RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3381, 20 December 1873, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Saturda' , December 20. (Before A. C, Strode, Esq., R.M.) Remanded Case. Wilbelmina Jane Durie, on mu and, was charged with stealing from the shop of Henry Dodd, draper, George street, a quantity of collars, culls, underclothing, -tc., of the value of L 3 prisoner had been remanded from the previous day, on Mr F. K. Chapman, solicitor to the Female’s Refuge Committee, intimating that she would probably be admitted to that institution, and that he would state the result of bis inquiries ou the following (this) morning. —Mr Chapman now stated that he had spoken to several members of the Committee with regard to her admission, as also to the prisoner, who was perfectly willing to go there. His Worship thought that wln-n anyone pleaded guilty in a case like this the law rremt that some pimi hj meat should be passed. !She would be sentenced to twenty-four hound imprisonment, to be kept apait from the other prisoners, and thence to be rem >ved to the Refuge. Savage Assault. Emmanuel Lyons charged John Galloway with assaulting and beating him at Exeter House, on the 13th iust.—Mr Harris, for the complainant; Mr Stout for the defendant.—Mr Harris said that in this case complainant would not. have brought proceedings against the defendant had it been a mere ordinary assault; but it was one of so brutal a character that it would not be meeting the ends of justice wore it to be overlooked. Mr hyons occupies apartments in a boirding place, known as Exeter Mouse, and a young person named Keates lived with her mother in another part of the house. On last Saturday evening the girl went to Mrs Lyons and said that she wanted to step there, as defendant had gone into their place and refused to leave. She stopped there to supper, and did not leave to go into her own room till 12 o’clock. Sometime before this defendant had left the house, and when he returned a great noise was heard by Lyons in the ro ms occupied by the Keates’s. Mrs Lyons went in there and requested defendant to leave the house, whereupon he called her very bad names. Lyons hearing this then went in and requested defendant to go out, but on his refusing violence had to be used. In the struggle which ensued defendant bit the complainant’s finger. Complainant then picked up a shovel so as to strike defendant, b it was hindered from doing so by the latter wresting it from him. The complainant then gave evidence, bearing out the state ment <>f counsel. He added ; Defendant bu his linger right through to the bone. He had hardly slept or eat since. The only provocation given was his ordering defendant to leave the place.—By Mr Stout; by saying a scuffle he meant that all he did was to defend himself. He never placed his hand in Galloway’s mouth.—Mr Harris wished to call Mrs Lyons, but his Worship ruled that her evidence was inadmissable.—Dr Reimer said he was sent for a few days ago to attend to Lyons’s hand. The finger was completely smashed ; in fact it was in such a bad state that he fear-.d it would have to be amputated. — Mr Stout addressed the Bench, after which the defendant made a statement to the following effect ;—He went to Kxeter House ou the evening in question to see Mrs Keates, which was no rare occurrence, as he went there nightly. (His Worship: L presume you intend to marry Mrs Keates.) Well, that was the true motive.—(Laughter.) He had had a glass or two, and so he lay down on the sofa or a rest. Some time during the night Mrs Lyons went into the room and shook him about, some one saying that it was between twoaud three o’clock in the morning. He then went out, but when he got as far as the foot of the seeps he heard the clock striking one, and as he had neglected to wish Miss Keates “ good night,” he went back to do so. After being there a few minutes, Mrs Lyons came in, and said, li Whit, have you not gone away yet?” A few words took place, and Mrs Lyons went out, her husband coming in a few minutes afterwards. Lyons then made a rush at him without saying a work, a d getting him down, got one baud in his eye, and the other in his mouth, telling his wi'e to get a poker so as to hit him. His Worship considered the defenda- t the primary cause of the quarrel, and that his act was more like that of a wild beast than a man. It was doubtless all owing to • drink, and he advised defendant, as being connected with the railway, never to get drunk again, A. man connected with a railway who got drunk should be dismissed—at least that was his doctrine, and he advised the authorities to carry it out. He would mark his sense of defendant’s conduct by fining him L 3, together with full costs ; in default, fourteeen days’ hard labor.