AKAROA RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 449, 9 November 1880, Page 2

AKAROA RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Fμday, Nov. 5, 1880,

Before Justin Aylmer, Esq., KM

MARITAL QUAKRKLS,

Wilfrid Johnson was charged with assaulting his wife, — Johnson.

Defendant admitted tho assault, but pleaded that his wife had thrown a boiler at his head, and on his entering the house had been met with a •' shower of pots."

Fined 20s and costs, or 24 hours' im-

prisonment.

Defendant, elected to •' take it out," but the fine was subsequently paid.

ASSAULT,

J B. Barker was charged with assaulting H. V. Chichester, by seizing him by the chin and shaking him. Defendant pleaded '• Not Guilty." At cjinp!ai:ianl's request, all witnesses w<!re ordered to withdraw.

Complainant, being sworn, deposed to the fact of the assault. According to ln'3 statement, defendant was on the bridge, when he (complainant) came over it in company withG r orge Ashton. Defendant (I coupon made use of threatening , language towards Cliicliesster. and finally caught him l>y the chin find shook him.

The complainant's evidence was corroborated by that of George Ashton and Thomas Brown. In cross -examination the former stated that complainant was no relation of his. he was a relation of his

wife's

For the defence, the following witnesses were examined : —John Hunter, Robert Shuttleworth, A. Waghorn, and R. Waghorn. They deposed that they were on the bridge at the time referred to. Defendant warned complainant not to spread evil reports about him. Ho did not assault complainant. On this point they were quite clear, but as to the language made use of the}* did not seem to be any way certain.

Defendant seated on his oath that he never laid hand or finger on complainant, lie admitted holding up his finger and telling him to look out.

Complainant put in a medical certificate to the effect that his state of health was such that a blow might result in serious, if not fatal, consequences.

The Bench considered the charge proved. The story told by complainant and his witnesses was consistent throughout* The witnesses for the defence did not seem to be veryclear as to what passed on the occasion, and some of them were not there all the time. Defondanfc would be fined 20s and costs. At the suggestion of the Bench, complainant withdrew a further charge of making use of threatening language against the samo defendant, His Worship pointing out to defendant the dangerous position any one assaulting complainant might place himself in. in view of t'. c medical certificate just put in. CIVIL CASES. Shadbolt v. Close. Claim £7 7s 3d. Defendant admitted the debt and judgment was given accordingly. Same v. Siiaokell. Claim £8. Plea indebted, judgment accordingly. Same v. Frisk. Claim £5, damages done to gorse fence by a fire caused by a boy of the defendant's. Judgment for 40s and costs. The Court then adjourned.

A singular discovery was made in Paris omj day recently during the a'tcrations win oh are being carried out at the General Post Ofiice. In a pundjl near one of tie boxes wss found a letter, posted exactly fifty years ago, which by some mischance had got stuck in the pan el instead of findits way into the box. The letter was duly forwarded to the person to whom it was addressed, who still more strangely, wrs alive, and who received it safely The writer, however, had been dead many years.