RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 15, Issue 1194, 7 October 1870, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

■-'■■'- TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, (Before Singleton Bochforfc, Esq., R.M.) - DRUNKENNESS.. John Fdbcejll -wag, fined ss. or 24 hours' imprisonment for tbis offence. ASSAULT, John Purcell wasbharged with assaulting the Inspector of Police. It -appeared, from the evidence of Inspector Scully, tbat .on. the. evening of the 3rd inst;, hp came iritoJtown about 5 or 6 o'clock, and ph his ; way was informed that the defendant, wbo t had recently left, tbe police force, was looking for him in a very excited state, alleging 'that he " had something.to settley. ;On meeting with tbe defendant, he asked the Inspector for an explanation of his conduct towards bim. but did not explain w;hat he was referring to. Mr. Scully told him bis course was, if he had a grievance,: to. write to the Superintendent, ? Defendant then went away as far as Mr. Cosgrove's shop, but afterwards went back ito the Post-office, where Mr. Scully was talking to some gentlemen, and persisted in annoying him. Mr. Scully determined to proceed to the lock-up for a constable, and tbe defendant, seeing bim walk in that direction, seized bim by the left arm, and said he should not go until he gave an explanation. He did not say what he wished explained. Mr. Scully desired the defendant to take his hand off him, and as be would, not do so, threw him to the ground, and as he still retained bi * hold, Mr. Scully fell with him, and a scuffle enBued. Some gentleman interfered, and the defendant was taken to tbe lock-up. Several witnesses were called who deposed to the above fact?, which the defendant did not deny. He stated tbat he had taken a glasstoo much after abstaining from liquor for a tlong time, and that he did not intend to. assapft Mr. Scully. He might have seized him by the arm, but did not recollect having (lone so. In order to give defendant an opportunity of getting witnesses, tbe case was adjourned until 3 o'clock, when be was jagain brought Up, but had no witnesses to cally •: Mr. Scully said. he did not wish to press for any .severe punishment ; tbe defendant bad behaved very well while in tbe police force, and bad resigned because be was not smart enough. This he had admitted he felt hjjnself. The defendant said he was very sorry for what, bad happened ; it was done altogether unawares, and he did know what he was doing. ..He was very sorry he had given tbe Cour'tso much trouble. , The Magistrate said thathe would always punish severely any person who molested an officer holding such an important and responsible position as tbat of the head of the police. He bad made up bis mind at first to send the defendant to prison, but as Mr. Scully _ did ,n t ot wish to press fora severe punishment, and. as dependent seemed to ' Have • been , under the influence of drink ■when the assault was committed, he would inflict ,gJ6pe ; ©f, &%y -yyf ' -~"fy : 7'7Xy':- ;-'.*'»*: civil cases. WilUamsxfJßrentdn-^-'rhis was a claim for £7 13s 3d; ; flhioi_nt'ot an order dishonored. ■'- ':. : Judgment for "plaintiff with costs, 13-?. ..".:-?;. : ;^'_ vf;^^g^» s »l;'* : irt* \l^orMiw i( g-_'on;?--»-T-liia was a y?/^wra|^^i^i^sy^Q|tif t^H'-J Judgment. iyi^g^r^^w|OT^^^^i^ 9a. i ?^ ; - -fXy^f-