ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7864, 15 May 1891, Page 6

ASHBURTON.

Thursday, May 14. (Before Mr C. A. Wray, R.M., Mr D. Thomas, J.P., and Mr T. Bullock, J.P.)

The Sheep Act. —Samuel Anderson was charged with having exposed for sale in the Ashburton Yards, on May sth, 100 ewes infested with lice. He was fined 20s and costs. Samuel Mullins was charged with exposing 250 infested lambs in the Tinwald Yards on May 12th. A fine of 40s was imposed. Disorderly Conduct. — N. Fitzgerald was charged with disorderly conduct while drunk in the bar of the Royal Hotel; also, with resisting Constable Cleary. Mr Stringer appeared for defendant. Constable Cleary said that while on duty near the Royal Hotel about half-past five on Saturday evening, May 2nd, he heard a noise inside the hotel. On going into the bar he saw Davis and Fitzgerald. Davis told him that the row was stopped. Fitzgerald was very excited, and struck Davis twice on the chest, calling him at the same time a coward and a cur. Davis warned Fitzgerald to dseist or he would give him in charge. After some further disturbance, witness with the assistance of the landlord, Davis, handcuffed Fitzgerald, who had previously resisted him, and took him to the lock-up. To Mr Stringer—Witness understood that Fitzgerald had interfered in a fight that bad been taking place in another room. Fitzgerald was under the influence of liquor and very excited. Henry Davis gave evidence that just before Constable Cleary came into the bar there had been a row in another room, which he (witness) stopped immediately. He could not say that Fitzgerald was drunk, but he wss a bit the worse for liquor—about half-and-half —and he was very excited. He had supplied Fitzgerald with a glass of liquor, but did not notice at the time of doing so that he was intoxicated. Sergeant Moiler stated that when defendant wa3 brought to the lock up about half-past five, he was under the influence of drink, and in a very excited state. The defendant, N. Fitzgerald, said that at about five o'clock he started for home with his wife in his trap. He had to call at the Royal Hotel to pay Tait a cheque. Subsequently he was standing on the footpath outside the hotel, when Mrs Tait came up and asked him to go in and separate Tait and Thompson, who were fighting. He did as requested, and while trying to pacify Thompson Davis interfered and struck witness. He said he was very roughly handled

I during his arrest in the bar. He denied that he was under the influence of drink. A fine of 30s was imposed, I together with 10s costs, and witnesses's ex--1 penses £2 9s 6d, tho Bench at the same time ) remarking that Fitzgerald had not been handled very judiciously. A charge of assault laid by Fitzgerald against Dayis was withdrawn. Mr Cuthbertson said he had fifteen witnesses he intended to have called in refutation of the charge, and for the credit of the hotel he would have preferred the case had been gone into. Civil Cases.—J. Gudsell v Ede, claim £14 5s 7d ; J. M. Tweed v Lewis, claim £3 3s. Judgment by default in both cases.