MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 172, 21 July 1881, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

[Before 11. E. Curtis and R. Levies, Esq., J. J. P.] Samuel Thompson wa3 charged with maliciously wonting Joseph Gnthrie. The Insppc'or of Poli.-e prosecuted and Mr Bunny defended (he rriionr. The following r-vidf-nce was given. Joseph Guthrie stated that he went into the Ship Hotel tr> have a glass of beer between 10 end 11 on the. night of the 9th inst. Prisoner ac.d several more came in aod the former pushed up sgainst him, words ensued, and ultimately they went outside to fight. After rJ'rec rounds he w«nt down and when flown ha ff It a knife sticking into ♦he bnck of his irr.d. He put his hand up and felt a quantity of blood. He then got up and ran ;o onn si^e saying " I have had enough of it." Prisoner then rushed at him find strnrk him over tbe m-ht eye and he felt a knifp or something like it go into hi3 pjebrow. Prisons ssid, " You b , that will do you" Prosecutor .then sang out "Are ih?re no Englishmen to see me stabbed like this?" Some of bia mates then came :intl tcok him on board the Murray. Cross-rxaiiiined : I left the Murray about 7 30, and v/ent un to town and had three glasses of beer. I had no knife on me tbe whole cTeninc, r.nd had to borrow one to cut tobacco which I returned at once Prisoner fell with me at the third round, and te-mj.ine.-J as- end or £0 on top of mo. He was a I^'p »ae wors- for liquor at tbe time. Dr Collins dfpo^rl a3 to the nature of the wound?, one of which was at the back cf the head near the neck, and penetrated to the skull, and the other over the right eye about aD inch long and downwards, and nearly reaching tho eyeball It was a sharp incised wound, and would bo inflicted by a

knife such aB that produced. A sharp Btone | could not have inflicted the wound over the eye. Alexander Strom berg saw the fight and saw prisoner when they were down together with a knife in his Lund. He took the knife from him anil saw blood on bcth the men. Prisoner said hi3 flower was cut. The knife was hair shut when he tcok it away. 30c! ward Moody was at the Port on the evening in question and saw prosecutor and prisoner fighting. After the third round he heard prosecutor say he had had enough, and saw him put his hands down, and begin retreating towards the Murray. Prisoner stepped on one side and was examining his hand and showing it to some men. He then made a rush at prosecutor" and said " You — , I'll do for you." He knocked prosecutor down and fell on top of him. Some men pulled the prisoner oif, and the prosecutor then rose by himself, and witness saw that he was bathed in blood. When the prosecutor was slabbed he called out;, "I am stabbed ; are there no Englishmen here ?' y There was a crowd round, but no one interfered uutil the prosecutor spoke. Prisoner, after being duly warned, de-. clined to say anything, and was committed' to take his trial at the next sittings of the District Court.