MAGISTRATES COURT. RAGLAN.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 111, 25 March 1897, Page 2

MAGISTRATES COURT. RAGLAN.

Monday, March 22nd.—(Before Capt. Jackson, S.M.). ASSAULT case. A. R. Lasglkv was charged on the information of James Rendcll with having on the 10th March assaulted him. James Rendell, being s.vorn, deposed that ho was a storekeeper residing at Raglan On the 10th March defendant came into his store and deniaudc I £7 in settlement of account. Told defendant h» should not pay that amount, as he owed him over £2O for royalty on timber. Defendant then said if he did not pay the £7 lie would go into witness' yard and remove some timber previously bought from him. Witness warned him not to do so. as it would be illegal. Defendant then left, but returned with a man named Burns with two horses. Warned Burns not to go on his place. Burns said he should do as he was told. Witness then went down to his yard where the timber was lying, accompanied by Mr Rofr'ey. Just afterwards Laneley, with Morgan and Burns, came to the outside of his premises with a sledge. Defendant then got over his locked gate and took up a swingletree and said, " I'll smash the b y gate." Witness caught hold of the end of the swingle-tree and said, "Don't smash my swingle-tree." Ihe defendant then turned round and struck witness on the eye with his clenched fist. Witness' nose was cut by a ring on his finger and his eye blackohed Defendant said at the same time, "Would you hit me?" Nothing was further from his thoughts, and he said he would not hit a fool.

By the Bench : The swingle-tree was between the gate and where witiuss stood. Be caught hold of the end of the swingle-tree; Previous to these money differences he was on good terms with defendant. Had said nothing to cause Langlev to strike him. J. \V. Roffey deposed to seeing Langley, Morgan and Burns come to the yard where the timber was. Defendant said " ©pen the gate " Plaintiff refused, and cautioned defendant not to come on the premises. Defendant found the gate locked and said "Go and fetch an axe," Lingley then got over the gate, lie took up a swingle-tree and made a blow at the gate. Informant then caught at the end of the swingle-tree, which caused it to fall out of defendant's hands, and he then turned round and struck Reudell, saying at the same time " Would you hit me V" Reudell then said lie would not strike a fool like defendant. Lungley and the men then went on taking the timber away. E. Tatteraall and Mrs E. Campbell gave confirmatory evidence. A. K. Langley (the defendant), after being sworn, deposed that he was an auctioneer and defendant in the case. Had gone to Reudell and asked him for account of timber taken and got a list of it, 4000 feet. Some had been sold to other parties. Had acted as he had done because he thought he would lose the value of his timber. Told Rendell he would lea' e enough timber to pay for the leas he had taken out of his bush, this he did, and took all the rest away. When he got to the place he found the gate locked and asked Reudell to open it, this he refnsed to do. Ho then picked up a swingle-tree and tried to knock the chain off. Informant was behind him in the doorway of the shed. He said something about not being at Kawhia now and took hold of his arm and also hold of the swingle-tree, and ou letting go the swingle! tree it hit him (witness) over the nose. He then turned round and gave Rendell a blow in the eye with his clenched fist. He did so under gieat provocation. The Bench lined defendant 10s and 13s costs. STRAYING CATTLE. Peter Middlemis was charged with permitting a brindle cow to be at large and attack Fred Stubbing (a little child) on the 12th March last, contrary to the provisions of the Police Offences Act, 1884. Defendant, on the law being explained to him by the Bench, pleaded guilty and was lined 5s and 15s costs. There was one c!\ i'. ease, Reudell v. Modill, claim ISs (id. Judgment in default was given for the amount claimed ami cost". —(Own Correspondent).

A number of additions will be found to Messrs AlcNicol and Co.'s various advertisements in this issue.

More than 10,000 persons are engaged in the manufacture of explosives in Kngland. Last year 40 persons in the business were killed and 107 injured by accidents.

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