Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 214, 19 January 1869, Page 3

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) '. Assaulting the Police. — Walter Hartnail and W. Simmonds were charged, on remand from yesterday, with this offence.' A cabman named King was called on behalf of the accused to prove that constable Wilson had said to Simmonds, on the night of the disturbance, "I'll make this a caution to you ;" and the Surgeon of the Hospital was called by the police to shew that the wounds received by Hartnall were of an unimportant nature. His Worship, in conclusion, said the evidence had, to a certain extent, been conflicting ; but there could be no doubt that a noise was being made in front of the Gity Hotel on the night of the disturbance, and it was at the same time equally clear that the constable had a right to go and enquire into the cause of it. .Whilst doing so, aggravating expressions had evidently been used to him, as, for instance, Hartnall saying, " What are you prying about ?" And he had also been actively interfered with. With regard to Simmonds, however, there was noy evidence of complicity beyond his voice having been heard, and a mistake might easily be ma-!e in that. The case against him would, therefore, be dismissed. As to Hartnall, he had evidently been pretty severely handled, but at the same time it must be remembered that it was only one constable against many opponents, and, althoughithe constable had' somewhat lost his temper, it would have required the patience of Job to keep itunder*such circumstances. He knew i Iso that there was a great deal of bad feeling against the police, and they had sometimes very difficult duties to perform". Considering, however, the injuries Hartnall hnd received, and that he had been locked up, 1 he would be discharged, but it was to be hoped that such conduct would, for the future be. discontinued/. 11 „'' '. ' . • • Dbumcenness. -r- Jane Glass . and Eliza .Lambert were/ brought up charged witb ?f having .bjeenfdrunk'a-qd disorderly last night, but were discharged with "a caution.