RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1085, 12 June 1865, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before A. C. Strode, Esq., R.M.) Satijbday, Junk 10.

Drunkards.—John Dnff, an old offender, was charged with having been drunk, and was fined lA\ or one week's imprisonment, with hard labor. Alexander Peters and William Iteddick, charged with similar offences, were each fined 20s, or 48 hours' imprisonment,

Abandoning a Licensed Hook.— George Adams was charged, on the imformation of the police, with having abandoned the occupation of hU licensed house, known as the Miners' Arnw Hotel, Stafford street. Mr Ward appeared for the defendant, and stated (hat he could not help abandoning the house. He was a tenant under Mr Riordan, who had neglected to pay the ground rent. The landlord consequently put into the house a distress for rent, and ull his goods were seized. The Magistrate declared the license of thn house to be absolutely void from this date.

Wife Desertion. —Francis Johnston was charged, on the information of his wife, Elizabeth Johnston, with unlawfully and without reasonable cause, deserting her and his child Francis Johnston, and leaving them without support. The parties lived at Weatherstone?, where the defendant kept the Sportsman's Arms Hotel. The complainant's statement was, that a fortnight ago, her husband quarrelled with her about the child being left alone for a few minutes. He had beat her and ordered her out of the house. He threw L4 after her., which she expended in coming to Dunedin. In cross-examin-ation, the complainant admitted tlint after leaving her husband's hou?e she contracted debts in her husband's name to the extent of L2l. The complainant called the cook of the hotel, who stated that on the day of the quarrel lie did not see the complainant turned out of the hotel. That night he made up a bed for her in the kitchen, and the next day she left. The defendant said he was perfectly willing to support his wife, but she had attempted in every way to ruin him. He gave her L4 when she left, and in two days she contracted debts to the amount of L42. She then compelled him to come to town, and in consequence of her debts bis house had been shut up. The Magistrate said the case must utterly fail in consequence of the evidence of the complainant's witness, from which it appeared that she was not turned out of the house. He recommended fhat a separate maintenance should be granted to the complainant, but he could make no order.

Assault.—Henry Grcig was charged on the information of Sidney Smith with assaulting and beating him. The defendant admitted the assault, but pleaded provocation. The parties had quarrelled over the settlement of some accounts, and from the evidence it appeared that both of them had us*d very hasty and irritating words, when the defendant struck the complainant three blows and knocked him down. Defendant was fined 30s and costs.

"Talking of law," says Pompey, "make me tink of wliat do mortal Cato, who lib most n tonsaiui year ago, once said, ' De law isliken groun' #lass"winder, dat cive light enufi'to light us poor mortals in de dark passage of life; but it would .puzzle de debble himself to see trooit."

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