ONEHUNGA COURTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13649, 17 January 1908, Page 7

ONEHUNGA COURTS.

Thh monthly sitting of the Onehunga Police and Magistrate's Court was held yesterday morning, when Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., presided. Constable D. McGlone represented the police.

Maintenance: John McMahon was charged with deserting his wife, Harriet McMahon. Defendant failed to appear, but sent along a letter denying the impeachment. • Mrs. McMahon gave evidence in support of the information, after which the S.M. decided that McMahon should contribute 10s per week towards his wife's maintenance.

Charge of Cruelty: On the information of the police, James Neil son was charged with having cruelly ill-treated a horse. Neilson acknowledged having struck the animal with a whip, but denied having illused it. Evidence was given by a Mrs. Smith, Mr. J. Simpson, and by defendant in his own behalf, after which the information was dismissed.

An Old Case: On October 10 last Quentin Charles Beresford was charged with cruelty to a horse, and was defended by Mr. J. JR. Reed. Defendant stated that he had been driving horses for 17 or 18 years, but had never been convicted of cruelty. The horse, which fell, was a very active" one, and did not require punishment. It was not exhausted when it came down, but the fall knocked it out. After consideration, th« S.M. decided to adjourn the case until the January sitting, in order to allow the police an opportunity to .report on accused's conduct. When the case was called on yesterday, the report was favourable, whereupon His Worship dismissed the charge. CIVIL CASKS. Geo. Moody (Mr. K. N. Moody), on a judgment summons, claimed £6 12s from Arthur Webb, who was ordered to pay weekly instalments of ss, or in default seven * days' imprisonment. The Onehunga Borough Council (Mr. H. A. Yockney) claimed £3 18s from Charles Priestly, but the case was adjourned for one month.