RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 135, 11 June 1872, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Thursday, June C>. (Before E. 11. Carew, /&'/., li.M. ; and Ja>ne.x\ Taylor, Eiij., J.l', j W. Edwards v. W. Draper.—Claim, £li Is., j amount of a cheque given by defend int on the Bank of New South Wales, Lawrence, which cheque had been returned dishnn m-ed. Mr P. J. Wilson for plaintitf. Defendant did not appear. Judgment for amount claim sd, together with 9s. costs of Court, and 21s. solicitor's fee.. Assault Cask: Edward MAitDi.su r. Alvueu Short.—Mr Allanby for plaintiff. Mr W. \V. Wilson, for defendant, pleaded run guilty. lidward Harding, the complainant s ivorn, deposed: I am a professed cook, residing at Carrickton. On the 23rd of May last I w.iS in possession of the dining room and kitchen attached to the Reefers' Arms Hotel. On that day a welding breakfast and supper wc:e given at the hotel, having been provided by me un ler c mtract. At about one o'clock in the m iruing, I p 'epared tea for the ladies. The defendant, who was in charge of the bar depirtmmt, came into the kitchen twice and helped hi nself to some of the tea for the purpose of inking hot grog. On the second occasion 1 objectsd, telling him the tea was for the ladies. Defendant had a kettle of Ins own boiling in the parlour at the 1i no. and my two kettles were »hj > hoidng. Whei I objected to his taking the tea, defendant told me he was boss of the place, that 1 was a b v sweep and crawler, and tint he would kick me and my wife an I family rump and stu np out oi iae place if i gave hi.n anymore cheek. He then struck in : on the nose with his clenched I list, and afterwards knocked nu down. 1 lost a pint of blood from the »ouud he inflicted on my nose. He subsequently struck me several! times. 1 still feel the effects of the assault. 1 give defendant no provocation. 1 only knew defendant as a servant of Mr Joseph Harding.— j Cross-examined by Mr Wilson: I don't believe] defendant is the licensee of the hotel. Mr Joseph Harding told me the defendant was his servant, j I didn't object to defendant coining into the kitchen. —[ only objected to Ids taking the tea. When defendant abused me, before the assault, 1 told him that was not the time noi* the place! for a figlit, but that if he would put it off for a day or two I would hive no objection to oblige j him. I didn't measure the bloo II 1 ist: I made , a rough calculation.—Mrs Horrigan, sworn : I saw Short strike Harding. Doth fell, and 1 then j left the room. Harding's face wis en*-, and there 'was blood upon it.—Wm. 11. .Martin depose 1: Short struck the complainant over M rs Harding's shoulder. Mrs Harding hid a child iu her arms at the time. After Short struck Harding, they went on lighting—squaring up, and s > on. —Tins closed the complainant's case.—Mr Wilson, fori the defence, stated that his client was licensee of the whole house, and as such was responsible for the conduct of the house and every one in it. | The defendant did not <\onv having struck a blow, and he was justified in striking it. The evidence tended to show that the assault was not altogether a one-sided affair, but that it par- ' took of the nature of a light. Vhe infliction of I a small line would, he submitted, amply satisfy ; the ends of justice.—lames Scully, the only witness subpoenaed for the defence, was called, but failed toappiar. —Tiie Bench said the defendant was convicted of the assault, and lined him 41)5., together with lis. (id. costs of Court, and £2 2s, solicitor's fee. Slaughtering License.—The application of Edw. Thompson, Nevis, (renewal), was granted.