RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3762, 15 March 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MA GIST RA TE'S COURT PORT CHALMERS.

Monday, March 15. (Before T. A. Mamford, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenne's William Erskin, sailmaker of the ship Gareloch, was fined 10a or twenty-four hours. Vagrancy.— Richard Barrett, for being on board the ship Matura without leave on the 13th inst. was sentenced to seven days’ hard labor. Assault with Intent.— Thomas Griffin Green was charged with assaulting one Samson Deeley with intent to commit a felony. From the evidence of the prosecutor, who described himself as a stone merchant, and arrived by the Mallowdale, it appeared he landed on Wednesday, and in the evening went to the Provincial Hotel in search of accommodation. In the bar of the hotel be met the prisoner, who volunteered to take him to where he could get a bed. They left together, and in turning down some entry on bis left hand, and when about three parts of the way across to the other street, prisoner tried to trip him up by kicking him on the right knee. With his left hand he grabbed at witness’s watch, and got the knuckles of his right against h’s (witness's) throat. Prisoner succeeded in getting the watch out of the pocket of witness, who caught hold of hia hand, twisted his wrist, and regained possession of the watch, at which prisoner made another grab, but unsuccessfully. Witness cried out “ You arc trying to rob me.” A second time prisoner tried to throttle him, and tripped him but in the fall be (witness) pulled prisoner down with him. After they were on the ground a few minutes prisoner got up and witness did not see him again until in custody. Witness was the worse of liquor when he left the hotel.—John M*Dougal, baker, deposed to seeing prisoner leading Deely down the right-of-way between the hotel and Ritchie’s babry, and Nicholas Smith to hearing a voice, apparently in a smothered tone, calling out “Police,” “ I am robbed.” The voice came from nearly opposite where witness was standing in the rear of Mrs Ritchie’s shop. Smith continued hia evidence as follows; I went across the street, and upon reaching the opposite footpath, I stood and looked down a bank, but saw nothing. I htard a scuffling noise, and went down the bank, when 1 saw two men lying on the ground in a so>t of hole. Prisoner, on seeing mo, got up a-. 1 went away towards the righto%way at the rear of Dodson’s hotel. The pros outer al.°o wot up and t- aid he had beep

son r caag‘*s» icni •-•-Mil ’mum 'way tip the right-of-way at the end of the hotel. 1 told him the other mau said he had been

robbed, whereupon he got hold of the Most of his trousers, and said “ Pshaw, he toas not robbed.” I got hold of the prisoner and said “You will have to come back.” On my return with the prisonerto the spotwhere the man was lying on the ground, I saw Sergeant Neil. I noticed the prosecutor had a chain in his right hand, and a watch hanging from it. By the Banch : I had hot recognised the prisoner before I lost sight of him. The first time I recognise I him was when I followed him up and (took him He might have been out of my sight about half a minute. The night was rather dark. By the prisoner: You did not refuse to come with me. You did not show any appearance of guilt.” Corroborative evidence was given by Nicholas Smith, and prisoner was committed for trial.