RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Manawatu Times, Volume X, Issue 1214, 17 April 1884, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAY.

(Before R. Ward, Esq., R.MConstable Gillespie charged S» Hammond (a native) with fight ing m the Square on 15th inst. Defendant pleaded not guilty. John Rush deposed : — On the evening of 15th inst saw accused m Palmerston. Witness and Mr Wollerrnan were {Standing on the footpath at the Clarendon Hotel and accused said they were A looking j black at him. They denied this, and he then struck at both of them . Wit* ness then struck him ia defence, and there was then a general row. Did not speak to the accused or do anything to provoke him. By accused —I saw you strike Mr Wollerman with yonr fist. Hammond also pleaded not guilty to a charge of assaulting Mr Wollerman and jijie cases were taken together. Witness stated that dining the scuffle and before, he got away, all his clotheß were torn off him. Herman Wollerman deposed : — On Tuesday night was talking with Rush on the footpath near Carrol's, when the native Hammond came up and challenged them to fight and at the same time struck witness a violent blow on the chest. . After this he went for Mr Rush, and tried to strike him. He offered to fight either of them for money. * „. By accused — We were not talking about yoii at all when you came up. After striking me you went for Rush and said you woul? see me again. Rush was knocked , down on the ground and wanted to get up to try and get away. The native struck Rush firsty" < ■ i ■-, *-■ ' •* Defendant was sworn and seated kthat all the natives were sitting outside'when two dogs started to fight. _Tiv&~aw-. vw& stsjsd-qg «Hieide— i

one tall and one short, r he short man kicked away the big man's dog, and then the two men commenced to fight. The tall man shortly after challenged him to fight. Afterwards heard tb.9 two talking and pointing to him...- Asked them what they were doing that for, and Mr Rush struck at him. Caught him by the coat sleeve, and struck him. Rush then took off his coat. Defendant continued making a long rambling statement m reference to the matter, and denied striking Mr WoUerman, or that he struck Rush first. In reply to the Bench defendant denied having challenged anyone to fight on the day mentioned. Several natives were called as witnesses for the defendant, and all denied that Mr Wollerman had been struck, or that Rush had been struck first. During their examination it was elicited that the two men connected with bhe dog fight were not Messrs Wollerman and Rush. His Worship saw no reason to disbelieve the statements, made by Messrs Rush and Wollerman, and would fine defendant m each case 20s and costs, m default three days imprisonment m Wanganui gool. Costs to the amount of £1 10s, were also ordered to be paid by defendant.. '.'A Keeling v Symons — Rates £4 6s 8d ; judgment for amount and costs 7s. ! Stewart & Co- vV. Harrison— ; Claim L 2 12s; judgment for amount | and costs 9s. j E. W. Perkins vR. W. Morphy— Claim L 5 14s ; judgment for amount and costs lis. G. L.Rabone v N. Tamaki— Claim Lls ; adjourned till next court day. Eliot Warburton v S. RowleyDebt Ll 4s lOd. Mr. Perkins for plaintiff; judgment for amount and costs 7s. F. W. Venn v H. J. LloydJudgment summons Ll3 9s Bd. Mr Perkins for plaintiff. L 3 had been paid into Court. Order made for payment of balance at rate of L 2 per month, m detault ten days imprisonment m Wangauui gaol. Nathan & Co., v Same—Judgment summons LIS 13s. LS had been paid m and an order was marie for payment at rate of L 2 per month; m default 15 days. • . A. Grammar v, J. Bradley — judgment summons £1 15s. Mr Perkins ior plaintiff. A . letter was received from defendant ofiering to pay £1 per month. Ordered to be paid at rate of £2 per month, first payment to be made m July next, m default 7 days. Louisa Symons v. Thos. Symons. — Charge of assault, and application to have defendant bound over to keep the peace. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Louisa Symons deposed — I am wife of defendant. A 8 o'clock m the afternoon on the 15th inst., defendant came home. I wp,s working at the sewing machine, He was drunk and crying saying he was going to cut his throat. Told him drink was killing him and advised " him to lie , dowu. He took my advice a.nd then came out saying the machine would not let a Philadelphia- lawyer sleep. Then he seemed to get mad, and took hold of witness and threw her over the sewing machine aud chair. Was always having trouble with her husband, and was iii terror of her life. Had tried being quiet with him, and he was now threatening to shoot her. It was just a mercy that her back was not broken on the occasion m question. By defendant — You did try to stop me when I wanted to go out of the room aud told me not to make an ass of myself. Coostable Gillespie deposed that Symons had been drinking for the past ! week. When he drank he became disorderly, but when sober he was very j quiet aud a good workman, f | By defcrfdant — I know you are. troubled with family matters. Belie drink keeps you from your work. Have seen your wife out with the children, and with you. Have also. seen her with friends from Wellington and Foxton. Defendant asked (hat the case be adjourned till next Court day. Thiwas refused and Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for three.months, m the sum of £10 and two sureties of £5 each. A prohihi'ion order was also made against defendant to take^effect for the next 12 months.