RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 149, 27 August 1866, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

This Day. [Before J. Poynter, Esq.., R.M.] ■DRUNKENNESS. James Gordon, James Newcombe, and Charles Bellmont were fined 10s. each for drunkenness. John M'Clements and J. P. Farnell, charged with the same offence, were cautioned aud discharged. ASSAULTING- THE POLICE. Charles Knight was charged with being drunk and assaulting the police at the lock-up, on Sunday morning last. . Constable Shaw said: Late last; Saturday night or early on Sunday morning, the defendant came to the lock-up, as he said, to bail out his mates, who had been arrested on a charge of drunkenness. He was very noisy.' I ordered him out. He would not go out till I put hira out. He came back again, and as I was arresting him he struck me, in the mouth, but* not a very severe blow. Mr. Pitt appeared for the defence, and cross-ex-amined this witness, who replied as follows: When the defendant first came I was lying down asleep. He spoke to Constable Davis, and wanted to wait for the sergeant. Tasked him what all this noise was about; fie replied, I had nothing to do Sfrith it. I then put him outside, and afterwards arrested him -tor being drunk and noisy, and sent for the sergeant. Constable Davis did hot tell me to be careful when I arrested the defendant. I did not spit in defendant's face or throw a cup of .water into his cell. Clements was in the lock-up .with him for drunkenness. The man who was waiting to see the sergeant was the worse for liquor, but was quiet and civil. Constable Davis: I was on duty outside the lock-up when the defendant and his mates came. He made a great noise and woke- Shaw, who said the mem could not be bailed out till the sergeant came. He then used abusive language to Shaw, who put him outside. About two minutes after this Shaw brought him in and locked him up for being drunk. I did not see him strike Shaw, as I was outside at the time. The defendant threatened to strike me. To Mr. Pitt; I did not know tlie three men who were with this man. He woke' up Shaw by making a great noise. I did not arrest- him in the street, because he was quiet. He made a great noise and was excited at the lock-up. Shaw complained that the defendant struck him as he was locking him up. I did not tell Shaw to be careful about locking him up. I brought him in myself the second time. The Magistrate said it was a common occurrence for men to go to the lock-up, and complain of the arrest of their friends. If they took the law into their own hands, they must take the consequences. For the defence Mr. Pitt called John Knight, who sa id : On Saturday night I was in defendant's com•pau'y- Two other men were with us. I was not in liquid two others were. At the scene of the fire one of the ™en s P oke rather freely of the constable, who told In'm to go home. As we were entering our riehtof way one of them complained loudly of the constable "who arrested him. I went to the lock-up with the p '•isoner to bail him out. Constable Shaw complained in an unbecoming manner of being woke up, ordered him but, and attempted to lock him up. t did not see liefendant strike Shaw. Whilst I was v aiting for the Sergeant Shaw threatened to lock mo up? at which Davis shook his head and said I ™ quiet. When Sergeant Edward came I toldimu } t4s waiting for the key. The defendant, did not make v'-ny noise or act in an unbecoming mannerConstable Davis recalled, and asked if the last witnv^ss, when he oame to the lock-up. He said be Mr a Pitt U s q Sne should 1 like the case^ostponed to ■wove from t he testimony of ' sergeant .Edvyards ; that the Pst Avitne « was sober, quiet, attachable.. ; TbeSL-'te said the evidence before him was clear enoufhl.^ had no do^bt that the cons ables ciear enougn. x. . irrest i n o' the men, both m the had acted proper^ £^ c8 gJ» tshmM fiAe.the defen- • f re^f f & \ the L OC ,2s and £2 for assaulting the ; dant £1 for drumW<*s, an£ i. lessonnot to constable, and he hope a" w " ",•„ take the law into-his ow ; « hanas-again. -„i*>, .i*> ' VNTV ' ... „ ■••.„" -n^ against hy Henry Henry Dawson was. informed .^^ .^ doth Balme,for stealing a quantity \. °*: J \ «-. soner aid not and leather, valued at lOs. lb- e P 1 ;.^ jj c - WO uld deny the charge. The prosecutor s> vodu( ; ed -j™ not like to swear to all the articles, p ' BrisoneT .-. a Constable Bradcock who searched ttie ;*■ • premises ; but he. believed they were his. "■ihe Magistrate told the, prisoner if lie In. .admitted the theft he might have .got ofl. lt; - l ' who •serious offence for a man to rob Ins employer . placed confidence in him, and -one .that wouia .. punished severely' if it "cam's 'before , tbe Q ? up^-„ 1 Court:* The prisoner was geutenced to 28 ttays iv*.-« prison'ment, with hard la 1 iot ja NJelson gaol.