RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVII, Issue 9, 30 January 1858, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

[Before John Poynteb, Esq., Resident Magistrate."! Wednesday, January 27. George Westaway was charged with having stolen six knives, seven forks, a plate, and a ball of marling, the property of John Halliday, captain of the barque Acasta. Prisoner, who was one of the crew of the Acasta, admitted the offence, and was committed to gaol for one month, with hard labour. Sarah Hargreaves was charged by Joseph Perry, of Suburban South, with having violently assaulted him with a cart whip, on the afternoon of Saturday, the 23d instant. Mr. Travers appeared for complainant. Joseph Perry sworn, said : On Saturday last I was in the Wakatu Hotel, and saw Mrs. Hargreaves' son on the outside beating a little boy. I interfered ; he then said he would clout me with stones. He threw a stone at me when I came out. I then ran after and struck him with my whip rather sharply ; he sang out, and his mother came, and commenced struggling for the whip, which she took from me, and struck me with it. Henry Randall, sworn, confirmed complainant's statement as to young Hargreaves having thrown the stone. This closed complainants case. R. Smart, sworn, said : I saw Perry run down the passage and flog the boy across his back. Mrs. Hargreaves, on hearing her son oil, went out, and took the whip away, and struck Perry with it, but very slightly. I did not notice that Perry was tipsy. A. G. Betts, sworn, said : On Saturday last I saw Perry run down the passage after young Hargreaves, and heard the boy call out. I went down and saw Mrs. Hargreaves come out at the back door ; she struggled with Perry for the whip, and took it away from him ; and when she had got it she attempted to strike him with it, but she could not, I think, have hurt him, as the passage was so very narrow. Had she, however, have done so, I think it would have served him quite right. This having closed the case, the Magistrate said : An assault had been committed, but of a \ery trifling nature ; he should, therefore, fine defendant Is. and costs. Some excitement hereupon occurred, and the Magitrate ordered William Watts to be committed to gaol for twenty-four hours, for contempt of court. W. Jenkins was summoned for having permitted five head of cattle belonging to him to be at large. This being his first offence, the Magistrate fined him ss. and costs. Feiday, Jantjaby 29. [Before Benjamin Walmsley, Esq., J.P.] George Johnson and George Fairchild were charged with having been drunk, on the night of Thursday. They both admitted the offence, and the Magistrate fined Johnson ss. and costs, and Fairchild 10s, and costs.