RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 199, 14 August 1876, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

[Before L. Bbo_d, Eaq.jß.M.] THIS DAT. "William Henderson, Robert Burns, John Oliver, and Richard Adams were charged upon the information of Sergt. Nash with creating a disturbance in Nile-street East on the night of Saturday, the sth instant. Mr Pitt appeared for Adams; the others were undefended. Edward Cator, on oath, stated that he knew the defendants. Oa the evening of Saturday, the sth instant, witness was at the Gtolden Fleece Hotel, where Burns and Adams were sky-larking. Adams struck Burns and the parties went outside to fight. In the street a general scuffle took place. Henderson rushed at Adams and struck him. Oliver took off his coat and offered to fight any man for £5. Henderson and Burns then engaged, and Webb (now in the Hospital) attempted to separate thera, but was knocked down and exclaimed—" My leg is broken." The fight continued in spite of the accident. A number of spectators congregated, and traffic was interrupted. Adams did not interfere until he was struck, and then only defended himself. His Worship hero remarked that if this was all the evidence against Adams he had better be discharged, and upon Inspector Keily stating that he had no further evidence he was discharged. Arthur Brett corroborated the statement of the previous witness as fco the disturbance. Sergeant Nash deposed to visiting the locality (from information received), but the row was then over. Henderson's face was bleeding, and he seemed much excited. In defence, John Oliver denied having anything to do with the scrimmage, and stated that he only took his coat off to prevent getting it torn. i William Henderson gave a graphic I account of the row, from which it appeared the only guilty individual was Adams, whose discharge had just previously been ordered by the Court. E. Burns simply stated that he had been struck first, and he was not the man to stand that sort of thing without a return. The disturbance was (with the exception of Webb's broken leg, which was entirely the result of an accident) a very harmless affair. The Magistrate said there had evidently been a disturbance, and despite the fact that the police (as usual by the defendants' own statements) appeared to hive only arrested innocent men, he should order defendants to pay the costs of the Court and enter into their own recognizances of £5 each to keep the peace for three months. CITIL CASES. Sclanders and Co v H. P. Macauley. -A claim for £53 9s lld for goods sold. Defendant did not appear? and judgment was given for the plaintiffs ior tbe amount claimed. Canning t, Docherfcy.-This case was once more adjourned, the final hearing being fixed for Monday, 28fch instant.

Adamson », Nash.— -This was an adjourned case, in swhich5 which plaintiff sought to recover £8 ][ls'2d f and defendant disputed £7 pf ijhe amount. Mr Tell .appeared for the* plaintiff, and Mr Pi.t; defended the action. The evidence was very contradictory, and from the fact that plaintiff had burned his books and defendant had no receipt, the Court had some difficulty iv arriving at a decision.; Judgment was given to plaintiff for. tbe amount claimed.