ONEHUNGA POLICE COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 555, 23 August 1865, Page 5

ONEHUNGA POLICE COURT.

(Before J. J", Esq., R,M.)

Adam Klliott, of Mount St. John, near Auckland, was churned in two instances with maliciously and unlawfully writing and publishing a certain false and defamatory libel upon Matilda Craig, of Onohunga, ai d Arthur Guy< n of Onehunga, Tne cujio of Mutdda < raig was lir-?t lizard. Kobert Lloul being sworn, stated : I am constable of tho Aimed I*ol f-tuti"nrd at Onehungi. (Jo Twftsday, the 1-3'h ugu-t, I re-eivo-1 a letter contained in an envelope, addressed ('onstabulary Barracks, Uwdjungu, which J i;n\v produce. In consequence of that letter, coupled with other cireumbtances, proceedings were lakon agninnfc prosecutrix Mio wua charged with the crime of concealment of firth and was brought before the ''otirt. The case was itismiHSod la.st night i apprehended the piiat Ki»sorn. I eau'ionrd him in. the u>ua) manner not to say anything that might criminate himself. He replied, " 1 hat he had written nothing but what he could prove;" he slated that he had received his information first from Matilda * raig, and also from two other persons living in Onehunga, whom he could not nunc, but whom he knew by sight. This w.ih after [ had explained the nature of the charge to him. Matilda. Craig was then sworn, and stated: I am nursenuid in Mr. JL'urohas'rf family. I have been such for nine months p»M". I know the prisoner, hia name id Adam iLlIi-.tt. 1 have known biai about four yeard. I knew him in Ireland before coining to thin colony. Prisoner has been in the nabit, d ii ing the bit nine months, of writing to liu- ; l ;o '.vnt'.i.'ii rix leti r.i. tlio.se letters were signed I by } imst'if. I relumed them to him a-»ain. hut I received <>u«; »iuce, which I also returned, and ano- i tiier one recently, it is in the suruo hmid writiug as ;

the others. T can swear to his handwriting. The charge of concealment of birth is untrue, Purcha« never urged me to take mcdieino for an improper purpose. I wns charged at this Court-house on Friday last, and that charge was dismissed. 'Ihe defendant, Adam Kliiott, states : I made enquiries os to Mr. Purchas, and Matilda Craig, and from she said, I was le i to beiieve thatrhe and Mr. Purehas were too intimate, and a person that I spoke to, a resident of 'hu-hunjra, who stated that he was informed by a person who lived at Mr. Purchas's a girl—and from tho statement of thin person, who was informed by this girl, that Mr Purchas w nP jealous of Matilda Craig, and that she was -with child by Mr. Purchas. I know nothing of i,he anonymous letter, it is not iny handwriting. A second information against defendant, Adam Elliott accusing him of the same charges by the Rev. A. (r. Pnrcbas wvn tried Ihe evidence was similiar to the former case, i he prisoner, Adam Kliiott, was committed to take his trial nt the next Criminal Sessions of tlic JSup;eme Court.