THIS DAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1620, 28 January 1886, Page 4

THIS DAY.

• The : Queen y. Wm. Higgins alias Price alias O'Brien. Accused was charged with assaulting one 'Parker at, Otaki on-.. Christmas) I>ay m a drunken "brawl which took place, at a boWttielfc; U:t " f - y ' < t .:.--*'i'i* >■<■-■**>><: 1 Prisoner pleaded not guilty. .... Mr Russell appeared on behalf of the Crown Prosecutor. ! The following \ iury were einpannelled:— ' J. ,T. Lee, F. Jenssen, W. Stubbs, M, I Lyons, R.» Jdlingham, Ay Ferguson, Gt, Davidson, Jas'll'ough, H." Johnson, A. C. Burcham. H. Hammond, J. Thomp. sou. Mr A. Ferguson was chosen Foreman. D. Mi Parker: deposed I to 'bfeirig at Otaki on ..Christmas Day arid seeing the prisoner at CojlinsV Hotej. (The hearing of the case was here interrupted by 1 the appearance of W. Park, juryman, who had not answered to his name at the proper time. Ha was reprimanded Btrongly by the Judge for his I contempt of Court and ordered to appear j at 2 o'clock.) I ' He was getting undressed at night sitting on the bed prtso"ner v was then partly drunk.. P.urcell a Mend, of mine, was present, he was not drunk. Prisoner insisted on assisting to undress Piircell. The latter called out that prisoner had taken- money from his podket. I got' out ot bed and; prisoner tried* -to ' 'go out of the room, he. was intercepted- by. Purcell when a squabble ensued. . I was struck at with a. knife (.produced) ,by prisoner, the weapon entered my stomach' slightly, lie made another lunge at my chest 'and he point just struck me below the left breast When I struck- hint m the fade, I had nothing on but a shirt and flannel at the time. Purcell and another (Foley) then pushed him down and held him. I then went; ifdr' the. landlord. s> „ . ;.. j John. Purcell and Others gave cor/oborative evidence. '.", ' ■' ' ' .' ! The constable ; deposed to arresting accused", whb'pretended to be completely intoxicated. - ' ! ' !l ' •••'■"•'• I The prisoner admitted having got into i drunken b^rawl at Otaki on, the night m question,' but' clicPnot comntit any- assault witn intent, to do harm. . ! A verdict of guilty' was rettirned.^ \ It was shewn that accused had been imprisoned on thirteen previous occasions tor various offences including assault, jobbery, and other crimes. j The Judge passed the heaviest sentence m his power, viz?/ three years hard labor m Wanganui .G-aoli; ■•£ ■[ '■ ■. ; [ The Court £heq adjourned to next sitting, j": , >;\v): :? - '.'•';■■■•