AKAROA RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 574, 13 January 1882, Page 3

AKAROA RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Tuesday, January 10, 1882,

Before Justin Aylmer, Esq., R.M

On the opening of the Court, the Magistrate called special attention to the fact that persons were frequently in the habit of smoking in the porch of the Court House, and filling the justice room with smoke. He thought the practice most indecorous, and begged it might be discontinued. CATTLE TRESPASS. G. Lardner, for having cattle astray was fined 5s and'costs. A. F. Roberts, for having two horses astray was fined 5s and costs. B. Thompson, for having a horse at large was also fined the usual 5s and costs, FIGHTING IN LAVAUD STREET. Henry EdmomPon and Samuel Curragh were charged with tho above offence, Servant Willis deposed that he saw the •;.wo f.cci's-i'.' 1 lighting in front of Mr ___lc___U's. Ho was some distance off, but

fancied from what he saw that Curragh was trying to get away from Edmondson Did not see the commencement of the fight. Harry Munro, sworn, said he saw Edmondson and Curragh meet. Edmondson struck Curragh first. They did not talk before Edmondson struck Curragh. Mitchell, sworn, said, he saw no disturbance. He was present at Edmondson's house when Curragh was there after the first quarrel was over. In answer to Edmondson witness said he did not hear anything about Curragh having gone up to Edmondson's house to finish the fight. Edmondson wis fined 20s and costs. The case against Curragh was dismissed. BREACH OF DOG ORDINANCE. Messrs Snow and Anson were charged with having seven unregistered dogs in their possession on 24, at their station at Peraki. Mr Anson said that some of the dogs belonged to one nieinhor of the firm and some to another. Tho dogs were the private property of himself and his partner, and had nothing to do with the partnership. The case was then adjourned for the amendment of the information. ■CREATING A DISTURBANCE IN A LICENSED HOUSE. John Brown, George Yewen, and Samuel Thomas were charged with creating a disturbance at the Somerset Hotel. Head of the Bay, on Dec. 26. Thomas Brooks deposed that he remembered the 26th December. On that day he saw Yewen, one of the accused in the passage of the ho:el. He (Yewen) was standing over a barman that had been employed by witness for the day. He saw Yewen knock the barman down. All three of tho accuse 1 were ripe for a row that day, and were very troublesome. In the evening Thomas forced his way into the bail room. He was drunk and used bad language, and witness was asked by the ladies to put him out, and ho did so. After he put Thomas out Brown struck witness in the yard.

By Brown: "I went away after you struck me. I was not going to stop and bo mobed ty the three of you, for you were all anxious for a row."

By Thomas : " I do not know if you were there all the afternoon. I turned

you out of the ball room because I was requested to by all the ladies there. By police : The accused had evidently resolved to create a disturbance. They behaved very badly. Every one else in the house was perfectly quiet, and there was no other quarrelling all day. Robert Hodgson, sworn, said, I was acting as barman for Mr Brooks at the Somerset Hotel on the 26th of December. Accused called for some drink and served them. There were six -drinks served, and I only got paid for four. When I asked for thy; money for t/.e other two drinks, Yewen was very abusive, he said, " I will give you a wipe across the mouth, you black looking sod, you're not fit to be a barman." He struck*me in the passage and knocked mo down, By Yewen : I did not strike you first. The Bench asked if the accuse* had any witnesses to call for the defence.

Thomas said that he should like to say a few words, and on being sworn, stated •that he did not reach the Head of the Bay till 5 p.m. on the. 26th ulto. He had no intention of creating a disturbance. In the evening Brooks asked him if he would , not like to go in lo the ball, but he had only 3s and Brooks refused to let him in fm-that sum. Afterwards a man named Litchfield t anie and asked him if he should not like to nave a look, he said, yes, and went in with him. He never said a word after going in till he was thrown out byBrooks and others. By the police.—l did not want to fight. Serjeant Willis stated that Thomas was very drunk and noisy when expelled from the'ball room. All "three of tne accused we o ripe for a disturbame. The Bench fined Brown and Thomas 20s-and costs each, or in default 48 hours imprisonment. Yewen was fined 40s and costs, or in default three clays imprisonment. Yewen behaved most insolently in Court, and after his well deserved fine had been inflicted made several impertinent remarks. The Magistrate told the police to bring Yewen up again and asked him if he were prepared to appologise to the Court. Begining to see the position was serious Yewen made the required apology, the Magistrate remarking it was lucky he had done so, or he should certainly have given him a week's imprisonment. BREACH OF DOG REGISTRATION ACT. The amended information against Snow and Anson was then heard. li. F. B. Snow was charged with having five unregisteied dogs in his possession on the 24th Dec. Fined 8s each dog and costs. F. A. Anson for having two unregistered dogs was fined 8s each and costs. The Court then adjourned. Thursday, January 12. Before Justin Aylmer, Esq., R.M. drunk and disorderly. John Smith was fined 20s for this offence, or in default 48 hours imprisonment. VAGRANCY. The same offender was charged with vagrancy, the case being dismissed after the Magistrate had given a severe caution.