POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13702, 19 March 1908, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

A LABOURERS' QUARREL. The -eq» el to a recent squabble in a labourer's whave at HobsonviUe took place • I the Police Court, yesterday, when John Bewick was charged, before Mr. 0. G. Kettle, S.M., with having assaulted Lawence Sherry by striking him on the- arms [nd face with a fryingpan, thereby musing him grievous bodily harm. Complainant stated that when he went home on the night of the assault defendant had his billy on the fire, and lie put his own on- whereupon an argument started, hot words being used and blows exchanged. Defendant interjected that complainant had invited him out to tight, Complainant admitted that he invited jfltendant out, because he thought it safer there than inside, where there were fare- ™" as well as fryingpans and other utenn ' It was after the Wows were struck that defendant, picked up the pan and .truck him over the head and arms with it. Evidence was given for the defence to (he effect that the complainant had used L,me offensive language to defendant, and had been most insistent in his endeavour to ret defendant to fight, One witness, who was in the wharo .during the dispute, said emphatically that defendant never used the fryrngpan on complainant. Defendant said he never used the pan on complainant, Tho wounds were caused by complainant's arms coming in contact with the pan in his endeavour to strike him (defendant). . . , ~ Mr. Kettle dismissed the case, saying that complainant had brought the trouble on himself. lie did not think, defendant bad used the fryingpan aggressively. A CASE OF "NERVES." Herbert Taylor was charged with using insulting language towards Grace Hutchin6on, who prayed that defendant be ordered 'to find sureties to keep the peace. Mr. . Hackett appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Skelton for the defendant. Evidence for complainant was to the effect that defendant had become incensed at complainant's children playing about, and bad insulted her. On receipt of the summons defendant had again used insulting language to her. Defendant said he had been disturbed in lis work as black and white artist, and had isked complainant's little boy to go away. He was enraged beyond control, and as he bad been suffering from " nerves" lately he may have said things for which he had no justification, and for which he was now heartily sorry. He wished to apologise for his action, and he was willing to leave the locality within a week. On this understanding, he was ordered to pay costs, amounting to £2 13s 6d, the application for sureties being withdrawn. ALLEGED THEFT OF A SWAG. Edward Russell, alias Johnson, was charged with stealing a rug, a razor, a pair of boots, 12 shirts, six aprons, and a wrapper, the contents of a swag, valued at 50s, the property of Frank Dennan. Accused pleaded not guilty. The evidence showed that Dennan came to town from the country, and deposited his swag in the railway station, for which he got a check ticket. He then had a few drinks, and went down to the Hobsonstreet Wharf, where he went to sleep. On waking up he felt for his ticket, but found it was gone. On making inquiries at the station he found that, the swag had also been taken. The swag was afterwards found in a second-hand shop. * Accused was remanded for a week for the probation officer's report. MISCELLANEOUS. A lad named John Hall was charged with absconding from the Levin Industrial School, and with stealing a bicycle, valued at £10, the property of C. Johns-ton. Detective McMahon asked for a week's remand, which was granted. Karl Heelstrom. charged with stealing a cheque for ; £6, drawn on' the National Bank, from Charles William Anderson, on January 1 last, was remanded to Waihi mi til the 23rd inst. For drunkenness John Cox, a second offender, was; convicted and fined 10s. A first offender was fined ss.