RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 7, 10 November 1877, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

PALMERSTON NORTH. THURSDAY, Nov. 8th. (Before R: Ward Esq., R.M., and Messrs. Dalrymple and Snelson, Esqs., J.P.'s.) The man John Francis, who was remanded for sentence was brought before his Worship to-day and sentenced . to 6 months hard labour. Mrs. Keys was charged by Constable Gillespie, with attempting to poison herself on or about the Ist inst. From the evidence it would appear that the accused is in the habit of drinking heavily at times and on this occasion had been doing so. She went about the same time to the druggist and purchased a quarter of an ounce of precipitate powder. It was thought that this might have been taken by her, but the reverse was proved in Court, as the same powder was handed in to the bench. From the evidence, of Dr. Akers who attended her, it appeared that she might, possibly have taken a small portion of spirits of salts. There was a bottle of that liquid standing on a shelf in her house, and when asked by a neighbour what she had taken she pointed to it. After hearing a lengthy evidence from the doctor, the druggist and a neighbour who first saw her after being poisoned, the bench decided that there was not sufficient evidence to prove that she had actually taken poison. His Worsiup hoped this would be a caution to her and perhaps be the means of causing her to forsake strong drink. He stated that although the evidence was not strong enough to convict her, the Constable had done his duty in bringing her before the bench. The accused who was unrepresented by counsel seemed to be suffering very much from the effects either of poison or alcohol. She refused throughout, to either question witnesses or defend herself in the least. DEBT CASE Pollock and Jones v. E. Symons ; Claim £1 17s 6d, for bread supplied. Judgement for amount and costs.