RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3694, 24 December 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Thursday, December 24. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness —Hannah Kelly, an o’d offender, was ti ed U, with the option of fourteen days’ imprisonment. Wife utport —Louis de Buisaon waa cla wed, on warrant, with disobeying an order of the Court, bidding him t pay 7a 6d per week towards the support of his wife Defendant, through Mr MTCeav. pleaded inability to pay, having been laid up through illness. He had been in the Hoapi al for°a considerable time.—His Worship sa d that so far as he could see defendant was unwiU m* to do what he could. He had 33s in his pocket when arrested and had not given his wife a single sixpence. He, had behaved very badly to his wife.—Mr M Keay : The jury found the other way.—His Worship : I am not responsible for a jury’s acts, I have no doubt whatever that he has behaved very improperly. The man has persistently and wilfully refused to bis wife any money. —Defendant was ordered to pay up all arrears, with costs, and cautioned that if he -stdl neglected to pay weekly he was liable to be brought up at any moment. Family Quarrels. Wm. Craigie was charge i with assaulting and beating his wife. —Mr f<:. Cook, for defendant, explained that complainant was willing to withdraw the charge.—The case was adj urned ti 1 the second Thursday in January, to enable an arrangement to be come to

The Night ioinse Question.— Fercival Baiker, landlord of the Criterion Hotel, was charged with a breach of the Licensing Act in keeping jffis bouse open after I) pm— Mr Haggitt contended that as the Col nial measure provided no tiffio ‘fop cioging houses. Pf .viuciaHegislation on iffe subject y/as at an end. Xho latter con’d only be preserved where it wag ot in conflict with the Colonial Act. As no time wag prescribed at which the holders of publicans’ licenses should close their premises, there could be no conviction. The omission was a matter that could be remedied by the Provincial Council at its next session.-His Worship reserved judgment.

Ali.f.qed ?(.y Gr,oi;-.seiuni;, —Jap. Hyndman was charged with selling a bottle of ale at Green Island, he being an unlicensed person. As the principal witness George Bethvidge, did not appear this and a second case were adjourned till January 12, Stone-throwing —William Kellen, aged about six year , charged with this offence, was let off with a caution.