LAW REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 510, 18 May 1909, Page 9

LAW REPORTS.

; vSUPREME;cqURT. : y : '\ : . ' '■>'} EOT "WORDS; A STRuGGtE,,AND, A-■ : ; : .' ■; '•: " IS;SELF-DEFENCE? ■./ , : , ;;;;., Robert Seeds, a,middle-aged man, was , tried ..before Mr., Justice Chapman'"and!.a' jury' yes;V:t6rday';on;a;: chargo of having, on April 21, !assaulted John M'Kinnon i with intent to do '.: him actual.bodily harm, and under such cir- ; 'Jcumstancca.iliat,.if death' had occurred, h«- ': would/have been guilty of manslaughter'/.,' ' ■ ;.; . "if plea '.of not. guilty was made- ,by tho accused; 1 who was defended by Mr. Tbogoodl. :' ■:.;;.trosccutorj. who is a.labourer, ;stawd that,'- - on ; tho,date:iii^question^.hp'and the.accusocl '.were/; residing:' at a ..'boarding-bouse in Clyde '-.Quay.:, 'I'hey.iiad.had,;a dispute on the day -.: ■previousjto the. occurrence. Next .day, when V.he;went to his room, ho found in it a bottle, ■■•containirig spmo!.beer, .which.ho-throw, dowii- •'; Btaira.:'. I'lienvhe'said to the landlady: '."I ...Biiprjosei Seeds.liae been in my r00m."./At :.;.,that;moment,"'':accused, who had coma out'of: :: an':adjacent, room,' struck . him 'in; ithe ■eye.- ;. ; Among/other-things,; accused isaid-Hhat/ ha: ;;■ would "do" for him . before," the "night was ': : -6vsr.j.:' : \ Ho .(prosecutor)-had been drinking ; that day; acousetl was fairly sober. : Upon his. .'■return from the- polico station, where he'made ;/a (complaint, he heard the landlady say that ; r if accused,were- not' quiet she :woulu turn.him ,out. : '.'Just'then■ho (prosecutor) . interjected: : :":, "The police.will he here 'in a moment."' ' Ac-, 'cused then'struck "him on the head four times !. .with .'a .bottle,-:,.■ Within.a' minute or two, tho. -.';, constable,* who:, had conie;on. tho scene, ar-: ; ; TeSted -accußcd,' arid/, sent 'for a doctor,' who' ?■■' ordered• him; (prosecutor): toi be removed to :. ;.' and:'dressed.'. ■'": ' :;/' ■;- ; -\j.'''';: i ';:,--; ; --.'■• ,;, .- ■'.;, '■■ :'. ;•:,i;Dr. ■■;-Fost'br;:'; : de^ed'V;that'. : .'pr()secv'tor^-"hacl' ; four wounds on the head in.which'it was no- ;: ceesaryvto: place \i\ '■ iill, nine;: stitches..:.-'. '■■[ •■;';: : with::, whom.-:.the'-,parties boarded, gave evidence as to hearing accused if prosecutor, was looking for trouble he, was;; the/one' who -icb'uld give it to him. > During the .struggle she heard prosecutor call ./ out'; that accused;. : had. struck, him with: : a ■..^bottle; : > : .;;:'£^.v , :?-:™:jS;;'." 1 ■■;•> :^,: ■'">■;■ '';■ ; ' ■■ ■!i'lp v idence; was V/also'/;given■ :".by'.Constable'-":-«r '■<;-;!». - % i'v,»:•:■■■ ■ -l.rAccused^Con.oath);stated'that'prosecutor■ ,Tras the> aggressor -inVtho" quarrel'.. ;■ In the ■■■i tussle: prosecutor's -head etruck a wall;. also ':.,&':• bench; stoutly .denied haying: ij struck.jprosecutor .with a bottle. , ';:\; . : ., : . ■; : ,-'His'.Honour, in .summing :up,,-;said that if ; : ;*ne;.man'hit another^that other : the assault';by-- hitting"bsck./oi , ' he' :--vraight.;Me'«:whitV.wo^d''<)thenriee'-.be'- , !offen> , ' ; -sive; measures' purely ■'.with- ia - 'defensive v pb-' ;;/ject.::But, another, "and >;the : othor .found' himself:]ustified-'in''hitting ■:back, .he. must-.use reasonable ' IV /would never do if one'manj'struck by alight ;Wovr;,could;reply,with a mnfderqus,blow;::■."i , :.;>; The jury,v.whicli":-'Tetired-'atvß.-o,clpok'|"re-'>i 3.4o;with .a;:'rerdict;;of Vguilty;of, ;.;Cpinm6nj'assault .under strong provocation; "'• ■./;:\:Senten6e'fiipbn'.the^prißoneri.i'was.--'deflrred..-'-:r ;: '; 'K CRBUNAtASSATILT. / ; : : "■ : # ::Charles Buchanan, a;youhg man:.was then indicted for .that he .did, on April 12, commit ■ : a:, criminal assault bn ; a girl , aged ■-fourteen years. v : Mr.:- TOlford :appeared;on:beha]f of the.accused,'who .pleaded not; guilty. ::.,:■: •/-The case for the defence had' not concluded :;:when;theCpurt..adjounied untilthis morning..

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Kiddoll, S.M) *

ALLEGED STREET BETTING.

FIRST CASE OF ITS KIND HERE.

firsti;pros?oution : locally' for atfeefbot' kng, -under;, the'-.iiew Act, wae brought day,-when.,Wm.. Henry,, Eager 'pleaded -not,euilty;to a charge:.that,he was in VVillis Street .on.April 29'.for;tiie; purpose of ;hotting. :'■.->.( Chief' Detective. Broberg conducted the ease" for;, the prosecution,'- and Mr. J. ";j.:-.M'Grath'-appeared;for the. -. " : . -c-

■,M .; .Beteotive -Cassells deposed': that he ,was on ■ •■;■;■ duty/..in.-Willis Street.on ike morning of April ;■:;: 29,;and; : took i up';avpbsitibn. in ■><■'. looking the front;of thovEmpire Hotel. : Witness ..':> saw ; defendant .in front of ,:the■ uotel, : -andUat ;":vabontl2.lo, / noticed; a , man go up .'tohim.nnd3 ! :-i;hand;hiin.something which-witness took' to be' ;; /A'nioney.;;-A.couple; of;minutes-later witness eaw ;]f defendant hand a:man'-a race-card;'v. : At-12.34,a "',' V. man '.'went ■ pp., to.' def endint; V who - took ' out a .;■■;book;andtmade;a'noto iniit.*;-Witness also saw threo others consulting a'race» ,;v; caret: in' : front> of'; the; hotel:. ;V ;... ;,Boguently left'the men; and^-.went into the door-. ;■■■■: -way^of-ythe-hptol. \:\ At; 2.55 :defendanl/and an-' !:,.;■-' Dther-'porsonwere esaminingVa Tace-oardin the V:-; porch ■of the ■nOtel,; and,'; at-3.5, defendant: and ;■: .two;'other men'; wore seen': examining.;n?'racef'Vcatd.outside the door.; of-the hbtel.-.'Defendaiit: ;:.:.-'d , left\ i the^ptherviM4^Jvent^into'-.-:tKe\- : (loorw.ay -■.': : :\df..the hotel, taking something out-of his pocket :;:;;■ as;: he wen^in.-. .A'similor-'proceduroj.was fol- ■- -flowed-at-3.12. .'Defendant came but with', the l '-<(iiid* : y'alked.>'-up'rtbeV.'etreet'' ', /'Witness.-. further ''movements.' of '.defen- :■; ;/dant"up : to /3 J 2o;p.m^;^'. , ■',)•;.). ■■.•■:;■ '■'.■':.}. .'.■.-"'•:.'■.;'■>'■:.": ■'; ■ '■■':■ Cross-examined ;.' by Mr.■'--'■ M'Gratly'-witness -.■/•.taidJthatheTwas-in.a.room on the; third-floor. '.;;; of.the ; look right .down ','- ''onrldefendant.'.JHe. .ivould -be .20 or'2s-yards '■• : /away.■'. Witness' did;iiotvkriow..that '-defendant ■'";;::< was; taking-.eubserlptiohs in aid-of "a. fund to in; trouble. ■; :Witness r ■-.-■Vf-: , :k4iwrßom , e.--ot-.',tlie^"m<!n"'h'evnoticed- , f\nth'v-ac--7 i^^-te:^:-'^-^^^^^-'•'.■;• ;-.-.,;:.:.'■/; .-■ '^■^"yjlK'.'M'Grathiv'fTon.'.have -.'brought none" of ■' : :'.'.V.tßra:;pßbpl» ! ■■.;"-'-th'elh\ wdlf".'.'.'; ,, -;- ''■■!;■■'- : . : ',.- : - ■;■■:■" '■':!*-■:<■'■'!■< '-'■' /'/' That's, wh^l/didn't , bring r> l :■,.-' ft J,a3.:-,.Walden', racecourso';detective,' gave T evi-' ,; denes"■ that defendant-was a bookmaker. The . ;; ;vpalmerston races'were held on the day the in- .'■'■' '■■■ formation: wns' : laid. against ..defendant.- ■'.;.-, ~,:.;':':Mr.:M'Gratn • pointed out; that tho offence -was '. ■;. a ; highly -penal -one,; the 'minimum fine ■ for a -;;-.'■.-:first v offence being £?0 arid: ; tho maximum fine / :ieiOO.:. : .ln; ] acase :i of:tho kind;tho.police.should V; :,prove';.their;.:charge/-,beyond /any. question of ,i.' : . donbt. - : Defendant arid' some ottes had made ; minds' to- raise '-subscriptions 'for, the :--.'•' /defence of a jockey in'tronble. ;Defendant.ad-. /-;..inittsd(having- been; in; Willis,.Street,.on .the ; -rdayj'in, question, and'talkingwlth amiimber of: ■.../■people,? getting i.subsci'iptions'on':. , : the; .list -He-was riot although '■'; ■.-'■ he:-'had:acted-asra "clerk to , 'a- bookmaker. : -: v> Wm.'/Hy."Eager, billiard saloon-keeper, stated. ': :; ..-that : .he:;was-in::Willis;Street;-on the day re-' ' :ferred 'to. by./Detective ; .Cassells, 'but he ; mado : ;... .no.'bets,: although; r he had received severaj sub-; ' .6criptions towardo'a , fund' todefend:'a:jockey. :.:';whq-.was in .trouble.': Ho had made entries-of ■;' the ■ collected'in -a .book produced; > ■T6',the,ChiefDetective': : .Witnbss was in .part. .:'•'.; : Bership /B'ith a man -named Scoonos, oiid-did .the; - Ho ; had "used ; ■■■>! the/bag at jliramar, races opce, owing to tho ■'■.''' "man- he had .been working '-with;.having. a cold., ■:■■..vi\"iHis-'.-<Wprshjp, saidvllip? case (was;;a ; /hjghly .-'V penal one,' and N the evidence should bo.carefully. '■■■' :nnalysed; 'before' a decision, was' giyen/'Dccision' ::- vfould: be're'served; , until this, morning. ':•: ;;;■•:, :■■■■' .'■' .: Two',:'similar; charges' aghinst -W ; m; r Ham and; :- one : ajrainst ■ Jas"Ham 'were"adjourned to May : .; :-. : ' : 2i;'''deferidanti:Wm'.;~Ham';tq-.-payycosts : .l2s. , - ; . :-,'-; ■~:''f'-yi:-': : ^": i ''\:.-: : r,:- .-.■-.,;-.-'-'' ; ;:^'-'- i ■•■' : : : . -; : ' ; ;'-■ -■ ; %, .'': v ;§jie : scandal:: . ■■■ >■. -A-: CASES-FUimiER ADJOURNED. : ;i; : / : ; ../...- Attracted by.tho.pros : pect of seeing'two police >/ -constables;on , the "defensive, it large crowd.gath■ered/toUiear.tho■ evidence in the case of John \ ./Edward'/Watson, and: Win. : Joseph Gardiner, V ■ on May 10, at 'Welling- •',.;•.'■ torii unlawfully'assaulted bne-Wiri'./Rolfe.', Tho ,-:.Banie;.twq'defendants-were' also ito : be-nharged -.: -: with having unlawfully assaulted one .Florence -.-, ■„;. Beatrice '■ Eolft, ■".;:-,■.,' : ' ; -,-,- ... . .-■' ■:-. .; ' ..-'Whea;ithe.'gases' wore -mentioned,- Inspector ;-;Ellison ;iisted/for.a:;further adjournment.' .He ' f - had received a.oomnHinication'from Dr. Elliott ...-■ ■;,- t'hat.mprniiigistating/that-Mrs, itolfo was un--■".-':.«lDla to' stand at present,:but it was anticipated ;.: ./that'she _wonld;.bo able-to Appear in a week'.../. - r ';An .'adjournment to; Saturday mornirig. was ...;■ granted.'-Tlie'eyidence of the two witnesses off '■ .--.';■ the steamer Kaipara .will then be taken, and a 1 further; adjournment n\ay then be asked for. ,;;;; ~ ';Mr.' Wilford appenrfd 'for -/defendants, ■ and ;v Herdmanri; for \~; ■;:'■'■■:■■}. -;/ ..

A.SEEIES..OI?. THEFTS!

.■ ,SENT-:Tp ; GAOi.;::,' ■'A' , -young woman, named Mabel Leo, pleaded guilty:(l). to';'having,'on :April;;26, : obtained of and iroin; one,, Mary Tier- board to the value' of :/I6s;,' with intent to defraud; (2) to having, oa Mar 1, received the sum of 10a. in monoy

from Mary Tier on terms requiring her to account for,the same; and (3) to having, on Maj 8, stolen a- purse and. £2 153. in money, the property of llary. Tier. .:; '■'■■■ " . ''.. Chjcf Detective Broberg, in outlining the foots of the oases, stated that ncoused went to complainant's house,. and obtained' board by representing that- sho was in receipt of 255. a /week from her:husband, through.a- solicitor in town. After accused had been in the house for a day or two complainant gavp her 10s. with which .-to. get a postal note. After threo days' absence defendant.returned, and said that-she hod given the note to another girl to tako to the houso. After sho roturned accused took tho purso and loft the house. Sho had been, beforo the. Court at Nelson for theft, and for fulsb pretences on : tiro; occasions • His Worship entered a conviction and sentenoi) of hyp months'' imprisonment on each charge,:tho sentences to. run concurrently.

: MONEYLESS,, FRIENDLESS, HOMELESS. "Hβ was found sleeping on tho coalhulk Enterprise at the Queen s .Wharf,- and admitted that no had no money, no friends, and no homo," remarked 'Sub-Inspector Phair, refer-, ring to w burly seafarirtg man named Win. Clifton Mattoolts, charged with being a rojue and vagabond within tho meaning of the Police Oft'oncos Act, 1908, in that -lie was found bj night, ■"■ withont lawful excuse on- tho coalhulk Entorpriso'at the Queon's Wharf." . -Defendant, who explained that he had had the' misfortune to loso' his ship,. was convicted and "ordered to come.up for sentence when called on. :.:.::'.. . '■■}■:.'"'■''.'■, : , ',■. ". a BEAWL ;on ;the cobar; , • . : Michael I Elwßrd nnd Wm. Hethcrinßton pleaded guilty to usihff threatening , behaviour on the steamer'' Cobar, whereby a breach of the s peac« was occasioned. It appeared, that tho tivo men had a fight on the Cobar on the way. from Wellington to' Day's Bay on May 8, and the caso was brought as a warning;, as complaints had Been receive'd about misbehaviour on-tho Day's Bay boats. , ■ Defendants wore, each convicted and fined 203. , and costs os., 6d., in default seven days' ira.prisonintlnt.: : v , -■ ; ■:■'•■" " ;\ ■'■• Vt?UBIOUS DEIVING. ■"," ' .' James Eeid and Allen'Smith were fined 20s. and .costs 13s. for furious'driving in WillisStreet., Defendant Reid was.als6 ordered to : pay. costs. 9s. for driving "(i vehicle - ;vrithout a light,.between sunset and sunrise./..;■■... : .. ''■ : ';": : ;> ~: , ;.", ';: : f''.', ; ' '" Frank Harrison -was convicted and: sentenced to one month's ilnprisonmentfcr disobeying an order ..to, pay -his ;wifo 20s. ,;per' week (arrears J!10). ; An order was made'that, warrant be suspended: if, the amount'is .paid before May •24. t -;-^---.;.:-. : ,/..; ! - ; -\., :-;a.' ■■_.:.,:■:-;.: ..;;,'; '■'■■■ John Walsh,' who failed to appear -in\ answei • to'a charge of disobeying an order'to pay 7s. Od. 'per week towards the support of.'his'illegi. timatp child (arrears :£l-. is),hm& i.eorivicted and-order. to, pay costs 10s. 6d.."., '.'.''- ; ; . -i ; ": : sijMMARY SEPAEATIOnJ,. .'"■;.'"■■', .' Reserved decision" .was >- given': by Dr. A. H'Arthur, 5.11./.in an application for summary '■ separation, Anna E. Brogan (Mr. Fair) v. Francis James Brogan (Mr. Ayson). Applicantcom.plained..that defendant had be«n guilty of wil;iul,;neglect ,to provide roasonablo , , maintenance . for ' her: or : her .infant children, . and r prayed that, the,' Court 1 would; decree and order:—(l) That she be no longer bound to cohabit with Jiim;,:(2)' that tho legal pustody of the- threo children bo committed to', the applicant. Counsel for did not call him, but contended that'.-. tho failure to provide reasonable maintenance'was not. a continuing offence, and that thoro was no 'evidence of wilful neglect. ■Hjs'.Worship said that he was in entire accord with the 'judgment ; of.,Mr. Hutchinson in Wilson v. Wilson (Magistrate's Court Reports, 1907, pago'-C). In that case the Magistrate-had gathered'.together .-all. that''need'by said on.the subject.':"After referring to authorities quoted,' his .Worship; said : that ho considered that the evidencp..showed that ..defendant had' wilfully neglected • to .' provide'; reasonable' maintenance fori.the '.complainant; and' her :children. The brder.Vwpuldi.be'granted'. as prayed. No costs ; i . . : ' ■y : f VA ..■'-■: : - ,; ''; ...•"■ ■ i ! .R6bertM'Kay;pleaded not guilty to.a charge of .disorderly .cinduct'in' Farish Street, whilst drunkryOn the' , application" of Mr. P.' W. Jack-' soni defendant' Was remanded to Friday, bail .being allowed in a deposit of £o. : - ■ i.-r.Baeil Gordon M'llwain ppeaared on. rpmand : for Sentence, on a charge of having, on May.■ H, Wellington, i.cpmmitted: theft of timber, :valued.at.ss.," v the property of F.' : Hunt.and JpnnM'Doriald. A conviction and fine of 205., in- default' seven. days' imprisonmont ■' wore entered., Mr. Meredith appeared for accused. :'i Emma ; .Wright,.:cha;rged with insobriety, was convicted,and fined,2os., in default seven days' imprisonment.. f Norman Campbell, similarly charged, was. convicted and .fined 10s., in dejault'.j&. hours' imprisonment; One first offender wagrconvlctett and discharged. .-'-.■' .