MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1021, 3 October 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHEISTCHURCH. Wednesday, Octobeb a. [Before G-. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M., and Gt. L. Lee, Esq., J.P.] Drunkenness.-William Miller and John Sullivan were fined respectively 20s and 40s. The latter denied the charge. Fokging and Uttekingl—Richard Tubman was charged with forging and uttering a promissory note for the payment of £2O, the prosecutor being T. Tubman. Sergeant Morris asked for a remand till next day, in order to get witnesses together. He remarked that accused was charged witli forging his brother's

I name to a promissory note. Remand granted till next day. Wife Beating.—Anthony Ferrick was brought up on remand charged with assaulting and beating his wife, Bridget Ferrick. Floyd Collins, house surgeon at the Hospital, saw the complainant on Sunday morning between nine and ten, when she was admitted into the Hospital. Her face was covered with blood, and there was a large contusion on the left cheek. There was a bruise on the breast bone, and the bridge of the nose was cut across. Beyond that there was nothing requiring notice, and she was not so bad as to be unable to wash her own face. He should say there were no internal injuries, but that was a matter of opinion. The bruises were recent. Bridget Ferrick, wife of the accused, residing in Lyttelton street, Christchurch. Her husband had come home on Saturday night drunk, fell down twice, then went to bed. Between two and three o'clock he awoke and wanted her to make breakfast. She refused and he dragged her out of bed and abused her. In the morning again after eight o'clock, he kicked her on the chest, beat her in the face, and cut her nose at the same time. The [bruises on her face had been caused by the accused. After that ill-treatment she left the house and met the sergeant of police, who told her to go to the Hospital. She added that she did not wish to punish her husband. The prisoner crossexamined the witness, who admitted that she had been drinking a little on Saturday. He went on to state that she had been drinking, that she blackguarded him, threw pieces of iron at him, and went on in an unbearable manner. He had been forced to strike her by her provoking language, she telling him that she would debauch herself when she liked. Constable Hewit had arrested the accused, who stated that he had given his wife a couple of clouts, because he found her drunk, on coming home on Saturday night. His Worship remarked that Ferrick must be an utter coward to abuse a woman as he had his wife, no matter what her conduct might be. It was difficult to know how to deal with the prisoner, who had been there before on a similar charge, and his Worship was afraid that he would yet have to send him for trial to a higher Court, unless he greatly reformed. He did not wish to send the accused to prison for a long period during the season when lie could obtain most profitable employment, and the prisoner would be sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. Ferrick left the Court saying that it appeared married women could do as they liked without being chastised.