RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT,

West Coast Times, Issue 839, 1 June 1868, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT,

(Before G. G. FitzGerald, Esq., E.M.) Saturday, Mat 30. Drunk and Disorderly. — William Thomson and Alexander ErsHne were each fined LI, with the option of eightand forty hours' imprisonment in default of payment. ASSAULT. Thomas Williams, George P. Busbridge, and John Bullock alias Joseph Buller, appeared on remand from the 29th ■ inst,, charged with assaulting Frederick Strein. Mr Harvey appeared for Joseph Bullock alias James Buller. The complainant (Strein) deposed that he was a runner employed on the " West Coast Times." About seven o'clock on the morning of the 29th instant, whilst he was employed in delivering the paper, four or five persons, amongst whom were the prisoners, came up to him opposite the Belfast Store and enquired of him what paper he was employed on. They then took hold of him and, tore i\\s

cape off. An empty kerosene tin was lying close by, and he threw it at the prisoner Bullock. The prisoner Busbridge then struck him a severe blow over the left eye. Witness became alarmed and returned, and in Weld street met one of the men employed on the paper, to whom he communicated what had occurred. j Cross-examined by Mr Harvey— -When they first came up they jostled against witness. Bullock was not sober, but Williams and Busbridge were. • • Mr Harvey, on behalf of Bullock, submitted that the evidence adduced against his client was very slight. It certainly did appear that the complainant had been assaulted by the prisoner Busbridge. The case, so far as his client was concerned, was a very trumpery one. The prisoner Williams said he was coming along Revell street ahead of the others. A kerosene tin was thrown by some one, but he 'could not say by whom. He did not see any assault committed. The prisoner Busbridge stated that he was standing in the road when the complainant threw a kerosene tin at Bullock aad knocked him down, fle did not strike the complainant. His Worship fined the prisoners Williams and Bullock L 2 each, or in default of payment to be imprisoned for four days. The prisoner Busbridge was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, without the option of paying a fine. Assault. — The information laid by John F. Flannigan, charging John Cameron with having assaulting him, was withdrawn by the complainant.

The Court was then adjourned till eleven o'clock on Monday, the Ist June.

3