MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4582, 2 March 1893, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

LYTTBLTON. 1 " ■_-■-.[ •;■;' ';'■ Wednesday,, March 1. .. (Before R.Beetham, Esq., 8.8ff.) . : , Tl'hkhatbnino Language.— Albert Edwin? Faucett i was charged with using threatening language towards S. R. Webb on Feb. 26, by which a breach of the peace was likely to be occasioned, Mr Nalder appeared for accused and pleaded "Not guilty." Mr Webb, who conducted his own case, gave evidence to the effect that on Sunday, night, Feb. 26, he waa walking; along Winchester street, and when he was abreast of the Crown Hotel two persons came out of the door, and a little later the accused .came out pf the door and .passed witness and two others standing j with him. Ai the accused came back to. the, hotelhesaid "It's a cold night, come and bare a beer," at the same time catching hold of witness' coat. .Accused then threatened witness and eaid he would hit him on the noße if Ke did not clear out, and continued ; ta assault i them (witness .and > his friend) calling them -—Tf $rohibit£onißts. To Mr Nalder : Was ftimembtsr of the Licensing Bench. Was; not in the habit of going, to ohurph on Sunday nights/ For the past few, weeks witness and two others had , been watching the publiehou66B with the vie w- of eeeing to what extent the. lajv was being broken. Waa in front ! of" toe Crowii Hotel on Feb. 26 for about ten .minutes -or a quarter of an hour. Saw^ andtherUiaatf -*here who was nearly drtink; ''Did not accuse* defendant of havirig made' this man drunk. I)|d not lift his stiok to accused. -James Ml&forton, a baker, gaVe corroborative evidence, Mr Nalder : -Witaesß : was- a member of "the Committee who watohed the f pnblic-honseß on Sunday nights.' This was the case for the prosecu* tion.' Mr Nalder called 'Frederick Bo wen, a boarder at the "Crown Hotel, who said, he wai sitting close to the window sill, when he saw Webb and Norton standing at the corner. There was another man named Foulda present, and the four of them got into an argument ' about_ .the ', respective merifcß of tea, coffee arid beer. The argument waxed rather warm', and Fonlds, in laying down the law to Webb, put, his hand on Webb's chest, whereupon the latter threatened him with, a stick. Faucett did not make use of aiy threatening language towards Webb until the latter raised his stick, when Faucett said if he (Webb) struck him with the stick he would knock his head off. Thomas Lodge, Bon of the licensee of the Crown Hotel : Saw Webb and Norton standing on the corner of the street near the hotel, and Bowen, Foulds, and these two engaged in an argument on prohibition and tea and coffee. Saw Webb raise his stick to JBaucett. Albert Edwin Faucett, barman of the Crown Hotel, Baid he saw Webb and Norton standing on the corner of the street olqse to the hotel. As witness approached them Webb said, "Here comes another of them." Foulds continued to argue with Webb and eventually put hid hand on Webb, when the latter raised his stick to Foulds. His Worship said there was no doubt that these people who had elected to watch public-houses, were quite within their rights. It was equally clear that their action was very annoying to those whose business it affected. The whole thing was a storm in a teapot. Accused would be fined 10s. — A similar charge against F. Bowen was dismissed, and the orosß action against S. R. Webb by Faucett was withdrawn. Maintenance. — Fanny Seymour, wife of Robert Seymour, sued her husband for maintenance. Mr Nalder appeared for the complainant, who stated that she had left her husband's house on Jan. 3 in consequence of him having assaulted her. He had not Bince contributed tc her support. After hearing the evidence of both parties, an order to pay 10s per week was mad j against defendant. Civil Cash.— A. W. Parsons v. R. Cotton, claim £9 7s. Judgment for amount claimed and coats.