RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3529, 15 June 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT PORT CHALMERS.

Monday, June 15. (Before Captain Thomson and Dr Drysdale. J.P.’s) ’ Abusive Lanquag-e.— James Holden was charged with using insulting language and attempting to strike Edmund Stevens, on the Ilth instant, and pleaded not guilty. Edmund, Stevens stated that on going home ta dinner on last Thursday his wife complained to him that the d-fendant’s wife had been throwing mud at her clothes, which were on the line, and likewise calling her names. When witness went to speak to her she commenced to abuse him, and pul.ed down some of the fence. The defendant then came out, called him abusive names, and challenged him to fight, attempting to strike him. —Mrs Stevens also gave corroborative evidence.—The defendant stated that the complainant had put gp the fence to annoy lum, the fence being 6n a public rqa«£ He also denied haying attempted to strike the complainant, But said the defendant would have struck him if Mrs SteVens had not pulled her husband back.—Mary Holden was then charged by Edmund Stevens with using insulting language and threatening to take his life, he wishing her to be bound over to keep the peace. He stated that when he was speaking to the defendant, at the tioie she was pulling down the fence, she told the children to go into the house and get her the axe, so that she could split witness’s skull open, and then commenced to throw dishes and other things at him. Ho was afraid she would do him somO" serious injury, as'‘she was adictpd to' drink. - The accused denied the whole of the evidence stating that witness had called her names. —There was a cross action, Holden charging Stevens with using threatening and indecent language—After hearing all the evidence, their Worships dismissed the several charges, considering it a mere neighbors’ quarrel.