MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 18, 20 June 1874, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURGH. Saturday, June 15. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. George Ogilvie, arrested by Constable Beck for this offence, was fined 203 or 48 hours. George Browning, arrested by Constable Lamb for drunkenness, was also charged with violently resisting the police in the execution of their duty, and both offences having been proved, he wai fined 20s or 48 hours. VIOLENT ASSAULT. S. S. Brighting was charged on summons with having violently assaulted his W' f e, Mary A. Brighting. Mrs Blighting stated that on Tuesday last her husband came in tipsy. She told him he was spending money which he should have kept to pay his way. He then fastened the door and said he would finish her, used very bad language, and took up * chair and made an attempt to strike her. She moved her head and the chair siruck her on the

side of the head which made the blood gush our. He then made a second blow at her, and if it had struck her it must have killed her on the spot. She then ran out and saw a policeman who observed the blood on her face. She was in bodily fear of her husband, and he was constantly in the habit of throwing pans, knives and candlesticks at her. A son of this witness gave similar evidence, and stated that nearly every night his father came home drunk and maltreated his mother. His father had threatened to kill his mother several times. This evidence was also corroborated by a second son. The defendant said that this case had been got up to get him out of the house, as his wife had said that she would like to dance on his grave. His wife possessed a very violent temper. Defendant called Mr Olliver, who stated thai he lived next door to defendant for some time at Ljttelton. Ho knew that Mrs Brighting had a very violent temper, and he remembered on one occasion "she ran at her husband with an open knife. She then took him before Dr Donald who dismissed the case. He (w itness) knew that Mrs Brighting used to follow her husband about and annoy him, and while doing so neglected hei children. Mrs Brighting, re-called by his Worship, stated that Bhe had been a good mother to the girl who had been sent to the Industrial School, but her husband would not allow her to coirect the child, and took her away and put her in lodgings. Defendant—l placed her in a situation, your Worship, where she got 5s a week. I used to correct her myself, bat my wife drank brandy by the bushel. Mr Price, called by the complainant, stated that he had often visited the defendant's house, and he never saw Mrs Brighting the worse for drink. He believed the cause of all this was the conduct of the defendant, who sometime compelled his wife to sloep in the stable. Defendant —That was her own fault. She locked me out the other night, and I was compelled to sleep in Hagley Park. His Worship said this was a serious case, and he should like to have more evidence before giving a decision. He would adjourn the case until Tuesday next for the production of further evidence.