RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 34, 9 February 1871, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before J. Sharp, Esq.) William Francis was charged with assaultiug and beating John Wigzell. Defendant admitted the assault. Mr. Pitt, who appeared for the complainant, stated that he wished the evidence to be gone into, as this was a most aggravated case of assault, the defendant having gone on board the Alert at the mouth of the harbor, and belabored complainant, who had taken possession on account of the mortgagee, with a deck scrubber, in a manner calculated to, inflict serious injury. Defendant stated that he bad gone on board not knowing that the complainant had authority to take possessiou, and finding him there had committed the assault, j Since then he had apologised to Mr. Wigzell, but Mr. Pitt seemed determined to press the case against him. His Worship said that defendant might, by his injudicous and hasty conduct, have brought serious consequences upon himself, as, had he inflicted any great bodily injury upon the complaioaut, tha case would have been of too grave a nature to be dealt with by his court. As it was, he should fine defendant £2, and costs £2 11s. Defendant said that, owiug to the action taken by the Bank of New Zealand, he bad no money, and consequently was unable to pay the penalty. His Worship stated that he would give him 24 hours to find the money, and, in default of payment, would send him to gaol for three weeks.