LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9834, 17 September 1897, Page 6

LYTTELTON.

Wednesday, Skptbmber 15. (Before R. Beethara, Esq., S.M.) Assaulting a Warder.—Gustave Berg, a prisoner serving a sentence in the Lyttelton gaol, was charged with assaulting Principal Warder Bell. The accused admitted the offence, and had no excuse to offer. He was sentenced to be kept in close confinement for fourteen days. Principal Warder Bell said that on going into the cell accused struck him in the mouth.

Assault.—David Williams wan charged with assaulting P. W. Bethke. Mr Nalder appeared for defendant, who pleaded " Not guilty." F. W. Bsthke was charged with assaulting David Williams, and also with using insulting language towards him. The affair occurred out of the competition for luggage on the Lyttelton wharf, where the parties are rival porters. The evidence of the parties and one or two witnesses ah owe a that both parties canvassed a passenger for his luggage, and Williams got it. This led to words between them, and eventually Bethke endeavoured to assault Williams and received a thrashing. The case against Williams was dismissed, and Bethke was convicted of assault and ordered to pay the cost of three witnesses' half a day's wages. He was further bound over to keep the peace towards Williams for six months, himself in one surety of £10.

Civil Gases.—Johnson v Barrett;, claim £1 8?; Mrs Sullivan vW. J. Deare, claim £1 14s 5d ; Mutton (Mr Nalder) v Deare, claim £10 4s ; O'Brien (Mr Nalder) v Chaffey, claim £5. In these cases judgments were given for plaintiff* by default.