RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1163, 21 June 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Friday, June 18. [Before J. Mackay, Esq., B.M.] ASSAULT WITH VIOLENCE. Peter Drury was charged that on the 12th day of June, 1880, he unlawfully and feloniously by means of his hands, did attempt to choke and suffocate Mary Hqwley, with intent thereby to enable him, the said Peter Drury, to commit a certain indictable offence, that is to say, the felony of larceny from the person. Sergeant Eramerson appealed on behalf of the Police and conducted the prosecution ; the prisoner being undefended. The following is a continuation of the evidence in this case :—- After the usual caution had been given to the prisoner by the Court, he made the following statementl was in Mrs Hogan’s house when Hpwley asked me to go home with her. I took her home and she begged of me to go and get a drop of brandy, as she was very bad. I brought eighteen-penny worth of brandy from Mr Killeen’s of the Tramway Hotel. I gave her the brandy, and then she would not let me go home when she got me inside; and when I insisted on going home, she began to cry. While she was crying she kept on singing out “ Billy j” She went to the door of her own house, unlocked it, and someone there. She then came back into the room where I was sitting on the aide of her bed. She then began howling out that I got her money, and I tried all I could to pacify and quieten her. She had hold of my whiskers all the time, and I did not choke her at the time, but I was keeping her off. She then began ,to hollow out that I hud robbed her. I took hold of her two hands, and pulled them out of ray

Whiskers, and made a rush out of the door to get out of the house, I got to Ihe door, and she was there as soon as I 'was. She got hold of my whiskers again, I was forced to lay her down on the floor and choice her before I could get clear of her again. I tried to pull the door open to get out, but as she had her two feet against it I could nob pull it opfin. I walked through what she calls her bedroom. I blew the candle out. I walked out through the back yard.. 1 Walked all round the back yard, but could find no place to get into the road. I went over the fence as described by Sergeant Ermnerson, and broke one of the pailings. I walked down the tramway, and sat on a log there a bit, and then returned and stood in front of Mrs Howloy’s for a quarter-of-an-hour. The sergeant, one of the constables, and Mrs Howley all came down from the Police Camp togather, and I made sure that if money was lost they would find it. I then went to Dillman’s Town, and half way back again. I Went into the house opposite Seddon’s and had a drink of beer coming down the road; then I came as far as Mrs Mulligan’s, where I went in to get some tobacco. Mis Mulligan told me that Bob had robbed Mrs Howley, which I said could not be, as I had taken her home and she had nearly pulled the whiskers out of me, land I thought she was mad. I told Mrs Mulligan I would go to the Camp and inform the Sergeant that T took the woman home. I was arrested by Sergeant EmiUerson bofoic I could do that. At this stage the Court was adjourned for hall-an-hour. On resuming, the following additional evidence was taken ; Catherine Mulligan, being sworn, deposed that she was a married woman, residing in Seddon street. She was sitting in her verandah on the evening of the 12th inst., when she saw the prisoner. When he came to my store he asked for some of the boys who deal with me. I told him they were not there, but .they might be down shortly, lie said “ I have got myself into a nice mess through keeping bad company.” He said that he had taken Mrs Howley home and that he had sent for eighteenpenny worth of brandy, as she was in the hoirors through drink, and that she was scratching herself to pieces. He said he would go down to the Camp and give himself up, as he had taken the woman home. I told him that it was not him the police were after, but a man named <■ Far-down Bob,” for taking the money cf Mrs Howley. I was told so by Constable O’Donovan. I do not know Mrs Howley, as I am not acquainted with such women as her—[Laughtea]. The prisoner volunteered the information he had got into bad company without my asking. He also said he would go down and see Constable Nash about it, as it was he, the prisoner, who had taken the woman home. To the Prisoner ; I believe 1 did say that Bob was blamed for taking the woman home, and also taking her money. The Magistrate said that the evidence of Mrs Mulligan had not thoroughly corroborated the statement made by the prisoner, and he should commit him for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court held in the Provincial District of Westland. SiARCENY FROM THE PERSON. The same prisoner was then charged with the stealing from Mary Howley the sum of £l7. The evidence taken was almost similar to that in the preceding case, with the addition of Mr Cooper’s the teller of the Bank of New Zealand, who proved that the prosecutrix drew £l7 15s out of the Bank a few hours before the robbery was committed. On this charge the prisoner was also committed for trial at the Supreme Court, bail being allowed in two securities of £IOO each, and himself in £2OO.