POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 629, 17 January 1872, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY.

Before His Worship the Mayor and James

Holt, Esq., J.P

DRUNKENNESS

Six persons were punished in tho usual manner for this offence. DEUNK AND DISOEDEELY. John Nichols, who had been disorderly as well as intoxicated, forfeited his bail. OBSCENE LANGUAGE, Mary McManus, an old offender though but young in years, was charged with having committed a breach of the Vagrant Act Amendment Act, by making use of obscene language within hearing of passengers ia a publis place. She pleaded not guilty, but the charge was proved by the evidence of Constable Donovan and Mr. Henry Short, nnd she was sent to gaol for three months and ordered to pay a fine of £10. I.AECENY. William Barrett was brought up on remand, charged by B. dolla Piani with stealing from the schooner Lsatitia tobacco to the value of four shillings. Mr Broham stated that he was unable to proceed against prisoner, who was accordingly discharged. neighboue's quaeeel. Oliver Coster was charged by Henry Eaynald with assaulting his son, George Eaynald. Mr Joy appeared for defendant, and Mr Weskm for the complainant. George Eaynald, a lad of thirteen, deposed that on the 12th instant he was on his father's premises at Duck Creek. Mr Coster and Mr Penman came across in a boat The latter had a double barrelled gun. They went up to the house of witness' father to shoot the puppy. Coster then came up and struck witness on the temple with his clenched fist and " knocked him staggering." Witness had been ill ever sinc3 from the effects of the blow. The little dog of witness had just been driving Coster's cow from a piece of leased ground. Witness had never used bad language or done anything to annoy defendant.

In cross-examination witness said that he had often hunted defendant's cows from his father's property, and this might have annoyed him. No abusive language was used till after the assault. Witness and a younger brother had made up their minds to continue to drive the cows away as long as defendant threatened them. Henry Eaynald deposed to having witnessed the assault, and ordered defendant off his ground, when he and companion abused witness and challenged him to fight. Witness gave his boys permission to drive the cow off the plot of grass after defendant had threatened the boys and Said he would shoot the dog.

In cross-examination by Mr Joy, witness admitted that lie had said he was glad the assault had occurred, as he hsd now got thorn. Georgo Wilson deponed that he had heard Coster say he would thrash the boy if he caught him driving the cows away. For the defence Joseph Penman was called, Who said that before the assault had been committed the boy put himself before defendant in a threatening attitude, brandishing a stick and making use of blasphemous language. "Witness and defendant had gone across the creek on purpose to shoot the dog, which was worrying the cows. They had beon driven into the water over slippery rocks, and not driven round by the proper road towards defendant's residence. Prosecutor, after the as-ault called out " Hurrah boys ! now we've got them, we'll make them pay to the tune of £20." The piece of ground on which the cows were grazing was ussd as a common by the people about, and defendant's cows were the only ones driven off. Joseph Penman was then charged with assaulting another sou of the prosecutor in the former case. Henry Eeynolds, a little boy, deposed that on the 12th instant defendant came across the creek with Coster, and he knocked him down twice. Witness had said nothing-to provoke the beating.