RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Otago Witness, Issue 361, 30 October 1858, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dunedin, 26th October 1858. (Before John Gillies, Esq., R.M.)

Jones v. Gallic.— John Gallic, of Dunedin, blacksmith, was charged by John Jones, of Dunedin, merchant, with assaulting And beating him, the said John Jones, on Monday the 25th instant. It appeared that on the previous evening plaintiff was in Healey's store talking about the meeting nbout Steam, which had taken place that evening ; that he (plaintiff) made a statement about the number of people who were present at the meeting, when defendant being also in Healey's shop, called complainant a d d liar, upon which plaintiff came forward in the direction of defendant. Constable Ross then interfered, and held plaintiff back. Defendant then struck over Ross's shoulder at plaintiff, and hit him in the mouth.

Defendant was fined £3.

Shepherd v. Jenkins and Hudson.— Edward Hudson and George Jenkins, of Dunedin, carters, were charged with permitting their horses to wander at large in Dunedin, and were fined 10s. for each horse, with costs.

Shepherd v. Wallace.— Samuel Wallace, butcher, was charged with throwing dead animals, or part thereof, into a river, creek, or stream in Dunedin, contrary to the provisions of the Constabulary Force Ordinance. Fined ss. with costs.

October 28.

Boyle v. Sheriff. Sheriff, seaman of the ship " Agra," was brought np under a charge of assaulting Ackland Boyle, master of the aaid ship, on Friday the 22nd instant.

From the evidence it appeared that on the day charged the plaintiff had ordered the prisoner to perform a certain duty, and the prisoner not moving with sufficient activity, the plaintiff' urged him or pushed him along, upon which the prisoner turned, struck the complainant, and felled him to the deck, holding him down, and striking him repeatedly, until one of the passengers cAtne and pulled the prisoner off the plaintiff; and that prisoner also struck the said passenger.

The evidence for the defence was very contradictory, so muoh so that no two witnesses agreed in their evidence, and some of the witnesses in one part of their evidence contradicting ivhat they had said in another part.

The Court sentenced the prisoner to ten weeks' imprisonment, with hard labour.

Six seamen of the ship " Agra" were brought up, charged with refusing to perform their duties, and with wilful disobedience of lawful commands as seamen of the said ship, and were sentenced to be imprisoned for ten weeks, and to be kept to hard labour.