RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 178, 30 July 1868, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Thursday, July 30. (Before J. Sharp, Esq., R.M.)

William M'Kay, on remand, charged with committing a violent assault on George Jones, on board the steamer Charles Edward, on the 3rd instan t, was brought up this morning. Mr Kingdon appeared for the prisoner, who is a man of very respectable appearance.

The complainant, who was accommodated with a chair, and who appeared to be still suffering severely from the effects of *he injuries inflicted on him, stated that he was a trimmer on board the steamer, the prisoner beiug an engineer, and on the day already mentioned they were both together in the engineroom. Some words passed between them, when the prisoner knocked the complainant under the lever of the engine, who fell on his back under it. He felt it come down and crush the bones on his left side, but had sufficient presence of mind to watch the upstroke of the lever, and pfcil himself clear of it. He had hardly done this before the prisoner caught hold of him by the hair of his head, striking him on the face and head, and then kicking him on the head and body-. The complainant screamed for assistance, and another engineer came down the ladder and taking him away, assisted him to bed. The complainant was sensible all the time, and walked up the ladder and down to

the forecabin after the assault was committed.

Dr Squires, Medical Attendant at the Hospital, whither the complainant was conveyed the next day, described the injuries he had sustained. The left collarbone was broken, together with the bladebone or scapula, the whole of the left side beiug greatly bruised and flattened, The heart beat two and a half inches nearer to the right side than is natural, and there was also a cut a quarter of an inch long on the left side of the head. The injuries to the collar-bone and side had evidently been caused by some great pressure, which, if inflicted on the head, must have inevitably caused death.

The prisoner, acting on the instructions of his solicitor, declined to say anything in his defence, and was fully committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Mr Kingdon applied for bail, which was granted, the prisoner to enter into recognisances himself in £200, and two sureties in £100- each, -which it was stated would be forthcoming.

Cordial v. Cordial. This was. an action under the Destitute Persons Relief Ordinance, brought by the wife against the husband, for whom Mr Pitt appeared. The further hearing of this case was adjourned, at the suggestion of the Resident Magistrate, until to-morrow, for order to give opportunity, if possible, to effect an arrangement between the parties.