GREY MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 November 1901, Page 2

GREY MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Monday, November 25th. (Before R. S. Hawkins, Esq., S. M.) Thibet. J. Horne was charged with stealing a vase the value of 3/- from the shop of Lui Goek. Accused pleaded “guilty” Fined T 3 and costs. Prohibition Order. An application for a prohibition order against it. Porteous was granted. Breach of Bye-laws. Mr Kane v J. W. Easson charged with allowing three horses to wander in Tainui Street. Fined 5/- and costs. Threatening Language. J. Joyce charged G. Atliey with using threatening language. Mr Hannan for informant and Mr Wake for defendant. J. Joyce gave evidence that Athey removed some iron from tho brewery and he informed the directors. A barrow which belonged to him was used for carting bottles. One morning it was neat the brewery door and he put it in the shed. Mr Athey did not come out when he took it away. After it was in the shed Athey came out and used the language complained of. Did not use insulting language to defendant. Athey complained to Kettle about a month after the occurrence.

J. McCormick was near the brewery when the altercation took place. He saw Joyce wheeling the barrow to a shed on the river side of the road. No one else was on the road. He saw Atbey come out and use the language complained of. Joyce said “If you strike me, I’ll choke you.” Athey turned round and went into the brewery. Joyce said “you are ruining the brewery,’’ to which Athey replied “I know that and intend to.” Joyce did not say “You are making a pigsty of my brewery” oi “You fed your pigs on the Company's malt.” He went to the brewery in the afternoon. It all depended upon the humour the brewer was in if he got a glass. He had not seeriMoyoe about the case.

For the defence G. W. Athy said that he saw Joyce wheel the barrow into the shed. He complained to the dirootors ■ and was ordered to get it back again. It was got back, and while he was talking to a man Joyce came and took it back to the , shed. He went out and told Joyce td~t leave it alone. Thereupon Joyce used intuiting language. Joyce went away to his cow shed, but returned in about twenty minutes. .Ho was standing at the door and Joyce said “You robber, your spoiling the beer.” He had had unpleasantness with Mr Joyce before. A plug came out aud Joyce came in and turned the steam off. Since then Joyce had been meddling about the brewery. Ho complained to Kettle. He saw M‘Oormick, the last witness, come in the brewery. Witness ordered him out. M'Cormick was sitting at Joyce’s cow shed, but he could not possibly hoar what was said. He never put his fist at Joyce’s head. Never used any language comlaiacd of. He did ring Hannan up in regard to the case but did not proceed any further in the matter. He rang Kettle up about half an hour afterwards, who said “ Throw him out if he comes back again” He (Joyce) has not been in the brewery since the altercation. H. Rodgers stated that he took a sheet of iron off the brewery and put it on Mr. Athey’s house. Same night he put his tools in at the brewery and met Kettle, and Athey who he explained the circumstances to. Ho saw the altercation be* tween Joyce and Athey. Ho corroborated Athey’s statement in regard to the occurrence. Both were very excited. He never saw M’Cormick this day. He never heard Athey use the language complained of. He did not hear the first altercation.

W. R. Kettle said he had complaints from Athey about the interference of loyce. Athey rung up one day, that Joyce was interfering, and witness replied 11 Chuck him out” A letter was sent to Joyce in regard to the barrow also if he had any complaints to mako them to the directors. The Magistrate dismissed the case with costs, DEBT OASES. The Kaipai Gold Dredging Co. v. L. Costigan. Claim for £lO. Adjourned. Black and Brown v. the Teremakau Gold Dredging Company, Claim for £165 5s 8d on contract. Adjourned. E. Stratford v, L. Cleveland. Claim for £1 11s 91 for goods supplied. Mr Wake for plaintiff and Mr Hannan for defendant. Non-suited with costs. OLD AGE PENSIONS. A number of Old Age Pensions were granted.