him, and also said Mr McOutoheon had tried to rob him of these and his good name. Timothy Keily, laborer, ! Winslow, was on the platform at the time of ! the., first assault, and witnessed it; Wm. ' Anderson, 1 saddler, said there was a scuffle in i bis shop last Saturday morning, between \ Wilkie and McOutoheon. .Wilkie struck I McOutoheon with a whip, and afterwards jthey had a scuflle. James Wißrie,: sworn, isaid that McOutoheon had made a charge ( against him at the Road Board, that money ;due -to him oh contracts had been detained.' ■Tee Board heard the charge and dismissed it. Never asked Mr McCuteheon to take him into partnership, but McCuteheon had offered him commission to procure Boad Board work for him. The Bench expressed the opinion that, the assault at the railway station was an i aggravated one, in that Wilkie was an : educated man, and his example was' a bad one, but at the aame time, imprisonment to ;Mr Wilkte would be a greater punuhment kthan to an uneducated man. The punishImerit would be a fine of £5 for the assault at the railway station, and £1 for the Second, iand to be bound over to keep the peace for ; six months, in the sum of £100 for himself ■and two sureties of £50 each.