MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 255, 15 February 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY.

[Before T. W. Parker, Esq., P.M.] DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. William Mallard was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Thamesstreet last night, but as it was his first offence, he was discharged with a caution. ASSAULTING A CONSTABLE. The same prisoner was further charged with assaulting Constable Donovan while in the execution of his duty. The SubInspector called Michael Donovan, who deposed : I am a police constable at Oamaru. At about twelve o'clock last night I was on duty in Thames-street, opposite the National Bank. I was speaking to Constable Grantwhen prisoner came down the footpath, in company with another man. Prisoner walked deliberately up to where I was standing, and struck me with his elbow on the breast. When I asked him the reason of his conduct, he said, " For anything you like." I then arrested him, and brought him to the lock-up. He was drunk at the time. The other man who was with him was sober, as far as I could judge. I gave him no provocation, nor had I spoken a word before he struck me. Ho left the straight line in which he was walking to come towards me, so that it could not possibly have been an accident. Constable Grant corroborated the evidence of last witness. Accused said it was a mere accident, and there had been no intention of an assault : but the Bencii took an opposite view of the case, and inflicted a iine of 505., or in default six days'imprisonment. UNNATURAL OFFENCE. William Brown, on remand from yesterday, was charged with committing an unnatural offence on a mare, at JSTgapara, mi the 12th inst. There were two charges brought against the prisoner, though committed on the same day, in the first of which Robert Platte, a at the Terminus Hotel, Ngapara, gave most conclusive evidence ; and, in the second, David Lowir.an's evidence substantiated the charge. The prisoner, who asserted his innocence of the charge, was fully committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Dunedin.