RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 93, 20 April 1881, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

[Before His Honor L. Broad, Esq., R M.] Levestam v. Close. — Action to recover £5, balance of account due. Judgment for amount claimed and costs 13s. Scott v. Taylor. — Action to recover £3 5s 7d, balance of account. Judgment for amount claimed and costs 7s. McGee v. Burn.— Judgment summons for £5. Ordered to pay the amount, half on the SOth April, and the balance on the 31st May. Mr Bunny appeared for the plaintiff. George Morgan was charged with getting into the train when in motion, and Thomas Eden with getting out of it when in motion. The former admitted the offence. The latter said he got out on account of tbe insulting language used to him by Morgan. Mr Stone, tbe railway manager, said he did not wish to press for a heavy penalty, and tbe defendants were each fined 10s and coats 7s. Mary Flowers was charged with using abusive language to Mrs Amelia Schroder, and threatening to tear her to pieces. Mr Bunny appeared for the complainant, and Mr Percy Adams for tbe defendant. Amelia Schroder said that on the evening of the 13th instant she hung some clean linen on the boundary fence, and on the next morning found a lot of filth evidently thrown on it from the other side of the fence. She went to complain to Mrs Flowers, but on knocking at the door Mary Flcwers came to the door, and said her mother was too unwell .to oome out, but she would come. On reachling the fence Mrs Schroder pointed out the j linen to her and said, "is . not that a , nasty, [disgraceful Bpfeoteiol?," '' Wtth ■■i pfiouliar

laugh Mary said, "Yes it is. Why did you do it ?" She then called complainanta filthy, dirty, bad woman, and holding up her hands in a figurative manner said sho was a nasty, bad woman, and she would like to tear her to pieces. This was corroborated by Mrs Morley. This was the case for the complainant. Mr Percy Adams, for the defendant, said that the whole thing was a most trumpery case. Mrs Schroder had pointed out the soiled linen to Miss Flowers, when some words occurred between thetd, and Miss j? lowers said, " "_Tou are a bad woman, and if you had writtefi ahd said suoh things of me as you have of my sister, I would tear your eyes out." This Miss Flowers would be able to assert in the witness box. His Worship j The defendant cannot give evidence in a case of this kind. It certainly does seem strange that when the law Is extended to the extent of allowing persons charged with certain offences, Which tttay be dealt with in a summary manner to give evidence it does not §ive the .altie privileges to defendants in such cases as this. Other witnesses may be called, but the defendant herself cannot give evidence. Mr Adams: That's hard on my client then, as she was the only one present besides Mrs Schroder and Mrs Morley. His Worship said that though there vras clear evidence of strong 'language having been used by the defendant he was nofc prepared to go to the extent of binding her over to ke_p the peace, which was a very serious matter indeed. He would dismiss the case, but would warn the defendant to keep clear of bet- neighbors, and to learn to rule her tongue.