MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1307, 28 May 1878, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, May 2S. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., E.M.J DRUNKENNESS. —Bridget Ferrrick,a married woman, was fined 50s. Elizabeth McKenzie was fined 10s and ordered to pay 15s for smashing a pane of glass worth 15s in the Southern Hotel. She pleaded that she had no recollection of what she had done. Bridget Eerrick, sister-in-law to the Bridget E'er rick before named, was charged with smashing three panes of glass in a cab, was fined 40s, and ordered to pay Ss 6d expenses; in default was sent to prison lor a week. Two first offenders were fined 5s each.

Assault. —George Green was charged with violently assaulting J. A. Hangman at Addington. Mr Thomas appeared for the defendant. The complainant deposed to defendant having created a disturbance in Ins licensed house. To Mr Thomas —I am not particularly intimate with defendant, lit gets a half pint of beer or so. I don’t know that he spends much money with mo. He was not mad drunk—not 100 drunk to go quietly with the policeman. The policeman was sent for by mo. Mrs Green camp round to mo the nest morning, and offered to pay for any damage. I did not send an account as 1 haa been insulted. I did not see a German longer of mine strike defendant. There v. as a general row outside. Mrs Green asked me who had thrashed her husband. 1 tuld her the man’s name was George. To his M orship—The man is a Dane. I don’t know his name exactly. _ Several witnesses were called for the complainant. The defendant deposed that, till he entered the tem-

plainant’s house, ho had not had a drink. He could remember nothing more until next day, when ho found that he had been much knocked about and his clothes had been tom. The wife of defendant deposed that her husband had frequented complainant’s house ever since it had been opened. _ The occasion of the assault was the only time her husband came home drunk. The house caused her more misery than all her married life. She detailed a series of assaults committed on her husband. Other evidence was given for the defence, to try to show that defendant had been made drunk at complainant’s house, and had there been severely maltreated. _ The Bench considered the conduct of complainant unsatisfactory, but fined defendant ss, complainant to pay his own witnesses.