An Eccentric Couple.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 227, 27 November 1888, Page 3

An Eccentric Couple.

THE AGNEWS IN COURT. Wellington, Saturday. The notorious Agnew couple were brought before the K.M. Court again yesterday morning, on a charge of using insulting and provoking language to the Premier on the 21st November. Profiting *y the past experience of the violence and volubility of accused, the Court officials had the couple brought in ■rparately, and the charge against W. Agnew was first proceeded with. Upon the charge being read over Agnew burst oat into a torrent of abuse over the successive governments, whom he characterised as swindlers for taking land from him, and charged Mr Robinson, R.M., with being * a willing tool of these rogues’ in depriving him of his property. He denied using insulting lan-

guage to the Premier, and defied him to go into the witness box and truthfully say he bad been guilty of the charge— ‘ but, your Worship.’he added.‘he can’tspeak the truth.’ He handed in a letter he had received—proving, as he put it—that Atkinson and Stout were in I co ’ to rob him of his land. Sir H. A. Atkinson was then called and deposed that he was unable to leave his house or office without being followed by the Agnews, who on the, present occasion de manded justice from him and railed at him for a swindler and a rogue. The Court held the charge proved, and ordered the accused to find sureties to keep the peace for six months, himself in £5O and two sureties of £25 each. As he was being removed the accused yelled to Atkinson and the R.M. • I’ll not find security, and I hope you’ll bo'h be in hell before I come out 1’ Elizabeth Agnew was then similarly charge-1, but vehemently protested that she had not intuited the gentleman. She bad been many years in <he colony and knew better. She

also declared that Atkinson was in league with Stout to rob them of their land. After Atkinion’s evidence, the accused was asked if she had any questions to ask the witness, and like her husband she could not confine herself to the case, but proceeded to crossexamine the Premier about the'old grievance. In a flood of tears she asked the Premier to do them justice, and put back a house on the land. It was impossible to restrain her denunciations of Atkinson, Stout, and Robingin the RM. The Premier, who could scarcely be heard above the lamentations of the female accused, wished the Court to understand that he had nothing to do with the Agnews cise, which had been liberally dealt with by Parliament before he assumed office. He had no wish to punish these people, but they we r e becoming such a nuiunce that he found it impossible to leave his Jjouse for his office or bis office for his house Without being followed and insulted by them, and each day they were becoming more violent and threatening in attitude. The Court ordered Mrs Agnew to find sureties to keep the peace for six mouths iu similar amounts to the male accused. Upon being removed she declared she would not find the required sureties, but would go to gaol and work for nothing • for the Government who had robbed them.’