MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 65, 15 August 1874, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday, August 15. [Before O. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.] DRUNK AND INDECENT EXPOSURE. James Btowd, arrested for committing this offence in Colombo street, was fined 20s, or forty-eight hours in default. DRUNKENNESS. Neal Wylie, for being found drunk the previous night in Oxford Terrace, was fined 6s, or twenty-four hours ; and Ellen Thompson, arrested for drunkenness and disorderly conduct in Montreal street, was fined 40s, or, in default, one week's imorisonment. VIOLENT ASSAULT. Frank Welstead was charged, on remand, with striking Ann Lane on the head with a bar of iron on Wednesday last. Sergeant Wilson stated that from information received on last Wednesday morning, he arrested the prisoner at the Caversham Hotel. He told him the charge, when he admitted having knocked the woman down, but said he did it in self defence. Afterwards searched prisoner's house, near where the woman had been struck, and found the bar of iron (produced) in the fire place. It had marks of blood on it at the time. The bar of iron was identified by Mrs Lane as the one with which prisoner had struck her. She was covered with blood when he (witness) saw her, and there were traces of blood on the ground from where the prisoner had struck her to where she had walked to her house.

Ann Lane, wife of John Lane, stated that the prisoner lived next door to her. On Wednesday last prisoner and her husband were quarrelling. She went out and saw the prisoner with the bar of iron (produced) in his hand. She said, " Welstead, you are not going to strike my husband with that," when Tie made a very offensivc"reply. She had a small piece of wood in her hand at the time, and threw it at him, striking him on the coat. He then rushed at her and struck her on the head with the bar of iron, and she fell and was picked up by her husband. She was insensible from the effects of the blow, and her head was very much cut. Her husband had to carry her into the house. She was still under a doctor's care, and had lost a great deal of blood, and could hardly see out of her eyes. Her head also felt very light. By his Worship—T did not throw a piece of brick at the prisoner's wife, because she was always talking about me. By prisoner—l don't know how your wife got the black eyes. I did not go into the house to her.

John Lane, husband of the last witness, gave similar evidence. Dr Symes stated that Mrs Lane came to him on Wednesday last. She was suffering from a contused and lacerated wound on the top of the head, apparently inflicted by some blunt weapon. The wound might have been produced by the bar of iron in Court. He thought the woman suffered more from loss of blood than from the actual wound. Considered the wound was one that might have attended with various serious consequences. The woman was not yet out of danger, as it was impossible to say what the result might be, until the expiration of nine days from the time it had been inflicted. His Worship advised the prisoner not to say anything at present. From Dr Syme's evidence the woman was not yet out of danger, and he would remand the case until next Saturday. LYTTELTON. Friday, August 14. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.] REFUSING TO SUPPORT ILLEGITIMATE CHILD. J. Galbraith was charged with this offence by Caroline Snoswell. Mr Nalder for defendant, and Mr Thomas for plaintiff. The case was adjourned for additional evidence till Tuesday, next.

RANGIORA. Thursday, August 13. [Before A. H. Cunningham, Esq.] DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. J. King, arrested by mounted-sergeant Wallace at midnight on the 12th, was brought upon the foregoing charge. Fined 5s and costs. ASHBURTON. Wednesday, August 12. (Before Alfred Saunders, Esq., and H. T. Winter, Esq., J.P.) LARCENY. Thomas Madden was brought up charged with having etolen a blanket from the premises of Christian Klingenstein. After hearing the evidence in this case, the prisoner was sentenced to two weeks' imprison 1 ment with hard labor. Thursday, August 13. (Before Alfred Saunders, Esq., and H. T. Winter, Esq., J.P.'s.) UNREGISTERED DOG. Benjamin Ede was charged with being the owner of an unregistered dog over the prescribed age. Charge admitted. Fined £l, costs remitted. public-house ordinance. Christian Klingenstein, landlord of Turton's New Inn, was charged with neglecting to keep a lamp burning in front of his hotel during the prescribed hours. Offence admitted. Fined 20s, costs ss. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. John Thompson was charged with cruelty to animals, on 31st of July. After hearing evidence, defendant was fined ss, costs 7s 6d. BREACFI OF PUBLIC-HOUSE ORDINANCE. Donald Williamson, publican, was charged with supplying liquor to two men whilst they were in a state of intoxication. Owing to the summons having been served rather late, defendant applied for an adjournment. Adjourned the 27th of August. ABUSIVE LANGUAGE. John Garry, charged by Mary McPhee with using abusive language to her on the Bth August. After hearing the evidence of complainant and a witness, the Bench fined defendant thirty shillings, and costs, seven and sixpence. INDECENT ASSAULT. Thomas Madden, convicted of larceny on the previous day, was again brought up in custody, charged with committing an indecent assault on Emily Burnham, a young girl of sixteen years of age. The evidence in this case is unfit for publication. Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next session of the Supreme Court.