RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1039, 4 September 1883, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON.— To-dat.

(Before H. 0. S. Eaddeley Esq, R.M.)

Drunkenness.— Th'mas Hawkins and Frank Allen were each fined 5s for this offence.

Breach op Borough By-laws. —Andrew Dawson, for leaving a horse unattended on the public road, was fined 10s and costa.

111-treating a Horse. —Thomas Simpson was brought up charged with having ill-treated two horses by leaving them without food and water. The evidence of the police went to show that the horses were found in the morning in the open air, having apparently been there all night. The defendant pleaded guilty and his Worship characterised the offence as a very bad one, and inflicted a fine of L 6.

Drunk while in charge op a Hokse. —James Johnston, brought up on remand, pleaded guilty to the above charge. Two other charges were. also brought against the defendant, namely, for resisting the police in the execution of their duty, and for damaging a railway truck. His Worship fined defendant in all L 4 10a and ordered him to pay the damage, L2, with the alternative of six weeks’ imprisonment.

Assault —George F. Henry was charged with having assaulted Alfred S. Gates. Mr Branson appeared to prosecute, the defendant being undefended. The evidence showed that the two parties had not been on good terms for a long time, and the defendant feeling annoyed at what he regarded as an insult on the part of the prosecutor, struck the latter with an iron bar, rendering him insensible. After hearing evidence, his Worship said that no doubt an assault had been committed, although it did not seem to be a very seri- ’ ous one. He would only inflict a fine of ■ LI, with the alternative of a week's imprisonment, and at the tame time pointed out that the weapon was a dangerous one, and warned the defendant to be careful in future.