CAMPTOWN.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 621, 11 January 1870, Page 3

CAMPTOWN.

Wednesday, January 5. (Before J. H. Lowe, Esq., KM.) John Kirwan was fined 10s for being drunk and disorderly. It appeared that he was on his way from Nelson Creek to Greymouth to spend a ' ( Merry Christmas" when he got on the spree atCamptown and fell into the hands of the Philistines. At the Police Camp he was recognised as a man who has been " wanted" for some time. When he was leaving the Court after the first charge had been disposed of,

the Clerk of the Bench produced a warrant which had been issued for his arrest on a charge of forcibly entering the house of Henry Hammett and violently assaulting that person on 26th April, 1869. Kir win was remanded to Cobden till 11th Jan. Bail would be taken for his appearance — one surety in L 5. ASSAULT. A man named Fletcher was charged with assaulting William Letcher by striking him with an axe. It appears that Fletcher and a person named Chas. James were working in a claim and living in a hut together at Lagoon Terrace, Nelson Creek. James sold out of the claim, and he sold his interest in the hut with Fletcher to the complainant Letcher for L 3. Letcher and Fletcher were not on good terms, and when Letcher's son put his bedclothes into the hut Fletcher pitched them out. Letcher since then came to the hut with the mattress and bedclothes in his arms and demanded admission, which was at first refused. At length the door was opened and Fletcher appeared at it with an axe in his hand, with which, it is alleged, he struck at Letcher, who saved himself by holding the mattress up to ward off the blow. Several witnesses were called to prove the assault, one of whom created some amusement by the manner in which he persisted in confounding the plaintiff's and defendant's names. The case was remanded to enable defendant to procure evidence for his defence. Charles Madden was charged with assaultinsf a publican named Krenzell and damaging his property. Defendant did not deny the charge, but he said that from time immemorial his ancestors had observed the Christmas and New Year as festive seasons, and he begged to be excused if be committed himself while following their example. He had arranged with Mr Krenzell to compensate him for any damage he had sustained, and lie expressed his sorrow for setting such a bad example to the town, of which he might be an ornament. There was a further charge of being drunk and disorderly. He was fined L 5, part of which would go to make good the damage done to Krenzell's property. The defendant paid the fine, remarking that he had not the slightest recollection of anything which occurred on that eventful day. His Worship said he had no doubt of it, and he gave defendant the credit of being a respectable man when he was sober. (For continuation of news see Fourth Page.)