RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7067, 20 January 1885, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Monday, Janoaby 19. (Before Captain Preece, R.M.) BREACH OP SHEEP ACT. Matthew Robertson Miller was charged on the information of Charles Augustus Fitzßoy, deputy sheep inspector, with a breach of tbe Sheep Act Amendment Act, 1884. The inspector stated that he visited a sale of sheep conducted by defendant afc Mount Erin on January 9th, and found some of the animals infected with lice. The case was the first one brought under tho Act, and only a auniniuzn penalty was asked for. Tho case was brought simply to show that the Act was not a dead letter, A fine of £1 and costs waa imposed. "WILFUL DAMAGE. Michael Clabby, charged on the information of Ellen Conrad with wilful destruction of property on the 31st of December last, pleaded guilty. His Worship imposed a fine of £5, with costs 49, witness's expenses, 10s. [The evidence in this case waa fully reported a few days since, when Michael Maloney, who took part with Clabby in the disturbance complained of, waa mulcted in penalties amounting to nearly £9. At that time Clabby had not been Berved with a summons, having kept out of the way of the police. | BEEACH OF MAnKIAGB ACT. John Martin, charged with having wilfully made a false declaration before tho Registrar, in order to obtain a license to marry Harriet Isabella Presling, pleaded not guilty. Messrs Lascelles and Lee appeared fpr the defence. The information waa laid by Eliza Rebecca Presling, mother of the young woman named above. Witness was eworn, and produced as proof of her daughter's age a baptismal certificate, but counsel for accused objected to thia document being received as evidence. After some argument the case was adjourned till later in the day, that the points raised might be considered. When the hearing was again called on his Worship held the objections of counsel to bo fatal, and dismissed the case without prejudice to a fresh information being laid. INSULTING LANGUAGE. Eldred Beck was charged upon the information of Albert Tasker, porter at the Hastings railway station, with having used insulting language to informant oc the 3Lst of December last. After hearing the evidence, which Bhowed that defendant threatened to " warm the wax ' : of informant's ears, and used^ other de rogatory expressions, hia Worship imposed a fine of 10s and costs. KOBBEEY WITH VIOLENCE. James Cook and Daniel Irving weR brought up in custody, on remand.

charged upon tho information of Deteo tive Grace with assaulting and robbing Thomas Watts, on the morning of th< 16th inat. Major Scully conducted tht case for the prosecution, prisoners being undefended. Thomas Watts, laborer, deposed thai he came from Rissingtou station to Napier on Thursday last. When he left the station he had nearly £17 in his possession, and made some purchases that day, having between £9 and £10 in his pocket when assaulted. On Thursday evening lie was at the Star Hotel, and " shouted " for the prisoner Irving several times. Wont out about the town and waa with both prisoners during part of the evening. About midnight witness tried to obtain a bed at tho Star Hotel, but they wore all engaged, and he went into the street again. About ten minutes afterwards two men set upon him, knocked him about, and took from between £9 and £10. He shouted for help, and the prisoner Cook, whou; witness recognised, threatened to kill witness if he did not Iceep quiet. Witness did not recognise the other man. John Page, cabman, deposed to Seeing the last witness near the Criterion Hotel, in company with two men. Watts dropped eomo money on the pavement. Witness r.sk<d Lvin« if he wanted a cab, and he replied, " No, that cove ahead (meaning Watts) has got some stuff on him, and I mean to have it before I go home to-night if I can bear up to it." Some time afterwards witness saw the three men again, and Irving said to Watts, "Come on, old man, let's go down to the Star and see old Johnstone." The three men went away in the direction of the°;Star Hotel. Witness went home with his cab about 10 minutes past 12 o'clock, and while he was getting his horses out his wife drew his attention to cries of "murder" in the street. "Witness went to the front gate, and could hear someone calling out, "Pulioe, police," but could see no one, and returned to the stable. When the horses were stabled witness went into the street again, and saw some men striking matches as if looking for something. Went down to them, and found Watts there, covered with blood. Constable Wilson, Robert Moffitt, night watchman, and a man named Crease were there. Watts was complaining of having been beaten and robbed. John Hull Crease, tinsmith, residing in Dickens-street, said he was aroused shortly before 1 o'clock on Friday morning by cries of "Murder, police, and stop thief." Went outside, and found the witness Watts on the ground, bleeding very much, and complaining of having been robbed. Witness went with Watts to find a policeman, and they met one coming down Dickens- street. Elviss Pointon, painter, deposed that he was in the Star Hotel at 9 o'clock on Thursday evening last, and saw the witness Watts there in company with both prisoners. Watts dropped aome money, and the prisoner Cook picked it up, and appeared as if going to restore it to Watts, but the prisoner Irving objected. Richard Boorman, painter, residing at the Star Hotel, said that he was on the verandah of the hotel about 11 o'clock on Thursday night. Watts and the prisoner Irving passed, accompanied by a man whom witness believed to be the prisoner j Cook. Witness called out to Irving, but he said he was in a hurry, and had "a job on." William Young, compositor, deposed that he wag goiug home from work at the Herald office about a quarter-past one o'clock on the 16th instant, and met the two prisoners near the Criterion Hotel. The prisoner Irving asked what time it was and witness told him. Constable Wilson deposed that he was on duty in Hastings-street at half -past 12 o'clock on Friday morning, and heard cries for help from the direction of Dickens-street. Upon going down that Btreet he met Watts and the witness Grease. Watts waa bleeding very much, ai\d complained of having been robbed. Witness reported the occurrence to Detective Grace. Detective Grace deposed to arresting prisoners at the Spit, on suspicion oi having assaulted and robbed the witness Watts. Prisoners asked what time the robbery took place, and upon being told replied that they were at home and asleep at the time. In response to the usual questions from the Bench, prisoners denied all knowledge of the robbery. His Worship committed both prisoners for trial, bail being allowed— prisoners in £400 each, and two sureties of £200 each.