RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4287, 16 December 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Tuesday, December 15. (Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., 8.M.) ASSAULT.

The parents of Emily Evans, a little girl of nine years of age, laid an information against George Tonks, for assaulting their child. The little girl stated to the Magistrate that on Eriday last the prisoner kicked her outside her father’s gate; he appeared to be tipsy, and swore at her. Dr. Harding said he had examined the child, and found she had received a severe blow in the groin. Fortunately, however, the child had not received very serious injury. Sergeant Monaghan deposed to the prisoner’s bad character, and to his general state of drunkenness. His wife at the present time was suffering from two black eyes. His Worship fined the prisoner 405., or, in default of payment, seven days’ hard labor. He would also, in consideration of his previous bad conduct, sentence him to find i£soJiimself, and two sureties each in £SO, to keep thepeace for six months. ASOTHKR ASSAULT. There were cross actions for assault laid by Henry Stintou against Sidney Eager, and Sidney Eager against Henry Stinton. From the evidence adduced it appeared Stinton (a man of about forty-five years of age) and Eager (a lad of sixteen) were in the employ of Mr. F. E. Wright. " On the morning of the assault Stinton had sent the lad to Tinakoriroad with meat,,and on the lad’s return he wished him to go back to the same locality with a small joint. The boy was on horseback, and he refused to go, as he had other of Mr. Wright’s employes to attend to. Stinton thereupon seized a basket the lad had on his arm and took it from him, forced him out of the saddle, and when he had alighted on the ground struck him in the face. The boy picked up a stone and threw it, which missed; he, however, made another attempt, and succeeded in striking his combatant on the head, just above his left ear. Stinton then picked up a stone to throw at the boy, but some lookers-on crying “ Shame ”he desisted. He, however, knocked the boy down and kicked him. A stone which in appearance and size looked like a prize potato, was exhibited by Stinton as the missile with which he had been struck. He called his Worship’s attention to a spot of blood on it which, he thought, proved without doubt its. genuineness. The lad, however, satisfactorily explained as to how the blood came there. His Worship thought the case ought not to have been brought before him. Both parties were to blame, but for his age Stilton had exhibited little prudence in dealing with the lad. He fined Stinton 10s. and costs, and dismissed the lad with a caution and on paying his costs.