RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4282, 16 November 1876, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Thursday, November 16. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.)

John Robert James v. William Strachan. —Claim, L 25, for damage to a cab, &c. Mr F. Chapman for plaintiff; Mr. Stout for defendant. This case was partly heard on Tuesday last, and arose out of a collision which occurred between a lorry, the property of defendant, and plaintiff’s cab. Today, Messrs Harris and Pinkerton were re-ex-amined, but their evidence contained beyond that elicited previously.—His Woi> ship said that, after a careful consideration of the evidence, and having visited the scene of the occurrence, he was of opinion that plaintiff was much to blame in the matter, and that no negligence had been proved on the part of the driver of the lorry.—Mr Chapman intimated his willingness to accept a non-suit, which was granted. Thomas Dodson v. James Nesbitt.—Claim, L 29 6s 6d, for rent of billiard-room, &c.— Judgment by default for plaintiff for amount claimed with costs.

F. Porter v. J. White.—Claim, L 8 10s, for a saddle,—Judgment for plaintiff by default for amount claimed with costs.

J. Goodison v, A. Reid.—Claim, L 25 Os 6d, for damage alleged to have been sustained by the neglect of defendant when in charge of some cattle. Mr G, Cook for plaintiff; Mr Bathgate for defendant. - The plaintiff stated that he made arrangements for six cows, three heifers, and a calf of his to graze in Reid’s paddock at Chain Hills; and that some little time afterwards, through the bad state of the paddock fences, some of the animals got out and were impounded at South Dunedin, thereby entailing on him considerable expense, besides losing in value through want of attention.—John Reekie, who helped to paddock the cattle, said that the fences -were in a bad condition, and the feed not first-class.—James Barr, p mndkeeper at South Dunedin, proved the impounding of the cattle, and said they were worth from Ll2 to Ll6 per head. [Left sitting,]

- 'f>T i f; I THURSDAY, IS eVKMBRK IG. ! (Before J. Logan, Esq., and T. Black. Esq., J.P.’s.) Drunkenness.— -The following persons, charged with this offence, were Si fined ss| in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment *; —John Gourlay, William Litterick, John Bowie, Margaret M'Lauchliu, and William Glory. Vagrancy. —Mary Bartlett was charged on remand with having no lawful means ef support.—-The principal evidence was given by Detective Henderson, who said that he had frequently visited a brothel where the accused lived, and fonnd a number of Chinese there.—Prisoner, who denied that she cohabited with Celestials, was sent to gaol for three months. A Heartless Parent. —John Strain, nine years old, was brought before the Court charged with being a neglected child.—lt appeared that the boy had been cruelly beaten by his father, and turned out into the streets at one o’clock in the morning, because he refused to go for beer. The father was an habitual drunkard, and it was stated by the police was guilty of inhuman •behaviour.—-The lad, who appeared to he an intelligent little fellow, was committed to the Industrial School for six years, and ordered to be brought up in the Presbyterian form of religion. Impudent Theft.— Dugald MThereon, sailor, was charged with stealing a gold locket and chain, of the value of 20s, the property of Wm.Tuate. Prisoner pleaded guilty. —lnspector Mallard stated that prosecutor gave prisoner a night’s lodging, and prisoner by way of recompense abnsed the confidence of the good Samaritan by stealing his locket. —He was sent to gaol for three months.

Stealing Sugar.— Christian Petersen was charged, _ on the information of Detective Bain, with stealing 41 lbs of sugar, of the value of 20s.—Prisoner was a sailor on the barque Katherine, from Port Louis, which recently arrived here with a cargo of sugar from Port Louis consigned to Neui and Co. It was found on delivery that several bags had been tampered with. Detective Bain met prisoner carrying a bag containing sugar shortly before midnight yesterday, and accosted him, whereupon he admitted having done wrong.—He was sent to gaol for one month.

Brutal Assault. —John Wilkes charged Charles Johnston with assaulting and beating him on November 13. Complainant bore substantial marks of the violence to which he had been subjected in the shape of a couple of highly-colored blackened eyes. Mr E. Cook appeared for complainant; Mr Lewis for defendant.—Complainant stated that he was in the shop of Mr Doodeward, tobacconist, Stafford street, on the day in question, when defendant seized him by the throat, dragged him out of the shop, and inflicted the injuries on his face which were now apparent. The assault was committed without provocation. The parties had been acquainted with each other, and for some time there had been an unpleasant feeling between them.—Abraham Doodeward, tobacconist, gave corroborative evidence.—Mr Lewis; Are you well acquainted with the complainant ?—Witness ; He comes into the shop and purchases tobacco.—Mr Lewis ; Is he a good customer?— Witness (dryly): Well, he smokes two plugs a week.— (Laughter.)— Thomas Nicholson also deposed that Wilkes was pulled out of the shop into the street by Johnston without provocation. The witness deposed that defendant knocked complainant on to the broad of his back on the pavement, and struck him every time he attempted to get up. He characterised defendant’s conduct as one of the most dastardly pieces of cowardice he had witnessed. —Mr Lewis having addressed the Court, called the defendant, who stated that he went Christchurch Races about a fortnight ago, and while away complainant, his son, the latter’s wife, and another, went to his house and made untrue statements concerning him. Witness, on seeing Wilkes on Monday in Doodeward’s shop, asked him far an explanation, whereupon the latter assaulted him with a stick. They then had a stand-up fight. Witness was the owner of the racehorse Sultan and of a cab.— The Bench considered that the witnesses for the prosecution had agreed in every particular, and that a most unprovoked assault had been committed. There was not the slightest provocation, and under the circumstances a fine would not be sufficient. Defendant would be sentenced to one calendar month’s imprisonment, with hard labor, besides being bound over to keep the peaceforthreemonths in his own recognisance of L2O, and two sureties of LlO each.

■Before J. Logan, Esq., and J. Griffen, Esq., J.P’s.)

Alleged Arson. —Andrew Grainger was charged, on remand, with setting fire to some stacks of wood, his property, ai Portobello, on October 24. Mr Denniston defended.—The case had not concluded at four o’clock.