RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 41, 10 March 1877, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

FOXTON. Wednesday, 7th March. (Before R. Ward, Esq., R.M. and Dr. Rockstro'J.P.) ASSAULT. Stephen Kennedy, a labourer on Messrs. Douglas' and Co.'s station was charged on the information of Samuel ' Tansley for striking his (Tansley's) wife on the arm. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Samuel Tansley being sworn, said— I am the proprietor of the Manawatu Hotel, Foxton. On Monday the sth March, my wife was assaulted by defendant. I did not see the assault. My wife told me of it, and I call upon • her to give evidence. » The defendant refused to cross-ex- ' amine this witness. Caroline Tansley on oath, said — I am the wife of Samuel Tansley, proprietor of the Manawatu Hotel, Foxton. On Monday, the sth March, about mid-day, the housemaid came crying to me and said Kennedy had iusulted her by lifting up her clothes, and throw^tg some water over her. I went outbids the kitchen and asked the defendant he meant by it, and ordered him out of the kitchen saying, if he did not go I would make him ; he said he did no harm, and would not go out. He is not m my employ. I too_ up' the gravy strainer, and then pushed him out, he was near the door then. I tried to hit him, and may have done so. He came into the kitchen again and caught hold of me by the arm, .and then hit me on the arm with his clenched fist. I then went into my private room. Defendant declined to cross-examine* witness.

Mary sworn, said — I ata a servant m the employ of Mrs Tansley. I know the defendant, but have not known him long. On Monday last about 12> o'clock noon, I was m the kitchen, the defendant Vras also there, "he caught hold of me round the waist and lifted up my clothes, my face was" towards him. I wds insulted by what he^ had ; done, and I went crying' to Mrs Tahsleyand told her what had. happened. I think defendant had- been . drinking. Mrs. Tansley -went info the kitchen. I then left and tfent into Mrs. Tansley' _ room, and afterwards went into the' dining-room to lay the cloth. I did not see defendant strike Mrs. Tansley.He threw Mater over me because I had thrown it over him. This I did on account of the insult. I managed to get away from him. Mrs. Tansley re-call od, said that Kennedy had used most filthy language' to her, and called her disgusting name's (the names and language used are hot fit for publication), the names he called? me, and the language used was m t'hV back yard, and spoken m a loud tone. One of my neighbours heard them. Henry Brown on oath, said— l am a baker, residing m Foxton. On Monday last, I was m the Manawatn Hotel about dinner time. I saw the defend-' ant there, also Mrs. Tansley. I saw the girl come out of the kitchen, she* was crying. I went to Mrs. Tansley and told her that she ought to go into-* the kitchen, and not let the girl W knocked about. Mrs. Tansley told de--fendant that he had ,no right m the kitchen interfering with the girls. _ I heard Kennedy make use of disgusting' language, and say he would kick Mrs. Tansley's , they were both excited at the time. This occurred m the yard. On Constable Purcell being asked by the Bench what he knew of the defendant, said he had known him for some months, and that he was working on Douglas's station, that he spent all hife money m drink, but that he never lfcnetf him do anything wrong before. . , The Eesident Magistrate m passinjg' sentence on the defendant, saidy*ha£ it Was a very bad case, he (defeijj^j»t);h'a'd no right to go skylarking m t_^HoteL and that women had to be treated properly. He had no right to take liberties with the girl, and although it was a public house the kitchen was a privafe room, and that he ought to go out wbeA he was told, and the authority of the landlady must be upheld. He had in* a most cowardly manner struck Mrs. Tansley, and he the E.M., considered the language used was most filthy, and he was determined to put a stop' to all these sort of things, and should make an example of him. and sentence him to two months' imprisonment with hard labor. civil CAses. Beatty v. F. Cook, claim, £7 14s. Adjourned until next conrt/day. Beatty v. Wi Katerie, claim, £2 15s. Defendant asked for three months' grace. Judgment for plaintiff, £2 15s and costs, 6s ; solicitor's fee, £1 la; one month to be allowed for payment. Beatty v. Charles Phillips, claim, £1 14s 7d. Judgment by default ? costs, 9s ; solicitor's fee, £1 Is. Mr Warburton appeared for the plaintiff m the above cases. F. B. Crowther v. William Wills. This was a judgment summons for £4 2s 3d. Defendant pleaded that he could not get enough work to pay the debt, but was not believed. He was ordered to pay within one month or be imprisoned for fourteen days.