CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 275, 23 November 1869, Page 2

CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

[Before his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond]. Yesterday. j INDECENT ASSAULT. George Gibhins was charged with indecently assaulting Eliza Cate of WakefiVld. Mr. Kindlon appeared for the prisoner who pleaded Not Guilty. Eliza Gate sworn : I have known the prisoner ever since I can remember. I met the prisoner about midday on 9ih August last in Mr. Sellun's paddock. This was about a mile from Mr. Gibbs' bouse, where lam living. I went to see if there were any of Mr. Gibbs' jheep. Prisoner came up to me and asked how my sweetheart was. I said I had none. He followed me some way, and then said I must kiss him before I went. He insisted upon it and I burst, outcrying: and s;iid I woulil do so if he would let me go. He took hold of me and after I had kissed him he put his hand undtr my dress. He then h't me <jo ou condition that I would not .tell Mr." Gii.bs. I Sold Mr. Gibbs' daughter as soon as I got home. Cross - examined : I did not ask prisoner to help me muster the sheep. He did not say I must give him a kiss because he l>as going to help me with the sheen. It was not in his struggling to get a second kiss that I fell. He put his arm round me and threw me down, lie did not attempt any further violence. Frances Cole : On 9th August last Eliza C.ate complained to me of having beeu insulted and thrown down. This was between one and two. She cried when she told me of it, and seeiued very much fiut. out. This closed the case for the prospout'on. The jury after a short consultation found the prisoner Guilty of a comrnou assault. Sentenced to three months' imprisonmeut with hard labor. ASSAULT WITH INTENT. William King, a colored man, was charged with assaulting, with i-.tent, at Giles' Terrace, near Westport, Elizabeth Thackeray, a girl four years of age. Elizabeth Cameron sworn: I live at Westpo^fc. My husband is a digger. Prisoner was working for me. He was choppiug wood, and said he would go into the bush to get a dry log. He went and the child followed him. A few minutes after I went to the back of the house and I saw him carrying the child further into the bush. The remainder of this witness' evidence was unfit for publication. Henry Harris: I was riding by Mrs. Cameron's house when she beckoned me in, and asked me to take care of the child while she went to the back of the house. I did so. She was very excited at -the time. " Pi isoner's statement before the Resident Magistrate's Court was read, iv which he stated that he was very sorry he hud done it, it was the first time and he hoped it would be the last. This closed the case ior the prosecution. The jury, without retiring, found the prisoner, guilty. . His Honor sentenced the prisoner to two years* imprisonment with hard labor. This Day. On the Grand Jury assembling this morning, His Honor said, I regret, gentlemen, that owing to a difficulty which has arisen,

you will be unable to proceed with you business to-day. The nature of the difficulty is as follows: — There has been a commitment for bigamy by the magistrates of Westport, who committed the case for trial at Christchurch, thinking that it might be most economically dealt with there. There are several witnesses from the West Coast, aud one old woman who lives at Christchurch, who is an essential evidence, but is so old and infirm as to be unable to travel. Her depositions could be received if it were proved that she was too ill to travel, but oral testimony of this beiug the case, is necessary. The old woman's depositions are accompanied by one from a medical man, stating her inability to travel, but I can find no authority which I caa recognise which permits me to receive it. This is a case of felony in which the prisoner can waive nothing,, and the consequence is that you are summoned here to-day in vain. The case may possibly be heard tins circuit, but in the meantime you are adjourned until Monday next, at 10 a.m.