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Star (Christchurch), Issue 5573, 22 March 1886, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH. This Dat. (Before R. Westenra, C. R. Blakiston, and H. P. Murray- Aynsley, Eaqs.) Drunkenness. — A man who had been drunk in Colombo street and had broken a pane of glasß, the property of T. S. Hudson, was fined 6s, and ordered to pay 2a 6d damage, in default, twenty-four hours' imprisonment. — Elizabeth Price wa3 fined £2, or seven days' imprisonment. — Clara Dodsworth was fined 5s. — A man who had not been previously convicted was fined ss, and a woman who had been locked up since Saturday night was allowed to go on payment of a fine of Is. Saturday Night's Disturbance. — Theodore Beaumelberg was charged with having been drunk on Saturday night in Cathedral square, with assaulting and resisting Constable Wooding and damaging his shako to the value of 12s 6d. Mike Henry, a Maori half-caste, was charged with assaulting Constables Wooding and Lawlor, and damaging the tetter's Bhako, value 12s 6d. Thomas Roberts was accused of drunkenness, and, together with Patrick M'Eearney, with inciting and encouraging persons to resist Constables Wooding and Lawlor. The accused were undefended by counsel. Inspector Pender called Constable Wooding, who said he was on duty in Colombo street on Saturday night, and he saw Beaumelberg drunk and rolling about by Hobbs* buildings. Asked him if he was able to go home. He said ye 6, but he was not. Took him to a cab, when he tripped witness, and both fell. A crowd gathered round. Got the handcuffs on one hand, and he Btruck witness with them, and also kicked him. Constable Lawlor came up, and Mike struck him and knocked him down as he was trying to put the handcuffs on Beaumelberg's other hand. Mike was abusing witness, who waa struck and fell down. Roberts was there, but witness couldnotrememberwhathe did. M'Kearney was the worst of the crowd ; he wa9 pulling witness off and inciting all the crowd to assault witness. He called witness a b cur, and a b coward, and Baid he was choking Beaumelberg. Some men, who came to assist witness, were kicked off. It was five minutes to midnight, and most of the respectable people were away. Witness' shako (produced) was damaged by Beaumelberg. (It had the appearance of being very much knocked about.) To accused Roberts : if you did come to give assistance you were put off, and then you were amongst those who annoyed me. I remember you were there all the time. Roberts : It was to your assistance I came. Constable Lawlor gave corroborative evidence. He had gone to Constable Wooding'is assistance when the latter was in difficulties in front of the Commercialhotel. Mike Henry struck witness on the back of the head, and knocked off his shako, and damaged it. He came at witness again, when the latter drew hiß baton and threatened the halfcaste, who then ran at Constable Wooding, hit him under the ear, knocked him down, and stunned him. Roberts did not take so active a part as the others ; he was the worsef or drink. M'Kearney was the whole cause of the row after witness got there. Witness considered there would have been no trouble, and the Maori would not have struck the constable, but for M'Kearney. A. S. Levy, tobacconist, who was going home from business when the disturbance took place, gave corroborative evidence. Ho said a man in light clothes, who was not charged, was also one of the ringleaders. He did not ccc the constables use any undue violence. Did not notice Roberts there. Two other constables who had seen Mike Henry and Roberts after the disturbance said that these two prisoners had boasted of having knocked about the police. In anßwer to the Bench, Beaumelberg and Mike Henry said they had nothing to say. Roberts said he was drunk but had not resisted the police. He called Sergeant Hallett, who, however, could not give any evidence in his favour. G. H. Fawceto, who had also been arrested for drunkenness on Saturday night, said he was in Roberta' company, and had not heard Roberts abuße the police, as a constable had said. P. M'Kegney, called for the defence, said he had asßi&ted the constables. M'Kearney had also done so. To Inspector Pender : Would be surprised to hear that he (M'Kegney) had been one of the ringleaders of the disturbance. He waa about town so late looking for a man that owed him money. M'Kearney was a relation of his. Inspector Pender Baid nothing was known against any of the accmed except M'Kearney, who had boon fined for assault laßt Thursday. The Bench retired to consider their dcciBion, and on returning to Court Mr Westenra said Beaumelberg would be fined 5s for drunkenness, and in default twenty- four hours,- for resisting the conBtable, £1, or ninety-six hours j Is for damaging the constable's shako, and to pay its cost, 12s 6d, or in default three days' imprisonment. As to those men who had interfered and assaulted the police, it would bo well, his Worship said, for the public to understand that no Magistrate would allow a constable to be interfered with when doing his duty. There was not much evidence against Roberts, and he would bo fined los, or seventy-two hours in default. Mike Henry, the Maori, wouldbecentencedtoseven dayß' imprisonment, without the option of a fine, for assaulting Constable Lawlor, and ordered to pay Is fine and 12a Gd damages for the shako, in default three days* imprisonment. M'Kearney, who waa the ringleader, and had been previously convicted, would be sentenced to one month's hard labour. Robbbrt with Violence.. — James Kedge, alias O'Hearn, alias "Cockney Jim," was charged with stealing IGa with violence from the person of Richard Raynor. Inspector Pender called tho following witnesses : — Richard Rayner, a labourer, said he had been working at Kaiapoi Island, and came to Christchurch on Saturday afternoon with 18a in his pocket. He went to the Prince of Waleß Hotel and had a drink, and thence to a house of ill-fame in Tuam street. Prisoner wns there, and Bomo beer waa brought in. Witness had a drink, and just then prisoner grabbed him , and said — " You b , if you have : any money I'll have it from you." 'Ho kept hold of witness' throat, and Maggie — one of the women — called out, " Don't kill tho chap ; don't choke him." Prisoner pushed witness down, and put his hand into witnesß* left hand coat pocket, and took 16a out— four half-crowns, one 2s pieco, and four Bingle shillings. Witness had 2b in his hand, which he held to, and managed to escape, bleeding from tho nose and mouth from the effects of the prisoner's violence. Prisoner leathered witness with hia fists outside before the latter could got away. Maggie Griffin

j then gave corroborative evidence, as ! did also John Fiame and Detective O'Connor. The latter eaid that when he arreßted accused on Sunday morning and charged him with assaulting and robbing Rayner, accused Baid he did not know anything about it. Rayner had the marks of illtreatment on him when he came to complain to witness. Accused, who had nothing to say, was committed to tak« his trial at the coming session of the Supreme Court. Deserting hbb Childbed. — Elizabeth Alice Sims, who had been arrested at Dunedin, was charged with deserting her four children on April 9, 1885. As this was a case which a Resident Magistrate is required to deal with, the accused was remanded till the following day.