MAGISTERIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 4603, 29 July 1889, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

TIMIBU, Saii'buay, July L'Tth. (Ueforo C. A. Wniy. Keg , R.Jj.) A ÜBUTAV. lir?LANI). RoVcrt Owons, wharf labourer, who lilb been before the fourt more than onco before for similar offences, was rimmed with as ■lulling his wifo on Thursday. Defendant «aid lie knew nothing about it. lie was drunk at the time. Mrs Owens stated that her husband came home between live and half-past, the "worst " for drinV, aid without a word, without the least provocation, begin to strike hor with his closed fist and luck her. He knocked out n tooth, left reveral marks on her heal, and she wm still lamo from the kicks he gave her. Sim tried to save herself as well ai she could. After ill-using her a few minutes he lay down and went to sleep, when she left the house with her children (ii»c) and went to the- barracks. Thi* was not the first time he had assaulted her ; he uiualiv did it when he came home drunk. >he' h:-.d had him m court before for assaulting her. JLlis Wouhip : Who keeps tho homo jroing you or your husband ? JJo you keep it going ? Witness : I do when I can g.:t anything to do. Neither of vs 1 got much to do Utolv. Sergeant I.iring«to;i.' slated the accused.--little girl caiuo to tho police oilice m the evening nml slid hrr father ",-.i bi'ntiui; h.-r mother again, lib did not understand it was anything serious and did not go up. Ho had known tho man three ycirs and he was a notorious vagrant. 'Ilia other men on the wharf did not care to work with him. his character and conduct wero fa bad among the men. The house wns m r. disereilit-ihlc state even for a labouring man,— sacking for bedA little p,irl gAve evidence rorrohora'ing her mother's a< to the asiiult. Her fnthcr said he kicked her mother for going away. Accused scTcral times expressed sorrow for what ho hud done and jiroini-eil to have a prohibition order t*ken out if he wero given another chance. Ills wife did not want to put biru m gajl and he wuuU! keep fober iv future. Ilio Worship: You promised that before, and she besged to havo you K-t i>fT I told her she was making a mistake. I have tried leniency with you and it is plain thai it ia no good, 1 cannot try it. again. It was a mo-t cowardly nnd rutliatily thing to do, nnd you senm to do it as regulirly n* you got drunk. Prisoner : When she. m:cs tin' n>:r.ing home with a drop of drink slio <:le.in out nnd leaves me with tho rlnlilrrn. His Worship : The la«h would be tho brst thing for you, but 1 cannot »rd"r that. 1 will sentenro you to two month*' ini|irisonmcn'. with hard labour, and order you at tin' end of that time to find two sureties m £10 each that you keep the peace for six months. Tho court then roso.