RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S. COURT, CROMWELL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume II, Issue 101, 17 October 1871, Page 6

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S. COURT, CROMWELL.

Thursday, October 12. (Before Vincent Puke, Esq., R.M.; and James Taylor, Esq., J.P.) Drunk and Disorderly.— Richard Bateman forfeited the amount of his bail in consequence •of not appearing to answer to the above charge. Sergeant Cassels said he arrested Bateman on Sunday evening, the Bth inst., at the door of Mrs Box’s hotel. The delinquent was drunk, and very disorderly : he had evidently been •fighting, for his coat was torn to atoms. REGINA V. MRS ANN TiOX. Defendant was charged, on the information of Sergeant Cassels, with having, oh the Bth inst., permitted drunkenness and disorderly conduct within her licensed house, the Victoria Junction Hotel. Mr Wilson was counsel for defendant.

John Cassels,.sworn : On last Sunday evening I went to Mrs Box's hotel and arrested Richard Bateman. The house was in a very disorderly condition; the back door was off its hinges, and several drunken men were about the place. I was unable to go inside the hotel at that time, ■as I had Bateman in charge. After locking-up ■my prisoner, I returned to the hotel, where I saw a man very drunk. Just before I arrested Bateman, a female ran towards me screaming, as if she wanted protection. Cross-examined : I have heard that Bateman and Caroline Benjamin live together as man and wife, but am not aware whether they are married. It was Helen Spiers who came for me : she told me there was a row at Mrs Box's. On going there 1 saw two men the worse of liquor : one was very drunk, and the other about three parts sprung. I don't know whether they got drunk at Mrs Box's or not. To the best of my knowledge, I have not played cards at Mrs Box's within the last six months.

Caroline Benjamin, sworn: I reside about a mile from Cromwell. I went to Mrs Box's at about half-past two last Sunday, in order to pay an account. I went in company with Mr Bateman, who got drunk at Mrs Box's. I saw one gentleman lying drunk on the sofa. Mr Bafceman told me to go home, and the gentleman then struck Mr Bateman. 1 did not go home at that time. I saw drink sold in the hotel.

Cross-examined : I was in Mrs Box's employment nearly three months, and loft of my own free will. 1 did not hear Mrs Box send for the sergeant. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr Wilson, for the defence, called Helen Spiers, a servant of Mrs Box's, who deposed : Last Sunday I went into the bar of the hotel, where 1 saw Lick and Caroline. By Mrs Box's direction, I served them with drinks. Liter in the day i saw Dick with his coat off, striking a man named Jack. 1 asked him to desist, and he turned and struck me twice in the face. Mrs Box an I I then put Dick and Caroline outside, and Dick went round to the baek door and broke it. Mrs Box then sent me for the poliee. Dick was not very sober when I served him with liquor. Cross-examined : I only served Bateman with ■one glass of ale. Stefano Bodasi, miner, declined to give evidence unless his expenses were guaranteed. The defendant undertook to pay him, and he was then sworn. Tho wit.iess said he was at Mrs Box's on Sunday, and saw Dick Bateman there. Some gentlemen went into the house, and Dick ■seemed to go out of bis mind. He believed Dick was jealous of the woman Caroline.

The Bench were of opinion that the defendant had been desirous rather of stopping the row than of allowing:disorderly conduct. The case was therefore dismissed.