RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 90, 19 June 1866, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Monday, June 18, 1866. [Before J. Poynter, Esq., 8.J1.3 .Tohn Burns was complained against i>y Captain Michael Moran, with absenting himself from the ship William Watson without leave. He was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment. Joseph Trimble, keeper of the Masonic Hotel, complained against six sailors of the William Watson, for assaulting him on Saturday last. The complainant stated : About half-^ast 9 o'clock all the prisoners, including James Power and Robert Burns, came into my place. They had' some drink. The youngest soon became very disorderly, and began to knock about in all directions. He gammoned to be 'drunk, not that he really was. I told Power to sit down and be quiet. He said he would not, and made up to me to strike me at the bar. He assaulted a woman, who is not here, and told her he would beat her if she did not play a particular tunei I told him to be quiet or to go out of the house. He then raised his hand to aim a blow at me. I caught him by the hand to turn him out. On this Burns laid hold of me and held my arms down by my side. He then hit me several times on the head. Another hit me also. All the prisoners were in the crowd, interfered more or less, and rushed to hit me. One hit me that lam certain of. It is not easy to identify all who struck me. The little one took up two tumblers in his hands to throw at someone. I was greatly abused and knocked about in the general scramble. I sent for the police, to whom I gave the prisoners in charge. Power said he could not recollect anything about the matter, and Burns said lie held the complainant to keep the rest from hitting him (laughter). Thomas Yerrain, the barman, said he saw Power strike the complainant while Bums held' him that the rest might get at him to beat him. He held the little gent who seized the tumblers to prevent him doing mischief. The prisoners Power and Burns were fined £2 each, or 14 days imprisonment. The other prisoners were discharged. Charles Parsons and Francis Haines were complained against for stealing clothes and a number of coin from Mrs. Catherine Donkin, of Nelson. The prisoners were apprehended in ilarlfaorough province, aud taken before Mr. Melluish the Magistrate of Picton. The "depositions of David Mainewere put in and read. It proved that he gave the prisoner Haines 15s. for the guinea the constable found in his possession. Mrs. Catherine Donkin examined, said : I know both the prisoners, who lodged with, me in Colling-wood-street. They left me three weeks ago. I missed a box with different coins, and some wearing apparel valued at .£5. The clothes belonged to Mr. Wolley, a lodger. The guinea, crown-piece, and small coins now produced, as well as the clothes, I can identify. The prisoners on leaving owed me £3 15s. each. One of the prisoners, Parsons, had been employed at Mr. Johnson's, aud Haines at Mr. Murrell's. The clothes produced belonged to Mr. Wolley. Sergeant Samuel Goodall said : He took the prisoners into custody at Picton on the Gth instant, and found the money and clothes with them in au empty house. Parsons claimed the purse, pins, and clothes as his. Both the ])risoners were in the same house, and the clothes were on the bed on which they were lying. On being charged with the oiibnee they madeno reply whatever. He produced the guinea which was identified by David Maine. The crown-piece could not be traced to the prisoners. Parsons admitted stealing the clothes and coins, as he was being taken from Pieton to Havelock. He said he was drunk at the time, and that the other prisoner knew . nothing about it. The Magistrate said, although Haines might not have stolen the property, he was particeps criminis, as was shown by Ms having sold a portion of it. Tha deposition of Maine proved that he had a guilty knowledge of the robbery. As it was in his power to convicit the prisoners, he should sentence Charles Parsons to six months' imprisonment, and Francis Haines to three months'" imprisonment in Nelson ,gK.,I.