MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5768, 12 January 1897, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, Jan. 11. Before Mr W. D. Lawrence, J.P., Mr Stephen Lawrence, J.P., and Mr W. Langdown, J.P. Alleged Assault.— Richard Corkran Avas charged with assaulting Emma Stiglich, and causing her serious bodily harm, on Dec. 24. Mr Donnelly appeared for the accused. The Bench were unanimously of opinion that, in the face of the contradictory evidence tendered, they must must dismiss the case. It was arranged that the charge of assault against James Duncan should be heard on Tuesday morning. The previous bail was renewed, and Dr Fox repeated his depositions given in the previous case. Tuesday, Jan. 12. (Before Mr R. Boetham, S.M.) Alleged Criminal Assault. — Thomas Voyce was charged with having, on Jan. 3, criminally assaulted a girl eleven years of age. On the application of ChiefDetective Henderson, the accused was remanded till Tuesday, Jan. 19. Alleged Forgery. — Edward Bennett was charged with having, on Oct. 2S, 1896, forged an authority to receive from the Chief Postmaster, Christchurch, letters addressed to Mrs J. Keith. The accused was remanded till Monday, Jan. 18. Bail was allowed in the accused's own recognisance of £75, and two sxireties of .£75 each. Borovgh By-laws. — Alfred Badham was fined 10s and costs for carrying on business as a hawker without a license at Suniner on Dec. 16. Mr Cresswell appeared for the Borough Council. The Impounding Act. — Richard Evans, the Linwood poundkeeper, was charged with having on Jan. 4 demanded from Augustus Saunders before he would release three cows, the sum of .£5 15s 6d, a sum not authorised by the Impounding Act. Mr Hunt appeared for the complainant, and Mr Mills for the defendant. After hearing the evidence his Worship said he did not think any actual demand had been made, and dismissed the case, each party to pay his own costs. Maintenance.— David H. Brown, who was .£lO 17s in arrears on an order for the payment of los a week towards the support of his adopted daughter, was sentenced to five weeks' imprisonment, in default of payment. Mr Flesher appeared for the complainant. — Philip Kelly was charged with being £5 7s 6d in arrears with his payments towards the support of his children. He was ordered to pay the amount, in default two weeks' imprisonment. — Rose E. Morse for whom Mr Beattie appeared, applied for an increase of the order against her husband, John Morse, to pay 10s a week towards the support of herself and' two children. Mr Byrne appeared for the husband. The order was increased to 15s a week. Assault. — Thomas E. Fisher was fined Is, for having on Jan. 6, struck Ruby Berland, a child ten years of age. Mr Beattie appeared for the defendant. Prohibition Order. — On the application of his wife, a -prohibition order was issued against a man, to take effect for twelve months in Christchurch and surrounding districts. (Before Mr W. D. Lawrence, J.P., Mr W. Langdown, J.P., and Mr S. Lawrence, J.P.) Alleged Assault. — James Duncan was ■charged on remand, with having, on Dec. 26, assaulted Emma Stiglieh, so as to her actual bodily harm. Mr Donnelly appeared for the accused. The prosecutrix stated that, on the evening of Dec. 26, she went with her mother to William Corkran's, where Richard Corkran had stayed the night previously. They knocked at the stable, and accused (Duncan) answered them. Her mother complained that Richard Corkran had not been home the previous night. Duncan, when asked, said Corkran was not in, and he told them to go away, and he struck her mother, knocking her down. On witness remonstrating, Duncan struck her and knocked her down, and then kicked her on the hip. She had to go to the hospital, and was afraid- she would have to go there again. Witness and her mother were sober at the time. They did not give the accused any provocation. He spoke in a civil manner to them, and she was surprised when lie hit them. In reply to Mr Donnelly : Witness was sober when the constable came to her house later in the night. In the constable's presence she and her mother said they had been assaulted by Duncan. They caused"' no disturbance at Corkran's, and if anyone said they were blind drunk it was untrue. Mary Jane Daniels, mother of the prosecutrix, gave corroborative evidence. Sergeant Briggs deposed to having arrested the accused oa the evening of Dee. 30. He said he knew nothing about the assault. This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr Donnelly called Constable Rowell, who stated that when he was at the house of the prosecutrix, neither she nor her mother complained of having been assaulted by Duncan. Cross-examined: Both were excited, but he could not say that they showed any signs of liquor. Harold York stated that on the night of Dec. 26, Mrs Stiglich and her mother asked Duncan if Richard Corkran was in, and he replied no, ; and told them to go away. They said they believed he was planted, ■ and that they had a crush with ' them who were going to break the 1 windows. Duncan told them to go, and gave them a push as they were going out 1 by a gate, and then went back into the ; stable. Witness and Duncan went inside j the house. Witness came out a little ; while afterwards and saw the two women ) in an adjoining section, and he saw Emma ■ Stiglich fall over a tent rope. Witness went for the police, being asked to do so by William Corkran. If Duncan had | struck either of the women witness 1 would have seen it. Both of them were ' drunk. In reply to Sergeant-Major Mason : He saw the women twice that evening, and each time they were drunk. Duncan was 1 sober, and so was witness. To the Bench : He positively swore that he never saw ' Duncan hit either of the woman, or kick ; Mrs Stiglich. Mr Donnelly was proceed- ' ing to call another witness, but the chair- ■ man said the Bench did not think he need 1 go on. They did not think there was any case to answer, and the information would be dismissed.