MAGISTERIAL.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6941, 22 December 1887, Page 6

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, December 21. [Before R. Beetham, R.M., and R. Westenra and T. H. Potts, Esqs.J Assault. —George Dorney was charged on warrant with -essaultingSarah Dorney, his wife, at Christchurch, on December ISth. Mr Fisher appeared for the complainant, who applied that defendant shouid be bouud over to keep the peace towards her and her family. From the evidence it appeared that the complainant had had to separate from her husband in Wellington on account of his conduct, caused by his drinking habits. Subsequently she went to live with him again in •Jhristcburch, and after a lapse ot three weeks he commenced his old habits. Ou the particular date in question he was in a worse state that usual, and assaulted his wife and daughters, at the same time making use oi very bad language. The family then had to'lock themselves in a room on account ofthe violence of the defendant. The evidence of Mrs Dorney and two of her daughters {defendant's stepdaughters) was taken. Defendant crossexamined the witnesses at length, and endeavored to shake their testimony. He made a long statement in his defence, aud alleged that all the trouble had arisen through the conduct of his two stepdaughters. The Bench ordered the defendant to find two sureties of £25 each to keep the peace. Mrs Dorney also applied for a protection order. This case .was remanded, on Mr Fisher's application, for a fortnight, Mrs Dorney having been taken ill after giving her evidence in the former case.

Robbery from the Person.—William Rhind, alias Wm. Ryan, was charged with attempting to commit a felony by stealing from the person of Edwin Courtney in the Central Hotel, at Christchurch, on 20th December. The ewidence was to the effect that on Tuesday night, at about 9.30, the prosecutor, a cook, just arrived from Auckland, was the worse for drink and was lying asleep on a couch in a side room in the Central Hotel, where he was living. There were seven or eight persons in the room. The prisoner came in and sat down on a chair close, up to the couch with his back to it. White fioldiug a tumbler in one hand he put the other behind him and took a bundle of papers from the inner breast pocket of prosecutor's coat. This was noticed by one of the persons in the room, and he brought in Constable Daly, who arrived almost immediately, and caught the prisoner in the same position searching the prosecutor's vest pockets. The officer could not arouse the prosecutor, but arrested the prisoner, who gave his name as William Cameron. Afterwards the room was searched, aud papers which were the property of the prosecutor were found under the couch. The papers were of no monetary value. The prisoner when arrested said that the prosecutor was his mate, a shearer. This, however, was untrue, as prosecutor now deposed that they were strangers. The prisoner was committed for trial. Bail was refused.

Civil Cases. — Judgments went for plaintiffs by default, with costs, in—Bean v Smith, £5 19s 2d ; Lightband v Clancy, £2 lis 2d ; H. Matson v Doyle, £5 3s Cd ; and Smith v Stewart, £6 3s6d. Jones v Scott was adjourned till December 28th.