MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1033, 17 October 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. i Wednesday, Octobeb 17. ' [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., E.M., aud J. j T. Brown, Esq., J.P.] ! Miscellaneous. —J. E. Burrows, for being : drunk and disorderly, and assaulting the police in the execution of their duty, was fined 40s. Contempt of Coubt.—Eobert Oldman was charged with contempt of Court in having failed to appear on Saturday last as a witness in the case of Wilson v Chapman. Remanded till Thursday, 18th inst. Assault.— William Wilson was charged with assaulting his wife, threatening her life, and resisting the police. Mr Harper for the prosecution, Mr Garrick for the defence. The arresting constable said that when he went to prisoner's house he fouud his hands and legs tied. He appeared to be the worse of drink, and two men were behind him. Witness went there by order of the Sergeant, and was requested by Mrs Wilson and Mr Frankish to take him in charge. Frankish asked witness to take Wilson in charge, as he had been assaulting his wife. At first witness did not care about arresting him. However, he at last said to prisoner that he would take him away. The prisoner resisted, and struggled about on the door. His feet but not his hands were then untied. Witness did not think prisoner was too much under the influence of drink to know what he was doing. Mr Frankish said to witness that prisoner had threatened to "do for" his wife.— Richard Frankish, farmer, said: About halfpast four o'clock yesterday I was reclining on a couch in Mrs Wilson's house, reading. Mr Wilson came in and spoke to me of his children. He asked his wife to shake hands ; she refused ; he asked his mother-in-law, and she refused. He called her a jade. After that he caught his wife by the throat, and I arose, threw him down, and bound him. Mrs Hay and others were present. I sent for the constable and asked him to take prisoner in charge, and I then went to the depot and lodged an information. The prisoner was violent—excessively eo.—By Mr Garrick : I went to the house at the request of Mrs Wilson and Mr Struthers Williams, her legal adviser. It took myself and two men and a boy to tie prisoner up. It was impossible to pacify him. I tried very much to do bo but failed. Wilson actually put his hands on his knife. He had been drinking heavily, to judge from appearances.—Mrs Hay: I was at Mrs Wilson's residence yesterday between four and five. I

saw Mr Wilson there. He came in and asked Mrs Wilson if she would skake hands with him. She refused. He then asked Mrs Williams, and she too refused. Then he attacked Mrs Wilson, and Mr Frankish threw him on the floor. After being bound, he said he would be the death of Mrs Wilson yet.—Mr Struthers Williams, solicitor, and brother-in-law of prisoner, said that prisoner had been living apart from his wife, and Mr John Anderson was the trustee under the deed of separation. I warned Mr Wilson that he would be treated as a trespasser if he went on the premises. Notwithstanding this he came on the premises on Monday night, and after some remonstrances from me, prisoner said he would go and stay in the stable amongst the rats, and if any one came to molest him he would take a pitchfork to them. At last Mr Anderson got him to go to the White Hart Hotel. When I was talking to him on Monday night he was not man enough to strike me.—By MrGarrick : I have no stronger feeling against the prisoner than desiring to protect my sister. I have no animus against Mr Wilson, only I shall protect my sister. I would not go out of my way to hurt Mr Wilson. The words "not man enough to strike me" might have been the result of a little feeling on my part. I know that my sister has not in any way invited prisoner to return. The deed of separation was executed in May, 1877, but they had been living ostensibly as man and wife till within some weeks of that time. To my knowledge, my sister never asked prisoner to return, neither have I. McLaren had writ' en, I believe, that Wilson had better return, as things were not being well managed here. — Mrs Wilson, wife of the prisoner: For some time past I have been living separate from my husband. He has been about two months away from the country. He returned last Monday evening, and threatened to break in, and I refused to let him in. Next day he came in the afternoon, asked to shake hands with Mrs Williams (my mother) and myself. He then caught me 'by the throat as I went to protect my mother from him. Mr Frankish then seized prisoner, and he was bound. I had written my husband two letters explaining that certain persons were not to blame for the separation, and hoping that he would remain away from Christchurch for ever. I have been in dread of my life for the last two years.—By Mr Garrick : I wrote my husband that his business was going to the dogs, and that he had better have another attorney.—Counsel left the case as it stood in the hands of the Bench.—The Court was of opinion that the case would be met by calling upon the accused to find sureties to keep the peace for the future. He would be called upon to find two sureties of £250 each, himself in £SOO, to keep the peace for twelve months.