RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 474, 6 March 1869, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Thursday, Mahch 4. (Before J. G-iles, Esq., K.M.) John White was charged with furiously riding iu the streets, aud with using threatening and abusive language to Constable Neville. It was the Constable's statement that the defendant had ridden down Gladstone street at a furious rate, homing the reins with his right hand, while his left was at his side, and apparently taking no trouble to check the horse. Afterwards, when he was summoned, he met the constable, called him "a dog" and " a hound," with the usual expletives, and informed him that " the first chance he had, he would make it a caution to him." The defendant called a witness, Hamlet, who stated that the horse was one which is in the habit of bolting, that it had bolted, and that the defendant could not maintainhis control. With regard to the other change, the defendant stated that he was intoxicated at the time. The Magistrate held both charges to have been proved, and fined the defendant 40s for each offence, with expenses.

Fbiday, Mabch 5. Oliver Johnson was charged, on the information of William Murray, with assault. From the evidence of the complainant, and of two witnesses, Robert Dennismore and Benjamin Oxley, it appeared that, on Thursday forenoon, the defendant wanted to use a tramway truck on which Murray had a quantity of slabs. Murray refused to let him have it unless he paid for its previous use. The defendant became abusive, and tried to ta"ke forcible possession of the truck, by tossing the slabs on the ground. A scuffle ensued; blows passed ; the complainant's singlet was torn off; and the defendant, finding he was getting the worst of it, took up a stick, gave chase to Murray, and struck him once or twice beavy blows on the back and arm. The defendant had nothing to say as to the assault except that he was not guilty, but had a great deal to say about his willingness to pay for the truck when the complainant proved his right to the " truck, the tramway, and the country generally." The Magistrate considered that there had been a most unjustifiable and unprovoked assault, and he fined the defendant 40s, and expenses, with the alternative of a week's imprisonment.

CIVIL CASES. O'Neill v. Bang.—Aclaimof £lO 10s for damage alleged to have been done to the plaintiff's grass-sown paddock at Packers' Point by the defendant's geese, turkeys, and fowls. Mr Tyler for the plaintiff; Mr Pitt for the defendant. The Magistrate considered the trespass proved, but he did not

think any specific damages had beeii made out, nor was it a case for exemplary damages. Judgment for the plaintiff for 10s, with costs.