CHRISTCHURCH.
This Dat. (Before John Ollivier, Esq., 8.M., J. Y. Boss? and Acton Adams, Esq*.) Abusive Lj__«-__ge.—Margaret Wright was oharged, on information, with having made use of abusive and threatening language to Samuel Wright on Nov. 30 last. Mr Holmes appeared for complainant, and Mr Oorr for defendant. The parties were neighbours, living at Addington. Defendant waa the stepmother of oomplainant. It was stated for the complainant that on the morning of the day named the defendant had made use of very abusive language to him, and threatened to split his skull. One of the many witnesses for the proseoutioh said the had heard Mrs Wright oall her step-eon " a dirty rotten Tory." The Bonoh inquired what was objeotionable about the word Tory. Mr Holmes: " It's an Irish expression, meaning a very great scoundrel." Several witnesses gave evidence for the prosecution. Defendant said she was driving her stepson's horse off her husband's ground when complainant came out and made use of •an indeoent expression to her. He tried to drive the horse over her. Then he went nside and got a stiok and tied " a representation of a baby " upon it Bnd held it up. Hia wife was also winding olothes round a stiok in a similar manner. This wbb intended to provoke defendant, who had had no ohildren since her present marriage. Defendant only called him a "dirty man." Oomplainant frequently provoked her. "He even roars like a bull when he sees me outside the door." Mr Holmes: How far do you live away from himP Well, wa live too u<"_-, Mr Holmes. He's been abad boy ev_ since he knew what badness was. He used to beat his father, and when my brother oame out from Ireland, he said he would skin him." The cross-examination was oontinued for some time. Defendant _ step granddaughter also gave evidence for the defenoe. She stated that great provocation was given by oomplainant, and that defendant bad called him "an old quilt." Defendant's husband gave oorroborative evidenoe. The Benoh, in giving judgment, had no doubt that the weight of evidenoe was strongly oorroborative of offensive language having been used by Mrs Wright. She had been oautioned on a previous occasion, ond would be bound over to keep the peaoe for six months, herself in £50 and one surety in £25.
CHRISTCHURCH.
Star (Christchurch), Issue 4869, 7 December 1883, Page 3
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