RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1358, 22 December 1885, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

ASHBURTON- To-dat. (Before Mr H. 0. 8. Baddeley, 8.M.) CIVIL CASES. Reid and Gray v Stewart, claim LlB 6a—Mr Oaygill for the plaintiff. Judgment for Ll 6 and coats. DRUNKENNESS. John Dana was charged with having been irank at the Ashburton Railway tation yesterday. Constable Beddek and Sergeant Felton proved the offence, and the accused was fined 6a and costa with the alternative of 24 hours’ imprisonment. ASSAULT Charles Ryel was charged with having assaulted and beaten one Ruth Haines.— Sergeant Felton conduced the prosecution, and Mr Branaon appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.—Dr Rosa, a duly qualified medical pr-cti-tioner, said he knew the complainant. About ten days ago witness was summoned to attend the complainant. She was suf faring from a lacerated wound in her tqoeHer face was slightly bruised, and the wound was a severe one. The injury had occasioned inflammation of the aye, and and would leave a permanent scar. Tne wound might have been caused by striking against the edge of a door or other sharp object. By Mr Branson : The wound was fresh wren witness first saw it. It was open and bleeding. Witness noticed nothing peculiar about the comolainaot’s behavior at the time.— Ruth Haines, the complainant, said she was a widow of 59 years of age. She lived in a house near the hospital. She knew the accused and two girls living at the “ lean-to. ” Witness took a box to the girls on December 6 She met accused at the honae, and he asked her what the box was for. She replied, and he threw her down violently, inflicting the injuries described by Dr Ross. Her limbs were also bruised. She saw the doctor the day following the infliction of the wonnd.— By Mr Branson : When witness took the box to the “lean-to" she did not know that the girls had notice to leave the house. She knew that they bad given up the key to accused. Witness did not hear accused tell the girls to “ clear out," nor did aha notice that the girls had broken a lot of the house furniture. Witness did not interfere in any way between the accused and the girl. Accused did not strike witness, he pushed her violently towards the door. She was perfectly sober at the time.—To the Beroh : Accused told witness to “ clear out" before he pushed her, but did not allow her time to leave before committing the assault. Witness laid the present information of her own free will, she was not instigated to do so by the girls. —Emily Ashley, a prostitute, said she had occupied the “ lean-to ” as a tenant of the accused. She corroborated the evidence of the previous {witness in respect to the assault.—By Mr Branson : Complainant lived ah at 100 yards from the“lean-to.” The day followingtheaasault witness went to see complainant, and told her that if she bad been assaulted in a similar manner she would lay an Information against the accused. Witness and her friend had permission from the accused to occupy the bouse at the time of the assault. They had not broken any of the fnrnitnre—To the Bench ; The rent of the house was paid to accused. Witness occupied the house for a short time about three years age. The rant was first L 3 10a a week, but was then raised to L 3 a week. It was a fairly large house. The accused said witness might remain in the house if she braved the reoentsumm ms oak -Lily Duncan, another prostitute, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. The accused was in a temper at the time of the assault; witness thought he was vexed at witness and her fellow practitioner removing their boxes:—By Mr Branaon : Witness had possession of the hay at the

time of the assault.--This concluded the evidence for the prosecution. For the defence Mr Branson led the following evidence. —Charles Ryel, the accused, said at the >ime of ths alleged assault he had given the two previous 'witnesses notice tp clear out of the house. On going to the house he found a large quantity of the furniture broken. He tpld the complainant to leave the house, but instead of dping so she urged that the girls might be allowed to remain. Witness again told the complainant to leave, and pushed ber gently She fell and struck her head against the door. He ku«w the tenants in the house were not respectable women ; the house had never been occupied by respectable girls. The rent was L2 a week. —The Resident Magistrate,'its delivering judgment, said the house referred to in the case Was a pest to the district. He was sorry the residents in the neighborhood hai not taken some steps to have the nnlsfpce removed. He spoke in very severe Mrms of the conduct and character of the tyoased, and indicted a fine of LlO and cost, with the alternative of two month^imprisonnwnli.—M* Branson spoiled tht time might be Allowed to the aceusej in which to pay the ■ fine and oosts, a mooting to fis Bd, I 1 but the epplloatiom/es wfuiatj, 1 ■ ThstJoyjpt tfcsajH* 1