Resident Magistrates Court.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 142, 13 October 1880, Page 3

Resident Magistrates Court.

(Before D. H Ma'ckrihur, Esq., J.P., and F. Y. Lethbridge, Esq., J.P.)

Monday, October 11, 1880. A VAG KV- Xr. John Robinson, an 'bid offender,'was charged-with being drtd.k and disorderly on the !)t'h October; he was also further charged ■w'i'th having cbmmttted a breach of the A r agrant Act, by using obscene language Ma public place. Pris'oner'kdmitted I be charge of drunk-enness,-but'was horriiiet! to hear that he had been'charged with 'using obscene language, and •emphatically' denied having committed such an offence.

'Janies Hastie, landlord df the Feildihg Hotel, stated that the prisoner was at ids hotel on the evening o?'Saturday last. lie was ver} 7 drunk when he came in, and witness asked him to go holhe quietly and have a, sleep. Hi?' would 'hot do so, but started abusing witness in a shameful manlier, making use of language he did not care to repeat. Witness then put the prisoner our of the hotel, but he was very violent, and made a savage kick at him.

Prisoner started to cross-examine All Hastie as follows : AY'hat language did J use to you; and didnt you ketch me in the passage once before, and turn me out. The Bench objected to the question, as it had nothing to do with the present case. Prisoner: —AY'eF, I'll''ask him a question. AVould you oe so kind, Air Hastie, to tell the Coort what language I'made use of ? The Bench : Air Hastie has sY,"orn that you made use of the language mentioned in the information. Prisoner:—Well, I" deny it, sir. There was one time he k'etehed mem the passage The Bench :—You. have been told, before that has nothing to do "with tbi present case. Richard Bowler said lie was at tin Fei'ding flote; on the night in question, and heard prisoner make use of obscene language. Mr Hastie asked prisoner to go home quietly, but he refused to do so. The language used was of the most filthy and disgusting description. On hearing this evidence, prisoner tossed up his head and remarked "Dear! dear!" . i

AVitness also staled that prisoner told Hastie that he would see him out of the home in'less than a fortnhcht. Prisoner to witms, : —Wert' you sober your.-* if at the time. AVitness :—Yes, 1 think so. Prisoner:—Are you certain? AVitness : —Ves, J. am. Constable Price stated that he spoke to Bowler just after he arrested prisoner, and he was perfectly sober then. Prisoner, when asked whether he had .anything to say for himself,-made the following statement: -H'as'.tc ! Scotched hold of me, and threw me out like a dog. ">.s for saying I was uneapable, J deny it, for I was'nt uneapable. For I" walked with Mr Price to the poli-T station, and gave him everything I had, and Price can tell you so. -I hope your Worships will take into consideration that I was in the lock-up since last Saturday. Tin Chairman: —Oh, yes. After a few minutes consultation, the Chairman saitl:. —Prisoner, you are an old offender, aim have no claim to be dealt with leniently. This is not the first 'time,'r. >r the tenth lime, that you have been before ? v ie, and 'offier- justices. You will be lined £5, or in default of payment, two. months' imprisonment in Wanganui gift: I. ... Prisoner:—(putting his hand to "his ear), Mow long, sir ? The Chairman :—-Two months.

John then made a polite bow to the Bench, and retired in company with Constable Price.

Tuesday, October 12, ISSO. (Before F. Y. Lethbridge, Esq., J.P.) malicious injury to property. Eugene Leleive was charged that lie. did on the Dili'day of October last, wilfully and maliciously do damage to a certain house, to the extent of ■ 255., the property of D. 1.1. Macarthur, by painting the wall and window sills thereof with green paint, contrary to section 52 of the "Malicious Injuries to Property Act. 1867." Accused, when asked to plead, said, '•'Not guilty." Mr Prior, Who appeared for the accused, applied for a remand until the liext sitting of the Court on Friday week. Constable Price said the police did not object to a remand. The case was accordingly remanded. Pail was allowed in himself for "£SO, and two sureties for £-50 each. Accused was also charged with committing a similar offence upon a building, the property of one George Capper,'the damage being assessed at 80s. Accused pleaded "Not guilty." -This case was also remanded on the application of Mr Prior. .Mr Prior asked whether one bondsman would be sufficient. The accused was a foreigner, and knew very feM T people in town, and if he could not procure a second bondsman, he would be compelled to remain in gaol ten days, lie (Mr Prior) knew that Mr Whisker, his employer, would become one surety, hut ho might have some difficulty in procuring another. The magistrate said that as the case was a serious one, and as the amount of bail had already been fixed, he did not feel inclined to alter his decision. Mr Prior: —Then that is 'all I have ■to say, youi Worship. . The CoUrt then adjourned.