MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 477, 28 December 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, December 28.

(Before Alexander Lean and G. L. Lee, Esqrs, J.P.'s.)

Drunk and Disorderly.—The following inebriates were dealt with :—Edward Goodacre, fined 10s ; Harry Blythe, discharged with a caution ; Wm. McLeod, 10s and cabhire ; Thomas Taylor, 20s; Thos. Richards, 10s ; Charles Ellis, 10s and cab-hire ; and W. J. Whitley, 10s ; Wm. Young, who had also resisted the police and had torn the constable's clothes, was fined 23s ; John Purcell, who had been admitted to bail, and did not answer when called, was ordered to show cause why his recognizances should not be estreated. Lunacy from Drink Richard Parish, who had been remanded on this charge, and had recovered, was discharged with a caution. Wilful Destruction of Private Property.—Ann Shott was charged with breaking the windows, a door, and crockery ware, in the house of Conrad Shott, Tuam street. The accused, who had been living with the prosecutor for some years, has been before the Court on previous occasions. Mr T. D. Jones gave evidence of the conduct of the accused the previous day, which had been exceedingly violent. She had broken windows and other property, and had committed damage to the extent of between £7 and £B. She was a terror to the neighbourhood. Fined, 20s. Obtaining Goods by False Pbetences. James Finn, charged on remand with this offence, was further remanded until Friday next. Affiliation. —Harry O'Neil, charged on warrant with failing to support his illegitimate child, was remanded until Wednesday. Cutting- and wounding. William Hall was charged, on remand, with cutting and wounding Abel Joy, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. Constable Dixon called, stated that on tbe 25th instant he was called to defendant s house, and, on reaching the house, a man named Abel Joy gave him (defendant) into custody on the charge of stabbing him in the arm and hand. When arrested accused denied having stabbed the man. Joy was slightly under the influence of liquor at the time and was covered with blood. He (Joy) had been to the doctor's before this to got his wounds dressed. The clothes produced are those worn by the prosecutor at the time, The knife produced was picked up by the prosecutor and given him (witness) as the one which Hall had used By accused —You were in your own house when I went there. Abel Joy stated that he was a labourer living in the Caledonian road, next door but one to accused's house. Was in accused's place between two and thr>e o'clock on Christmas afternoon, They had a quarrel that afternoon about his having turned out prisoner's son on the previous eveniDg. They had a scuffle inside the house, but he could not say who struck first. He went outßide and Hall followed him and struck him. He was nearly senseless at the time, but he remembered seeing accused take up a knife similar to the one in court, but he did not remember being stabbed. Two young men picked him up and took him to Dr Doyle, but he did not remember anything until his wounds were dressed. He had been stabbed on the left arm and right hand, and was unable to do any work. By accused—l was in your house drinking that morning. I saw you with the knife in your hand outside. Mr Wynn Williams here entered the court and said he had been asked to appear for the prisoner. Wm. Cox called, said he lived in the Caledonian road. In the afternoon of Christmas day he saw the prosecutor in front of Hall's house. He (the prosecutor) was on the ground, Hall was over him kicking Joy, and the younger Hall was pulling his father away. Did not see a knife, but Joy was covered with blood, and there was a quantity of blood on the road lower down where Joy had been standing talking to two men. By Mr Wynn Williams —Joy and Hall were quarrelling when I first saw them. Joy was drunk, and flail looked as if he had been drinking. By the Bench —I did not see a knife. F. P. Brown, living in the Windmill road, Christchurch, was walking in the Caledonian road on Christmas afternoon. He had been in Joy's house that morning, and after leaving there, and passing Hall's house, he saw Joy in front of the house with Hall on top of him kicking his head, and Hall's son also striking him. Did not see any knife, but when Joy got up he was bleeding very much from the left arm and right hand. The blood was spouting up. He then accompanied Joy to the doctor's. By Mr Wynn Williams—Several panes of glass were broken in Hall's house, but I did not see any blood on them. Joy was very drunk, but neither of the Hall's were drunk. The Halls went into the house at once, leaving Joy outside on the ground. By Inspector Buckley—l saw Joy break

H ..... , ■ some of the windows after he got up off the ground. By the Bench—Joy broke the windows with his arm. I saw blood on Joy's mouth before this, but I did not see blood spouting from .his wrist before thisi Dr Doyle stated that the prosecutor came to his place suffering from three wounds which he (witness) dressed. One was above the left elbow, about two inches long, above the brachial artery, and one on the right hand, also about two inches long ; the third was on the little finger of the left hand. There were also two other slight wounds on the hand. The wounds had been caused by a sharp cutting instrument. The knife produced is too blunt to have caused such wounds, which were more likely to have been caused by a sharp pen-knife. The knife produced might possibly cause such wounds, but they would most likely be caused by a small sharp pen-knife. The wound in the left arm was a dangerous one, but he considered all danger was over after the wound was dressed. By Mr Wynn Williams —The wounds could be caused by the jagged ends of broken glass, and just as possibly as that they were caused by the knife produced. I should not, however, think that the wounds had been caused by broken glass. Constable Dixon, recalled at Mr Wynn Williams' request, said that he was in Hall's house on the 25th. The windows were broken. He did not see any blood on the windows, but he saw blood on the broken glass lying outside on the ground. Inspector Buckley told the Bench that a woman named Jane McMahon had informed the police that she saw Hall use the knife, but as she was a woman of ill repute, and had lately been drinking, he did not know whether much reliance could be placed on her evidence. Inspector Buckley afterwards informed the Bench that he had since learnt that the woman was drunk when the assault had been committed. In reply to Mr Wynn Williams, the Bench remarked that they had a difficulty in believing that the wound on the arm had not been caused by some kind of knife, but in the absence of positive evidence accused would get the benefit of the doubt. It was, however, a disgraceful case, and accused would be sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour. Violent Assault—" William Hall, jun, was charged with violently assaulting Abel Joy. The evidence of the assault having been committed was not conclusive, and the charge was dismissed. Assault.—Archibald Hamill was charged on summons with assaulting his wife, Sarah Hamill. Defendant asked for a remand, as he had not had time to subpoena his witnesses. The Bench determined to hear plaintiff's evidence before granting the remand. Mrs Hamill stated that defendant had assaulted her on the 22nd instant. He left herself and child without sufficient support, and was in the habit of keeping an open penknife in the house. She was afraid of him. Defendant again asked for a remand to show his wife's conduct in his absence up country. "When he returned to town he found her drunk and threw a bucket of water over her. That was all the assault he had committed. Case adjourned until Wednesday.