CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7606, 16 January 1903, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

Friday., Jan*. 16.

(Before Mr W. H. Cooper, J.P., and Mr

C. Tombs. J.P.)

Alleged Assault. — Edward ' Cownn was charged with having, oii Jan. 10, assaulted Gertrude Cowan, his wife. Sergeant Burke conducted the prosecution. The complainant, who had brought the charge against her hus.band, was placed in the witness-box, but she then refused to give evidence likely to incriminate the accused. A stateineht was with difficulty obtained from her to- the effect- that her husband had given her a knock, and that she was excited when she asked the police to ari l e*L him. tTred-ei'ick Palrtler said that on the da to in question he- heard sirc'tnis from Cowan's residence. Mrs Cowan was bleeding from the mouth, and the accused wits dragging her about by the arms.. Witness closed Svith him and "held him. Margaret Caldwell also gave evidence regarding the assault, and said she heard the siccUs-ed threaten to set tlie house oh fire. Tbe accused said he did not wish to say anything against the lady. He had got a black eye, and the charge should be the other way aboufc. The Bench held the charge proved, and fined the accused 40s and cOsts.

A Peculiar Cask. — Jan© Johnston, a respectably drested elderly woman, was charged with having, bn Jail. 3, stolen two pairs of tioilsors, value £2 10_, the property of J. Isherwood. Mr Hunt appeared for the accused; who pleaded not guilty. The evidence in support of the prosecution was to the effect that Isherwood lirt-fcL left the trousers strapped to his bicycle in the hall of the Caversham Hotel. When he returned they weue gone, and it constable, having noticed the accused wiih a parcel, she was arrested at home aud the trousers found in her possession. For the defence it was stated that the accused had picked up the parcel containing the trousers on the road, it having evidently beeu dropped there by the person who had stolen it. A cyclist who was also present in Court said he saw accused pick up the parcel, and said that he would have done .-vo himself had she passed it. Mrs Johnston took the parcel home and ' Showed it to -her boarders, stating her intention of taking it to the Police Station it it was not advertised for. Orie of her boarders, acting on her instructions, advertised the parcel in the papers. About an hour after f-he had picked the trousers up. Mrs Johnston was visited hy tho police anci arrested. The Bench dismissed the case.

* The By-laws. — William Orion wa-s fined 10s and costs for riding his bicycle on the ioc-tpath.— For allowing slock to wander at large in Sfc Albans and Sydenham, John M'Setvy and Samuel Olfwood wero each fined 5s aud costs.— Robert Yates and Jblin Alexander were lined lOs arid costs for leaving their vehicle?.* unattended for a longer period thaii livo minutes without, locking the wheels.— William Ja.rd.n- pleaded o-uilty to ii charge of having driven a horse and sulky on tlie footpath of IN orth Road, Belfast. Sergeant Burke said the case -W7U-. a particularly bad one, as the defendant had occupied the footpath while a number of school children were going hbtae. The Bench fined the defendant 10s and coils. — Richard Knott was lined 10h and cost, for riding his bicycle on the footpath Thr Sydlckham Crossing.— Frank Smith was filled 20s M.& costs for driving over the Colombo Street railway crossing against the signals \vl_iie an engine was approachin". PROinmTioN Obdkr.— On the application of his -sister, a prohibition order wits -■■ranted against a man, to take effect m the Chriatchurch and surrounding districts for one year.