Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 829, 23 January 1871, Page 2

Magisterial.

♦ CHRISTCHURCH. This Dat. (Before C. C. Bo wen, Esq., E.M.) Illegally on Premises. — John Duncan was charged with being illegally on the premises of Mrs Rhodes in Peterborough street. Sergeant Pratt deposed that on Saturday night he found defendant drunk on the doorstep of a house in Peterborough street; the occupier of the house gave him in charge. Mrs Rhodes deposed that, on arriving at home on Saturday night, she found defendant in her bed ; she turned him out, and sent for the police. The defendant said that having had a glass or two, be went to the house to see Mrs Rhodes' husband, and feeling sleepy he lay down on the bed and went to sleep. Inspector Pender said that he bebelieved what defendant said was true. The Bench fined defendant 10s, and cautioned him to be careful in future. Assaults. — John Wilder Fuller was charged with having, on the 17th January, assaulted and beaten his wife, Hannah Fuller, and threatened her. The complainant stated that her husband came home drunk and struck her on the head ; he also threatened to crush her ribs in. Mrs Mason, the complainant's daughter, was called, and stated that she knew nothing of the matter. The complainant and defendant used to wrangle occasionally. The defendant denied having assaulted his wife, and appealed to Inspector Pender for a character. Mr Pender said that defendant was a quiet man -, he drank very little, and was not quarrelsome.even in drink. The Bench fined defendant 20a, and cautioned him as to his future conduct towards his wife. — Thomas Bennetts Cressy was charged with having, on the 16th January, assaulted his wife. The complainant stated that, on the afternoon of the day in question she was kneeling down by the fire-pla c, when defendant came in drunk, and, without any provocation, kicked her and bruised her severely. Defendant had ill-treated her before and since. Mrs Acqua partially co roborated complainant's statement, and said that defendant had turned complainant and the children out of doors. The* defendant denied having committed the assault. Inspector Pender said that both defendant and his wife were respectable. He believed that drink on the part of the defendant was the cause of this. The defendant said that he provided his wife and family with every necessary of life. His house had been stripped of all his furniture lately, and he objected to the company his wife kept. The complainant, in reply to the Bench, said that she had lately been staying with Mrs Acqua. Mr Bowen said that the Bench would like to make further inquiry into the case, and would adjourn it for that purpose until to-morrow, in the meantime, they would advise the complainant to go home.