MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 972, 7 August 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, August 7. (Before Gr. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness. —An inebriate, who appeared for tiie first time, was fined os. Assault. —Lucy Ostler and Mary Ann Cant were charged with assaulting Charles Cant, at Ricearton. There was also a cross action between the parties. Charles Cant deposed that his wife and Lucy Ostler had on the day named entered his house and robbed him, and also heat him. His wile ] held him while ho was being struck by Mrs Ostler. Mr Joynt cross-examined witness at j some length, hi the course of which it was ! elicited that witness had been on one occasion hound over to keep the peace towards his wife, and that some time ago his wife had laid an information against him, which was withdrawn. Mary Ann Cant, examined, stated what took place that morning, and that he had been in the habit of knocking her about. In April she laid an information against him, but withdrew it at his request. Since then he had frequently illused her. Lucv Ostler said she was daughter of accused; she lived next door. She heard a noise in her father’s house, and went in and found accused holding her mother. Took hold of him to save her mother, and tried to strike him. Accused was in the habit of ill-treating her mother. Harriet Cant told the Court what took place ou that morning. Her father tried to open the door at the foot of the stairs, and when it was opened he laid hold of her mother and beat her. Had seen her father beat her mother before that. Ambrose Cant was next examined. He deposed to what took place that morning, A witness named Frond deposed to hearing the row that morning, and also as to the relations between Mr and Mrs Cant. The Bench, after reviewing the evidence, said the case of assault would be dismissed, hut accused would he bound over to keep the peace in one surety of £lO, and himself in £2O, for twelve months, and ordered to pay solicitors’ fee, £1 Is. Abusive Language. —Henry Hutchings and Mary Ami Hutchings were charged, on summons, with having used abusive language towards Timothy O’Shea. There was a cross summons between the parties, and, after hearing evidence for and against, which ns usual in these cases was of a very contradictory nature, his Worship imposed a penalty of 109 with cost# on the defendant in each tm