RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 144, 26 August 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Tuesday, August 24. (Before Mr. F. Guinness, R.M.) Alexander Craighead, charged with allowing his chimney to catch tire, stated that the chimney had been cleaned a short time previously, but the top part which had not been cleaned had got alight. Fined ss. Michael Kines was charged with assaulting two females' on the night of Saturday last. Thomas Price said he was a carrier, and stated that he was in company with two young ladies in East street on Saturday night, and the accused came up and after catching hold of witness, took hold of the females and used abusive language. One of the young ladies also stated that accused had followed her and annoyed her near the post-office.- ! ■ ■ Isabella Hughes said she was walking in front of the post-office on,' Saturday night, when accused called after her, and followed her a few steps. Went •up to Mr. Hodder’s and while in company with Mr. Price and her sister, accused came up and endeavored to catch hold of her. The accused caught hold of Pricej and witness and her sister left. There was a' little wrestling between the. prisoner and Price. Charlotte Hughes gave corroborative evidence. \ ' i __ Constable Neill said he arrested the prisoner on Saturday night, and charged him with assaulting a female. He was quite capable of taking care of. himself, although he was a little the worse for liquorHis Worship sentenced the prisoner to two months’ imprisonment with hard labor’. The charges of resisting the police and using obscene language were then heard. , Constable Neill said that on arresting accused he walked a short distance, and on arriving at the Town Hall, prisoner caught hold of the verandah posts and swore he would not go a step further. Witness handcuffed the prisoner, and after getting assistance, put the man into a cab and took him to the station.

Robt. W. Shearman remembered seeing s last witness endeavor to take accused to the lock-up last Saturday night, and heard the latter use very abusive and obscene language. William Bartlett said—On Saturday night last, at the request of Constable Neill, he took his cab, and saw the accused resisting the constable and heard the accused use very obscene language. . His Worship fined the prisoner L2 or forty-eight hours’ imprisonment, and also to pay the cost of the cab which conveyed him to the station. CIVIL CASES, Branson and Purnell v. Anstee.—Claim LI 7s. Bd. Judgment by default for amount and costs. Hodder v. Macpherson.—Claim L 3, for goods supplied. Judgment by default for amount and costs. Hasset v. Burns.—Adjourned, on application of Mr. O’Reilly for defendant, until Friday next.