MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 283, 20 March 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M.) AN IRREPRESSIBLE DRUNKARD. John O'Brian, who had been before the Court on Saturday and yesterday on charges of drunkenness, was again brought up on a similar charge, and fined 405., with the alternative of 10 days' imprisonment. BREACH OF BYE-LAWS. John Selman, charged with leaving his horses and dray in lichen-street on the Sfch instant, without anyone in charge thereof, was fined L?. John M'DonalJ, charged with a similar offviice in Thames-street on the 13th instant, was lined 10s. INSULTING AND ABUSIVE LANGUAGE. Jane Grey, Elizabeth Johnston, and Margaret Maclennan, three married women, were charged by Alfred Guy with having us-hI insulting and abusive language towards him at Oainaru on the Bthinst., and fearing a repetition of the said conduct, complainant requested that the three defendants mi lit be bound over to keep the peace iowards him. Alfred Gov deposed fiat he was employed at Galbraith's timber yard. The defendants resided in Aln-street south, and at the time of the occurrence complained of lie resided in that neighbourhood. On the Sth hist., about half-past six, he was in his honsi. Ills wife and witness having 'had some words, the former went outside and threatened to knock the house down. The three wraiu-n, with others, came to the house, and when witness's wife began using abusive language t> him the three women joined in. Mrs. Johnston was the first fr/nse the abusive language. She called him (witness) a d \v : monger. Mrs. Guy said, ' ; Yes, that he is." Mrs. Maclennan joined in too, and made use of similar language. They each tried who could be the most abusive, and use the most abusive lamjnag;. He then

went outside arid took hold of his wife to drag her inside, but the mob that was there took Mrs. Guy away by force. He then went inside, and some of those outside threw stones and made use of abusive language towards him. They kept on at the~sama rate for fully two hours, and he was afraid to go outside. "When .the row had ceased he went outside. The housekeeper he had minding his house was removed into a neighbour's house when the stone-throwing had ceased. On previous occasions he had been annoyed. He thought the same con luct likely to be repeated. He was afraid to live in his house, which he had left at present. Mrs. Josephine Jones, called by complainant, stated that on the evening in question Mr. Guy asked her to go down and have tea with him, which she did. Mrs. Guy got up and left the hous ■, and as she went out the other women colh cted round the house. The other women then began calling Mr. Guy names, and made use of abusive language. Mrs. Grey called Mr. Guy a d d —monger, and Mrs. Johnston said, '• Come out here, y ou cl wretch.". They repeated the words frequently, and made use of even worse. Tiiey then got some boys to pelt stones, and encouraged them to do so. Mrs. Johnston had frequently called out to witness, and hooted at her. She had been a continual annoyance to the neighbourhood. The women threatened both Mr. Guy's iife and witness's. Had to leave the house under the protection of a policeman. Had known Mr. Guy since she was nine years of age. " The threat to take the lives of Mr. Guy and witness was owing to her having acted as housekeeper to Mr. Guy. She was a married woman, and her husband was in Victoria. She was not living with him owing to his being in the lunatic asylum and unable to keep her. She went to keep house for Mr, Guy because his wife had left him with five children. She was aware that an order had been made against Mr. Guy in the Court in Dunedin for the maintenance of his wife, but it was not through desertion. Williun Aitken was called by the complainant, but his evidence was of no importance. This was the case for the prosecution, and the defendants were then called upon to give their version of the affair. Jane Grey sai .1 that about seven o'clock on the night in question she heard Mrs. Guy call out that Guy was going to thrash her, but she (witness) did not go to the house until nine o'clock, as she had seveial cows to milk. When she did go, she told Guy not to turn his wife and children out of the house, and not to mind the other woman, who had a husband of her own. Guy replied tiiat that was his business. Witness denied making use of the language attributed to her ; but said she had only remonstrated with Guy for not keeping to his own wife. Elizabeth Johnston stated that she did not go to Guy's house until the children came for her, and while there did not make use of any bad language. Witness had said to Guy that as he was fond of keeping so many wives, he had better go to Brigham Young.

Margaret long account of the whole affair.' Jhe gisfof her evidence was that the disturbance had arisen through Guy turning off Ins own wife, and taking another woman into' his. house. Witness also denied having made use of any abusive language, or hearing it used ; she also said that complainant had summoned the wrong parties. His Worship said he did not think it necessary to call any further evidence. While taking it for granted that the language complained of had been used, he would be willing to take into consideration the provocation given, which seemed in this case to have existed in the fact of complainant committing an outrage on society, by turning out his own wife, and taking another woman into his house. This might be an excuse for the defendants allowing their feelings to get the better of them. His Worship expressed his surprise at the complainant appearing in the Court in the character he had done. It showed either an absence of shame, or a very great amount of assurance. The case would be d'.s.nissed. CIVIL CASES. White v. Brewer. —Claim, L 29 18s. Judgment by default, with costs. Cahill v. Engel.—Claim, L3B 14s. 3d. Jul mijnt by default. Whatbrwohth x. Draper. Claim, LlO 3s. 6d. Nonsuit, with costs. Moure v. Little. —Claim, Ll3 10s. L 7 16s. paid into Court. Judgment for Is. Gd. and costs.