Wednesday, September 4.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2567, 5 September 1867, Page 4

Wednesday, September 4.

[Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., R.M.] DKUNKENNESB. Edward M'Elwain and John Dowling were respectively fined 20s, and ss,«for the offence of drunkenness. William May, accused of tho samo offence, was discharged with a caution. INDECENT ASSAULT. Robert and Edmund Austin were placed in the dock to answer the charge of indecently assaulting Ann White Siimle, wifo of D. Ot. Srnale. Mr Borlaso defended the prisoners. The prosecutor* P. Q-. Smale, in stating the case, said that prisoners had put an execution into his house for rent, and while in possession, gare some gin to liis wife, who is of unsound mind, behaved in a vory indecont manner, and took liberties with her. Thomas Minifie, painter, who kept the Court in a roar of laughter, while he was iv the witness-b->x by tho curious irrelevant evidence that he gave, deposed that on Tuesday he found the doors and windows of prosecutor's house removed. On going in, ho found the defendants intoxicated, and saw them behaving in an indecent manner, which lie described. They took improper liberties with Mrs Smule, who was drunk. There was a square case bottle, con aining about half* pint of gin, in the house. Croß3-examined : Witness coulri swear that ho was sober when he left the house uftei 1 these occurrences had tuken place. The doors and windows of the house, which fronts a public thoroughfare, had been removed. A man named Harrison was occupying Mr and Mrs Simile's bed, smoking liie pipe. He appeared to be not quite sober. At tho Lima the prisoners behaved indecently, the only persons in the house were witness, the prisonors, Nlrs B male, and Harrison. Mrs Smale , at the time, was lying on a poi'n, near the back door, and could bo seen from outside. Prosecutor asked for a remand till this day, which was granted; prisoners being admitted to bail.