THE AGNEWS IN COURT. WELLINGTON November 22.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 14

THE AGNEWS IN COURT. WELLINGTON November 22.

When the Agnewa were placed in the dock today on a charge of insulting the Premier, the man broke out into a fearful torrent of abuse both of Sir H. A. Atkinson and of the magistrate, Mr Robinson, calling them internal rogues and swindlers. It was impossible to go on with the case, and a constable was ordered to remove them. Mrs Agnew defended her husband violently, pushing him into a corner of the dock, and swearing loudly while she kept the policeman at bay. Agnew continued his imprecations and it was not for some time that their struggles were overcome, and the pair were borue away by main force, shouting to the last. They will be brought up again to-morrow.

November 23.

The Agnews were again before the Police Court this morning on a charge of using insulting and provoking language to the Premier on the 21st insfc. Profiting by their past experience of the violence and volubility of the accused, the court officials had the couple brought in separately, and the charge against William Agnew was first proceeded . wifch. Upon the charge being read over, Agnew burst into a torrent of abuse of successive Governments, whom he characterised as " swindlers " for taking his land from him, and charged Mr Robinson, R.M., with being a willing tool of thpse " rogues "in depriving him of his property. He denied using insulting language to the Premier, and defied him to go into the witness box and truthfully say that he (Agnew) had been guilty of the charge. " But, your worship," ho added, "he can't speak the truth." He handed in a letter he had received proving (as he put; it) that Sir H. Atkinson and Sir R. Stout were in •' company to rob him of his land." Sir H. Atkinson was then called, and deposed that he was unable to leave his house or office without being followed by the Agnews, who, on the present occasion, had demanded justice from him, and railed at him as a swindler and rogue. The Court held tho charge proved, and ordered accused to find sureties to keep the peace for six months, himself in £50 aud two sureties of £25 each. On being removed accused yelled out to Sir H. Atkinson and the resident magistrate, " I'll not find the security ; and I hope you'll both be in before I come out." Elizabeth Agnew was next similarly charged, but she vehemently protested that she had not insulted the gentleman. She had been many years in the army and knew better. She also declared that Sir H. Atkinson was iv league with Sir R. Stout to rob them of their laud.

After Sir H. Atkinson had given his evidence, accused was asked if shft had any questions to put to the witness, and like her husband, she could not confine hsrself to the case, but proceeded to cross-examine the Premier about old grievances. In a flood of tears she asked the Premier " to do us justice and put back our house on our land." It was impossible to restrain her denunciations of Sir Harry Atkinson, Sir Robert Stout, and Mr Robinson, R.M.

The Premier, who could scarcely be heard above the lamentations of the female accused, wished the court to understand that he had. nothing to do with the Agnews' case, which had been liberally dealt with by Parliament before he assumed office. He had no wish to punish these people, but they were becoming such nuisances that he found it impossible to leave his house for his office, or his office for his house, without being followed and insulted by them ; aud each day they were becoming more violent and threatening in their attitude. The court ordered Mrs Agnew to find sureties to keep the peace ior six months in similar amounts to her husband. On being removed she declared that she would not find the required sureties, but would go to gaol and work for nothing for the Government who had worried them.

This afternoon the Agnews were again brought before Mr Robinson, R.M., who informed them that as there seemed to be very little probability of their securing in Wellington the necessary sureties ordered by the court, he • would be inclined to take stops to have them sent on to Dunedin, where they might be more successful. Instead of taking the advice calmly, the couple received the proposal with derision ; Agnew giving vent to a torrent of abusive language. His Worship remarked tnat it was uselesa to attempt this with such ungracious people, and intimated that he would adhere firmly to bis former decision.