MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11484, 17 January 1903, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Mr W. H. <\n>T<er. .1.1.. and Mr G. Tombs. J.i'.. pir'idti at the Magietiatfc.s Court yte'tciday. ASSAULTING HJS WIFK. Edward Ciiwan. chared with a-.-:auiting his wife, Gtrtruds Cowan, on January lOtn. was again brought before the Court. Gertrude Cowan deposed that .she mnembeiiKl the occurrences of January lOtli, but did not wiah t<» give any evidence against her husband. The Bench insisted on witness answering questions. On being pivtssed the witness said her husband came home the woit-e for drink and upset her a bit. He gave, witness a punk witli vi« hund. Witness had complained to the police, and was surry that she had done. so. Accused had no questions to ask.

Frederick Palm<r. cab proprietor, said that on the date in question he heard screams from Cowan's residence, and was asked to go for ;he police. Accused was very excited, and his wife was bleeding from the mouth. Saw accused drag nu wife by the arms, and strike her on Uie face. Witness closed with the accused and held him. To accused—This happened at 12 o'clock at night. Did not know what had given accused a black eye. Margaret, Caldwell deposed that accused came home at 11.15 p.m. on January IOtU mad drunk, and woke them all tip with his noise. Witness saw no blood on -Mrs Cowan's face, and heard no particular screaming. Accused said he would svt nte to the place. Mrs Cowan's mouth was a bit swollen, and that was all. Gertrude Cowan, recalled by accused, said that she was not bleeding at the no-*-. Accused naid he was assaulted hiiniseJt. He did not wish to say anything against the lady, but lie got a black eye. It was the other way about. He would like to say that the occurrence took place at 11.15, and that he was arrested in bed at 2.45 a.m. The Bench—You are fined 40s and costs. A BATHING CASE. Six young men were charged with having bathed in the river at New Brighton witn.out the regulation costume. Mr Hunt appeared for the accused, who pleaded "Guilty." Mr Hunt called H. Van Ascti, a member of the Canterbury Rowing Club, who deposed that it had always been the habit of rowing men to bathe there unclad, me Bench fined the defendants live shillings apiece, with a caution not to bathe there again. ALLEGED THEFT. Jane Johnston, who was defended by Mr Hunt, was alleged, on January 3rd, to have stolen two pairs of tweed trousers, the property of J. Isherwood, from the Carersham Hotel. J. Isherwood deposed that on the date in question he left his bicycle in the passage of the Caversham Hotel. with two pairs of tweed trousers tied on to the handle bar. He subsequently mussed the parcel, which was that produced in Court. He valued the troueere at £2 103. E. Raven-hill, licenses of the Caversham Hotel, said that he knew the accused as a thoroughly decent woman, and would never suspect her of stealing. Constable Godfrey, on receipt of a complaint from Mr Isherwoo-d, liad made inquiries into the matter, and had found the parcel in accused's house. Accused stated that she had picked up the parcel at the corner of Tuam and Madras streets. Mr Hunt said the accused had borne an exceptionally good character for the past thirty years, and he had unexceptionable evidence to call to this effect. He was fortunately also able to produce a young man who had seen accused pick up the parcel. His client had worked for the Charitable Aid Board for more than twenty years. Edward Charles Airey saw the accused pick up the parcel, as she had staied. lie saw the parcel fifty or sixty yards before ehe picked it up He would have picked it up himself had he been in time. Mr R. Westenra gave the accused an excellent character, and the Bench dismissed the case. BREACHES OP CITY BY-LAWS. Wili am Auton was fined 10s and costs foi" riding his bicycle upon a city footpath. John McServy and «S. Offwood were each fined 5s and costs for allowing their horsee to wander at large. For attempting to drive a horse- across the Colombo etreet crossing wlien an engine was approaching Frank Smith was fined 20s and costs. Robert Yates and John Alexander were each fined 10s and costs for leaving their horses and vehicles unattended upon the public streets. For driving a horse and vehicle on the footpath at Belfast William Jardine suffered a similar penalty. Richard Knofct was fined 10s and costs for riding hie bicycle upon a footpath. SOUTHBRIDGE. At Southbridge yesterday, before Mr R. Beethaan, S.M., judgment was entered for plaintiffs in the following cases:—Haley v 6. Coilard, claim £24 18s; Riordan Bros, v G. Coward, claim £110s. Marshall v Vincent, claim £22 0s 6d. Judgment for costs. Mr Harvey appeared for the defendant.