Magesterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 695, 15 August 1870, Page 2

Magesterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. This Dat. , (Before C. C. Bo wen, Esq., K.M.) Neglecting a Summons. — Thomas Barton was brought up in the cmtody of Detective Feast, charged with having neglected to answer a summons for violently assaulting hit wifo on the 3rd of June. In extenuation, prisoner said he had been told that if he did not again annoy his wife, there would be no necessity to appear, and he therefore had gone to work up country. He had no intention of evading the charge. The case of assault was then gone into, and from the evidence it appeared that for some time past the parties had been residing apart, but om the day named prisoner went to his wife's house and threatened to take her life if she did not let him in. He had used other threatening language, but, as he was hot admitted, he did not actually strike 'complainant. Prisoner did not deny the offence, and his Worship saying there was no assault proved, he should dismiss the case, but would advise complainant, if she thought there was no chance of agreeing with , her: husband, to take proceedings in the Supreme Court, for the purpose of obtaining a separation. Dkunkbnness. — Thomas Ward, in custody, was proved, on the evidence of Constable M'Guire, to have been drunk aad guilty of indecent conduct near the Empire Hotel, in High street, on Saturday, afternoon; and his Worship, after administering a severe reprimand, fined him 20s, or, in default, 48 hours' imprisonment. — James Snoswell, on bail, was shown, by the evidence of Constable Conway, to have been guilty of similar conduct at the Railway Station, and was also fined 20a. Indecent Bbhaviouh. — Margaret Bowen, in the custody of Constable Wilson, was brought up under the Vagrant Act, charged with an offence of this kind in a public thoroughfare. Sergeant McKnight gave evidence of prisoner's general bad conduct and constant visiting of brothels. She was sentenced to three months' imprisonment at hard labour. Assault. — Robert Marshall wa« summoned for having violently assaulted Richard Sadler at the Christchurch Railway station. The complainant, it is the gatekeeper at the goods shed, and it is his duty to stop and|exaorine vehicles, as circumstances may require. On the day complained of, accused, who was driving a four-horse coach, ran into a horse and dray, injuring the former and destroying a drum of oil lying in the yard, the whole being estimated at about £3. Complainant called on accused to stop, but as he did not do so, seized the reins of the leading horses. Accused upon this struck complainant several times with his whip. Accused, in Court, treated the whole affair in a most careless nonchalant manner, calling forth severe reprimands from the Bench, and simply denied striking complainant. He admitted raising his whip to one of the witnesses, but denied everything else, and called no witnesses. His Worship severely censured him, and said he had better be careful as to the manner in which he drove his coach about. There had been several com-

plaints against him, and he wonld ceffetfnijr .j be getting into serious trouble if he did not t mind what he was about. For the present i assault he would be fined j£3, and have to 1 < pay two days' expenses for each witness — j the result of not attending on the first day i the case was called. He had also better pay 1 for the damage he had done, or he would be 1 liable to a civil action for the amount. i