MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4738, 1 September 1893, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

♦ CHRISTCHTTRCH. This Day. (Before Colonel Alex. Lean and W. D. Lawrence, Esq.) Drunkenness. — John Holder was charged with drunkenness, violently assaulting Constable M'AUster with- a knife with, intent to do him grievous bodily harm, and with damaging his uniform. The case was remanded' till Monday. — G. E. Bentley, who was brought into Court in a state bordering on delirium tremens, and charged with, drunkenness, was remanded for medical treatment. Larceny bt a Bot.— Lewis Leonard, a boy of eight yeara of age, was charged with the larceny of a gold hunting watch, valued at i>l7 17s, from Robert Smith, on Dec. 6, 1892. Mr Inspector Broham prosecuted, and said it was stated tbat the boy had assisted to move some furniture for Mr Smith, and another boy had afterwards seen the watsh in his possession. A piece of it bad been picked up in the garden of the boy's parents. Their Worships spoke to the accused, and endeavoured to impress on his mind the enormity of the offence. The father appeared, and in reply to their Worships said he would most severely punish the boy. A conviction was recorded against the accused, and his father was told to administer corporal punishment to him. Selling Kerosene Without Licenses. —Robert Painter, F. J. Lund and Harry Lisky were each fined 5s for selling kerosene without a license. Thb Oxfobd Shooting Case.— John Bickerton waa charged on remand with firing a shot gun at William Henry Scott, a sergeant of police at Oxford. Evidence bearing out the statement already published, was given by Sergeant Scott, Fanny A. Webb, Emily A. Webb, InBpector Broham and Constable Costin. The prisoner said he had never been in a Court before in his life, and did not understand the meaning of it. Was he to be committed for trial P He did not know whether it waa advisable for him to reserve his defence or not. Their Worships said he might as well reserve his defence and be committed. The prisoner was then committed for trial. A Brace of Assaults. — Thomas Russell charged Thomas Newton with assault, and Thomas Newton brought a cross-action against Thomas Russell. Mr Cre3swell appeared for Russell, and Mr Weston for Newton, who deposed that he had known Russell for a long time, and had not spoken to him for three years. One day, while cutting sticks, Russell had come up to him and suggested the application of a stick to his (Newton's) head. He did not carry out his threat, but some time afterwards Newton met him again,, and was carrying a hard squared stick. Without the slightest provocation he hit Newton on the head, and inflicted a bad wound. Newton them went to the City Council Office and reported Rues all (who was an employee of the corporation) notwithstanding his threats to deal out death to him with a revolver if he did so. In reply to Mr Cresswell, Newton said he had hit Russell in the eye; three years ago on good provocation, and RuEsell had procured his discharge from the Corporation and had ever afterwards born malice towards him. He (Newton) had never threatened to kill Russell and had never given him any cause to be unbrotherly towards him. He had a little way of getting into trouble with his fellowemployees and had been summoned for assault. He really did not like' Mr Cresswo-11 to trace out the history of his life a3 he- was doing. He once had had a row with an overseer, the causa being beer— (laughter)— but that: was four years ago, and he was astonished that his past career should be brought into Court for a case like the present. Evidence having been given by Mrs Wellß and Dr Deamer, Mr Wes'on called three witnesses, who deposed to the general good character and orderly conduct of Newton. Thotnaß Russell then deposed that Newton was in the habit of assaulting him whenever he caught bim alone, and once had told him tbat he would be a corpse within three days. On the occasion of meeting him in the. street Newton had repeated this threat and sworn at him, and then rushed afc him. He was afraid of the man, and lunged out with the measuring stick he was carrying, and inflicted a wound on Nekton's head. Then Newton commenced to search for a stone, but could not find one. Then he smeared the blood over his face and expressed his gladness at the wound, which he said would enable him to do for him (Russell) . E v idence having been given by the City Surveyor and several of the employees of the Council, their Worships decided that Newton h?,cl cestainly Tbegun

tbe difcturtance, and that Russell had •struck him with a hard-wood stick, which was not warranted. They therefore settled the matter by ordering Russell to pay the doctor s fee, and Newton to find sureties, himself in and another in .£lO, to keep the peac9 towards Ruesell for sir months.