RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 174, 19 November 1881, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

TtttRSDAT November 17, 1881. \ [Before the Resident Magistrate, and Messrs. Waldegrave, and M'Neil, J's.P.] ATTEMPTS!) SUICIDE. William Pawson was placed m the dock, charged with having attempted to commit suicide, by strangling hirtlsel. <- on nijjht of tbe 20th of October. Const Gtllespie con'lucted the case, and ciil d" Joseph Charles Simpson, who depos- d ; I am a licenced sarter, residing m Ticmistreet. Palmerstou North. I know the pr'soner, who lives m the sami; strcu. While proceeding home, about v q\M- te; past eleven I heard screams m Mr. Parson's house. lam not quite sure sa to tbe date, but tbe subpoena stated ib.it it was the 20ih uf October. I beli -■**■ dial to be tha date of the niiiht upon vht-.-h I heard the screams. I knocked loudly at Pawson 1 a door, and it was opened by Mrs Pawc:on. Sue saM she wished I bar! not knocked. As I entered the front t«o>»r, the accused went quickly out o." tie back door. I staid about a minute m ih<- hwise. and thin followed to see where Mi. Pa.vson had g "ne. I found him hanging fo a clothes post. His feet were about a f>w? from the ground. The clothes post was about six feet high. The rcpe waa around his neck, and he was hanging beside the post. His hands were free, aci wtre by his side. He was suspended^ I held up the body, but not having a knife, L called for assistance, m order to cut him down. Mr. MCarty heard my vowe and when he came we cut Mr. Pawson down, and carried him into the house. I do not think I could have had him m my arns more than two minutes. . I could not say Avhether Pawson was sen'ble or not when I cut him down but he did not speak. He spoke when he w.ti iv the hou^e. He said "lain ali right now. 1 ' I woulc 1 have cut him t'owa, but 1 had no knife. To Mr. Hawkius: I cannot fix tbe exact d;i;e, but I could do so, I have no doubt, had Imy books; but 1 tbJuk it w;«s the 20th of October. Wh v the accucc.l left the houss he r ished out of the byck door. It ia about balf a chain distant from the houce where I discovered Mr. Pawson. Ido not think it likely .' t reused could become en 'angled m tbe rope accidentally. I did Dot notice whether not there was a knot m the . one — 1 1 1 id not examine it afterwards. I cannot say whether there was time fey bint to make a uoose— it was certainly a vtry short time. George M'(Ja:- y deposed : I am a carter ijsiding m Taonui-strcet. I remember hearing the last witness calling for i: stance ote uig'it m October. I jumped aver the fence, and seeing Sim .-«- son 1 asked what was the mutter. lie ws's bo!<l : ;ig Pavvsou m his arms, »n<l asked for a knife. I ?aw a knife with Mrs. Pawson. I took it from h.r and cut the rope. I saw a rop : around his neck. It is not at all likely that m running ulong ibe ground lie could have become entaaw.ed m tho rope. Oros^-exn-nin^il by Mr. Hawkins: It wan easy enough « ) see as there was a }\ hteil candle the^e. I could not siy w.tether or not Pawson was insensili'e ~wnen"we cut him rfo-wn. Constable Gill-i:>pie examined : I arres'cd the accused on the 21-t r»f October on a charge cf ••: tempting suici'Je. J nrreste ■' bim ia his hou^i, an 1 whil« on the way to the lock- up he > i'd "I wished they bad Vft me to bang, and then all mv troubles would be now over. 1 ' The Bi.nch, a?.er mature deliberation considered that a prima facie case had been made out, an-d be was formally commuted to stand his trial at tbe n?xt sit- , \insrof the Dist ict Coari. Mr. Warrl said he did not wi»h to p\k for heavy i bonds and would fix them at — Tbe »c- j cused m £10 and one other seccrity m the same amouut. | BHRACH Or THE VOQ ACT. Jobn Steer was charged upon the information of Robert, North Keeling, tlte Registrar of D:)gs, with having three dogs m his pos?esiion which were over the age of six monrhs. The defendant admitted the offence, but pi traded that he was- but a poor and an old man. and the doga were kept as a protection for hip house. The B nch said it could not accept that as an excuse for tbe off«nc *, and m!- -! flicted a fine oi' five, sbii lings and costs, civti. cases. Thomas S. Boe v. Edwa;d O'Malley, — Claim £8 9<». There was no ajipearanceof dfifrn.rlant, and a judgment was givan m default. Samev. W. aud G-. Turnbull — Claim £,!> 3*. The defendants prii'l £tinto court but as if appeared there was »> tne' doubt as to ownership of certain sccfionn, the hearing was p'-sponed until cext court day. the plainHn to communicate with tbe defendtn's m the meantime. John D«reen v. fi. M. Lowater — Glairn £11 16s 10s. Mr. Sl-aite for plaintiff; Mr Perkins for defendant. The defendant and his brother had had a contract for bushelling, but they asserted that th«*re was no partnership her ween them, an account was run up with defendant ami Mr Lowatev having received a sum l ■of £31, he. refained that for payment ; of the grneral {i^coonff. T&e p^icttiff stat-'d that the eooils were not for him, but for hiabroiher } thn.t he was not living with his brother, ttor tn;>dd use of them ;>nd that m fict, ho bad hncn dealing elsewhere. The case occupied aeonsidera^e fitne, but was ultimately adj nirne-'l until next Court day. E. M. Ijow.iter v. J. and T. Doreen. —This was a ense avi-in? out of tbe preceding one, and Mr. S(a;tc, who «7>pcared for John Doret-n, ptf«'lo6! not mii dtbted. After the most lensTthy evidence ! Was falcon, the Bench w.is sati.-fi-ed that the amount sued for should be p«.ic T by Thomas Doreen. John Dormers ■sinme-. therefore, was struck out, end a verdict given against tbe former, but an fie hadfiled his schedule tbe previous ;lay, the judgement was not worth much.