MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 761, 28 November 1876, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, November 28. (Before G. L. Mellish. Esq, R.M.) Indecent Assault.—James Hamill, a young lad fourteen years old, was charged with having committed an indecent assault at Addington upon a young girl under nine years of age. The case was heard with closed doors. When arrested accused admitted having been guilty of doing wrong. The evidence taken showed that though an offence had been committed it might have been much more serious. The mother of the boy was in Court, and after a long conversation with her, his Worship adjourned the case for a day on the undestanding that her husband should visit the police depot in the interval and administer a sound flogging to accused. Assaulting his Wife.—John Leader was charged on summons with having assaulted his wife Bridget Leader on 17th November. From the manner of complainant in Court, and her own admission?, it was shown that defendant had received very great provocation for the assault. Mr Thomas, who appeared for defendant* said his client would be very willing to allow his wife to live rent free, and give her £1 a week, as his life had been made a complete misery to him by his wife for a long time. His Worship adjourned the case until Thursday with a view of the parties agreeing to a separation. Affiliation. —The adjourned case was called on against Henry Hebden, for failing to comply with an order of the Court for the support of his illegitimate child, of which Alice Hankins is the mother. Mr Joynt appeared for defendant, and handed in a certificate of dismissal of an information which was heard on the Ist of June last, in which the child who was the subject of the present complaint was included. Mr Joynt, among other contentions, submitted that, under the 23rd section of the Justices of the Peace Act, in the face of the certifi cate produced, the information could not be sustained. His Worship said he would take time to consider his JTidgment, and again adjourned the case until Thursday. Drunkenness. —Three inebriates, who appeared for the first time, were each 10s, and oue 5?. T. W. Robson was fined 10s, and James Flynn ss: