Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 70, 4 August 1868, Page 3

Magisterial.

cimiKTciiußcri. Monday, auouht a. (Boforo T, W, Maude, aud A, Ruck, ICfl-jni.) UnuAOii ov tiik PiacK.— Patrick McGufrc. on remand, and Stephen Moon, wero charged with ibis offence, by taking part as principals In a prize light, and Christopher Dal wood, Charles Turner, James Gatherer, Christopher Taylor, John Nplnlcs, and Jnntus Kearney, with iho samo olfenco, by aiding and aliening at tho fight, Henry Fenst, deticilvc of police, -aid * On the 211 th of last month, from information received, I wont out to the itltcarton road, I saw between forty and fifty pcoplo ou iho Head Ro-crvo near the Plough inn. I saw all tho accu.'Od thorc, nod spoke to somo of thorn. Gatherer came towards mo on tbe road, Ho wauled to know what I. was aboul, and commenced dialling me, I think ho said tho light wuh only for lovo, I said li bad better bo Hloppc<l,n» it would not do. Tho crowd then went on towards Riccarton i 1 followed them lo Webb'n hottl on tho lliccarlon road, and •* ftf r wards lo tho Hacecourso. I flaw all tho ucctiHOd there, except iho iwo principal'", whom 1 thought I saw riding away, I. then ascertained th/it tho light was over. Tho people woio icaiiored when 1 arrived, but I should ihlnlc there woro about fifty, John Fox said i I am a publican re* biding In Übrlaichiirch, On tbe morning of tho -"Dili of duly I saw prisoner M'Gulro standing nt my bur In the % rinco ol Wales Hotel. Moon also came up to tho door on horseback, Uo asked for a glass of beer, and was strved with it. 1 did not hear anything about a light, but I heard Moon say " If you will coma round to Barnard's at two o'clock, I'll talk to you," McGuiro mid eomothing, and a conversation t-nsued, but 1 could not tell w hut aboul. I do not recollect hearing 1 the word " fight " at all. I afterwards wont out ta dio Rlaearion KoniHn lhe expectation of noelnp a fight, but I hud not the slightest knnwli-ilgo of whom it wns lo bo between. J did not know that McGuiro nnd Moon wero going lo fight, bui I board tomothlng to that effect, 1 never heard anything about money. Thomas Hnskctt said • I live in Tunm slrcot, Clirlfitol.urch, ' Ott tbo 2l)th of last month, I uaw a crowd going up towards

Riccarton. I followed to tho racecourse. 1 saw the prisoners McGuiro and Moon, who were sparring. They bad no gloves on and must havo boon -fighting. It was nearly over when I arrived, 1 could not say how many rountlß woro fought after my arrival. I have noon men fighting beforo, Tho mon wero striking -cn-ch othei'. Prisoner Moon was bleeding, but hn wnn marked boforo tho light, I did not sco a knook down, but thoy caught hold of each othor, wrestled, and full, When they got up thoy sparred again. This would bo a round, 'I saw two or threo rounds. 1 believed it to bo a drunken spree. 1 havo socn schoolboys shnpo ln much tbo samo way, Moon and McGuiro wero striking at each othor, and 1 oxpect thoy were fighting. I heard thoy woro sparring to decide which was Iho bent man. Thero wero 6Ccoiiilh and a bottlo holdor. I saw accused Gatherer holding Moon on his knee, Dal wood waa In iho ring, and I saw Turner holding a waioh in hl» hand, I heard him call out timo, and I suppoHO he wan tho lituc-kconor. Whon' time was called, tho men wero seated or standing ag«hi«t tho knees ot their -jeconds, Gatherer was ono of tho scoonds, I saw Splnks In the Ting, lam not aware that ho wm ono of tho seconds, I did not hoar him speak, or sco Inn take any part In tiio fight, or encourage iho men. I do not rccolluot siolng Tayli-r, but Koarnoy was present looking on, Somo ono mild tho polico were coining, and tho croivd disappeared, Moon and MuGuiro riding uway, Tho fight wan not concluded. Thoro was between forty and fifty persons prcswnfc, Thero was no row, nor muoh noluo during the fight. I «nw tbo- police coming whon tho crowd 'dispersed; Hy Gatherer t I saw you handle Moon. I could not say how many rounds woro fought aftor my arrival, Thoio was not n ring mndo, I oaw a man holding McGulre, but I do not sco him present, ily Hpinkni I went up to tho raoaoourso with six or -leven others In a cart. You wero ono of them. I knew all tho othors but you, Tho light was going on when wo arrived, and did not lant long after, I did not sec you take any notlvo part in the fight. By Inspector I'ondcr i I did not hear any bolting, nor ueo money chango bunds. By tho Honuh i The iHiWi flghtb g woro dressed in shit Is and irowflcm. I bi'llevo Moon had ono black cyo when 1 saw him at Dllloway's, before tho light at the Racecourse, I could not suy whether both wero black. I havo seen prize Hog* before, bui ihey bad ropos round, Thoro woro no ropes around tho ring at tho Racecouiflp, which wan only formed by tho peoplo fltandfng round, Tbo rounds* thai were fought would perhaps occupy i or 3 minutea eaoh. None of them hinted a quarter of an hour, A minute was allowed to olapso botwoon each round. When I saw Moon at Dilloway's, It wnn lo tho best of my belief beforo ilia fights . I know then that ho was going to fight with McGuiro, Myself and tho o thera in tho cart wont to the Racecourso In the expectation of seeing a fight. Jsincs Alfred fti-ifo, said ; I urn a gentleman residing In Christchurch. On. tho 2t)ih of Jast mouth I saw Iho two prisoners, Moon and MoGulro. i fighting near the Haocoounio. Thuro wire 1 (ll'tctn <*r sixteen rounds fought, hut i do not know what for. 1 did not. hear any hols laid, I do not know whoro Moon and McGuiro ; startod from, I did not hour tbo men cliallongo each oilier, I saw Dal wood iv the flight, but bo did not to my knowledge take any prominent part In It. Thero was no attempt to form a ring, iho crowd only kepi elenr of tbo mon, as thoy fought on the grass. I oaw Tumor present. Ho was tlmokooner a part of the time, and I was the rom-ilwlor. I saw Gaibercr present, 110 was second for Moon. I don't know who was second for McGuiro. 110 Is not present, I saw Taylor looking an at the light, as also v/nd Splnks, Thoy worimot taking an active part In It. I did not hoc Kearney present. I should think there wore between forty and fifty persons at the fight. Thoro was no noise, I should not call it a prize fight, There had evidently boon a quarrel, and tho men wont out to co" 110 It, I <Io not know tho origin of tho quarrel, I did not, hear of tho light being for £10 iwildc. tfumuol Clark; I am a carpenter, residing in Uhrlntchurch, On Wedncsduy last I wuh passing along tho Riccarton road, when I saw two men fighting. 1 do not know litem, I did not go on purposo to see a flghi. I think M'Gulro was one of tiio men fighting, That is (ill I know of tho affair, No evidence wns cnlUd for tho defence, and tho Bench retired to consider theii decision. On reluming Into court, prisoner Moon said on tho day beforo tho light, ho saw M'Gulro striking a nmn who had fallen and hurt hia leg, 110 interfered, and M'Gu ro (Hruek him, They exchanged Homo blows and then separaied. Uo ho-v M'Gulro tho following day ut tho Prince of Widen, and told him to como round to Barnard's, when thoy would arrange lo hollle the quarrel. That was tho solo origin of the light at tho Racecourse. Prisoner McGuiro mado a statement to tho flame client. 'I bu presiding Magistrate said tho Bench had very carefully considered tho ease, and IboiiKht that tho ofloneo would be fully met by bringing it in im a common assault. Moon and McGuiro would uo lined £6 en oh, and havo to find sureties, thomselvos in £50 each, and two Hurdles <.f £'25 each, for their peaceable behaviour during tho noxt twclvo month. Turner and Gatherer would each bo fined £2 for aiding and abetting, Tho oihordofcndnnifl Would bo dismissed, hut iho liench would ntlll cam lon tlium that all portion. l looking ou or tnklng part in a prlzo fight woro o-'tndly culpable and amenable as if actively engaged an principals, and liable to scvero punishment, This Day. (Boforo T. W. Maudo and A, Back, Hsqs.) DituNKKNKKßfl.—Jnmos Colter was brought up for having ban drunk aud disorderly. Oom-lrtblt* Wallace proved tho offence, .but being prisoner's first appoaranco boforo tho Bunch, ho was discharged with a caution,