RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 89, 8 July 1879, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

— ♦ FOXTON. Friday, Jolt 4. (Before E. S. Thynne, Esq>, J.P.) Patrick O'Bri«n was charged with being drunk and disorderly. The offence having been proved, His Worship fined him 20s or 48 hours' imprisonment. He also warned him, that if he were brought before the Court again on a similar charge, he would be sent to gaol for three months as an habitual drunkard. Prisoner — Give me a week to pay the fine! His Worship — I will give you no time. If you oan't pay, you must go to gaol. The fine was afterwards paid. Monday, July 7. (Before E. 8. Thynne, Esq., J.P.) DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Catherine O'Brien, wife of the 1 above, a short and rotund lady, wearing an expensive nose, was charged with being drunk and dis orderly on. Sunday last. Prisoner, on entering the dock, dropped a low curtsey, and said, " Morning, your Honor." Mr Thynne— Catherine O'Brien, you are charged with being drunk and disorderly in Foxton. What have you to say in answer to the charge ? Prisoner — Ah, your ■ Wortchip, being lone spirited yesterday through the bad usage of my husband, who has been taking drink, though he usod to be a good husband, and is a hardworking man, I took j ust a #}|jle myself yesterday, and I don't /.ovt what happened, but I was lone spirited, and (beginning to cry) I never was in Court before, and I'll never be again, your Wortchip. Mr Thynne— Then you did take a little. Prisoner— l was lone spirited, your Wortchip, and I took a little, your Wortchip, but I won't do it again, indeed I won't (crying bitterly). Constable M'Anulty stated that| on Sunday last, he heard fearful sci earns near prisoner's house, and going out, he found her lying drunk in the road. She was a bad woman — [Prisoner --No I'm not, I'm a dacent married woman] and the neighbours complained constantly of her carryings on. Prisoner — Your Wortchip, he says I'm a bad woman, but you know I've a good character in ihe place. Sir Thynne — I do not know anything of your character, Mrs O'Brien, but it's a shameful thing for a woman to be brought here for such ■conduct. Its very sad. — [Prisoner, — Yes i*is, ) our Wortchip.] During the years I have been a Magistrate in Foxton, I have never before seen a woman brought up for drunkenness and disorderly conduct. As this is your first offence I shall dismiss the case, but mind you don't come here again. Prisoner — (with a very low curtgay) — Ah, thank your Wortchip, I thank you. If I can only get work for a fortnight, I'll never be in Court here again — nor in Foxton either. And (leaving the dook) I don't thank the Constable neither for saying I'm a bad woman. It's all that woman next to ua. She sees we've got a piece of land near her, and dont like me, because I aint got no style, and don't dress grand (glancing at herself), and may the Lord bless your Wortohip, for letting roe off, being a dacent married woman, and not as the Constable says, a bad one ; and I'll never be hero again. With this, she wiped her eye with her skirt,ainidst a fit of loud laughter, in which all present joined, and then „ left. The Court then adjourned.