MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1071, 9 March 1911, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M.) MATTHEW COOPER. TO BE MENTALLY EXAMINED. MEIN" STREET AFFAIR. Matthew Cooper, who had been arrested at his house in Mein Street on Saturday afternoon, after ho had inflicted a razor wound 011 liis throat, appeared, on remand yesterday, charged with:—(l) Attempted suicide on March 4; (2) with assaulting his wife Emily Cooper on March 3. Sub-Inspector Sheehan prosecuted, and Mr. F. V. Kelly appeared for Cooper, who entered a plea of guilty to the first charge. Mr. Kelly suggested that, as the assault was nothing more than a family. squabble, the charge should bo withdrawn. Sub-Inspector Sheehan intimated that the police were unwilling to take such a course. In fact, he was going to ask that Cooper be made to find sureties to keep the peace for 12 months. Evidence was then taken. "I Told a Lie to Shield Him." Emily Cooper, wife of accused, stated that, on March 3, her husband had como home at tea time, and had afterwards gone out. lie came home again at 10 p.m. Witness was then having a cup of broth for supper, and she asked lier husband if ho would have a cup too. For answer he took up her cup, and threw it at her. As he was .also coming towards her, she ran out of the house. She was afraid to live with him. Mr. Kelly: You got along very well with your husband up till the time of the Supreme Court action? Witness: No- I told a lie in the Supreme Court to shield him, thinking that lie would be good to me. In further cross-examination, witness said that no solicitor had approached her before the Supreme Court action. Ho (Mi. Kelly) had not spoken to her in reference to her evidence. Event: of the Evening. Francis Seaifc, labourer, stated that lie resided at 3(1 Mein Street, in the same house as the Coopers. On Friday nigh: lie and Cooper camo home together. There was not much done that niglit. Some cups wero broken, but witness did not know how. Mrs. Cooper ran out, and witness moved towards Cooper, but lie could not say what for. After being pressed by the Sub-Tnspea-tor, witness admitted that he thought that Cooper might do. some injury to his wife.

To Mr. Kelly: The Coopers lived happily together, but they had "words" sometimes. The trouble on Friday night happened over nothing. Witness (lid not ssc Cooper throw auv cup, nnd did not know what Mrs. Cooper ran out for. Siii'-e tho Supreme Court action, Mrs. Cooper had threatened her husband with the police. Elizabeth Scaife, wife of l-'rancis Scaife,. stated in evidence that she and Mrs. Cooper were having supper together when Cooper and .'Scaife came home. When Mrs. Cooper saw her husband she asked if ho would have a cup of broth. Cooper renlied: "Oh, I thought you wero stuffing vour ." He then picked up the c»o and threw it.' Since Cooper had been discharged from gaol he had been "nagging" at his T.'ifc- from morning till night. ! Mr. Kelly: You don't think that there was any necessity for Mrs. Cooper to have run out when she did? Witness: It Was better for her to have gone for Sergeant Mathieson tlnn to wait until she was murdered.

Mrs, Cooper Summons the Police. Sergeant Mathicscn stated that about 10.30 n.m. on the night mentioned in the charge Mrs. Cooper came to the police station. She was" trembling, and on account of what sho said witness visited the house. Cooper had gone, and Scnifo was under the influence of lirjnor. Witness examined the kitchen, and found tho fragments of two cups on tho floor. Scaife gave witness to understand that he did not wish to be mixed uo in tho matter. He declined lo give a statement when asked, but Constable Taylor obtained one from him on the following day. Constable Taylor irave evidence to tho effect tint when he was taking Cooper to tho hosnital on Saturday neensed said: "Here's" tho missus making more trouble by running to the sergeant with her tales, and it's all over a bally, cup of soup." Gaol Surgeon to See Him. Mr. Kelly intimated that he would not put Cooner in tho witness-box. The evidenco showed that the assault was merely tho outcomo of a domestic s<iu?ibblo, and probably the prosecution would not havo been brought "but for the charge of attempted suicide. Counsel was not there to shield his client if tho latter was in tho wrong, but it did appear that tho affair was trivial. If accused were bound over to keep the peace it would mean that ho could not find sureties, and would have to go to gaol for three months. Perhaps it would 1)0 advisable to have accused examined as to his mental coudition. The magistrate remarked that l;o was not prepared to deal with accused then. Sentence would be deferred until Saturday, ana in the meantime accused could bo exanvned by the gaol surgeon. OTHER CASES. Arthur Gifford St. Clair Isbister was charged with theft of a heifer, valued at £S, tho property of Annio O'Shea. Tho offeneo was alleged to have taken place on March 3. Mr. P. W. Jackson, who appeared for the accused, applied for a remand until March 15.. This was granted, bail being allowed in <£50, and two sureties of .625 each. A young man named John Hackett was charged with criminal assault on a girl under the ago of 16 on March 3. Mr. L. J. Eitzgibbon appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supremo Court for trial. Rail was allowed in the sum of A.50 and one surety of .£SO. George, Hurst Moody, who had been found helplessly drunk in one of the city streets, was remanded for a .week lor medical treatment. An old man named James Roy, who was charged with drunkenness, and with procuring liquor during tho currency of a prohibition order, stated that he took the drink as medicine. _ The excuse, however, availed him nothing. He was convicted and discharged for drunkenness, while for breach of tho order lie was fined .£2, in default seven days' imprisonment. A first-offending inebriate (a female), who did not appear, was ordered to forfeit her bail of 10s., oy undergo 21 hours' imprisonment.