MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1452, 11 October 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH. Feiday, Octobbb 11. [Before Gh L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.] Dbttnk and Assaulting the Police. — Margaret Maloney and Henry Jordan were charged with drunkenness and resisting constable McKay on the East town belt in the execution of his duty. Constable McKay proved arresting the female prisoner, and stated that Jordan attempted to rescue her, and used sufficient violence to necessitate his calling on the assistance of two civilians. Constable Ross said he heard the screams of a woman, and went to see what occasioned them. Ho said the woman was in the custody of constable McKay, who was trying to get her to the depot. He (witness) took charge of Jordan. His Worship asked if the two civilians were in attendance, who had assisted constable McKay. Sergeant Morice said this was the first he had heard of them. Constable McKay said he had considered it unnecessary to report their assistance as he warned them to appear at the Court in the morning at ten o'clock, and he expected they would have been present. His Worship said he should like to have their attendance, and adjourned the case until tomorrow morning that they might be notified. Manslattghteb.—Sergeant Morice applied to be allowed to withdraw the charge of assault against John Dempsey and to substitute one for manslaughter. He stated to the Bench that at the inquest yesterday the verdict of the Coroner's jury was that the deceased man, Hugh McClatchie, who had been •assaulted by Dempsey at the G-arrick Hotel last month, had died from natural causes. The opinion of the Coroner was that a prima facie case of manslaughter, sufficient to justify the case being sent to a higher Court, had been made out, and the police intended to proceed with the case. Mr R. D. Thomas appeared for the accused, and objected to the charge of manslaughter being proceeded with by the police, on the grounds of certain objections he had taken at the inquest. He (Mr Thomas) considered it the height of absurdity for the police to imagine for one moment that, in the face of the verdict of the Coroner's jury, they could hope to procure a conviction of the prisoner. His Worship decided to allow the case to stand over until Monday, bail being allowed, and in the meantime the opinion of the Crown Prosecutor could bo obtained as to tho beßt courae to bo pursued.