POLICE COURT.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 39, 28 February 1846, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

On Friday, Ellen Maloney, wife of Mr. Maloney, butcher, Shortland street, was brought before the Chief Police Magistrate, charged with an assault on Mr. Francis Cole, the Purser of H.M.S. Osprey .-—whose evidence proved that on Thursday afternoon, when passing down the street, his notice was attracted by a quarrel in a butcher's shop, wherein was a man dragging a woman by her hair. He conceived it to be his duty to interfere, and he expostulated with both of them. The man retired into another room, after which, as he, Mr. Cole was leaving the house, the prisoner struck him a violent blow, with a cleaver from behind, which cut through his hat, and wounded him severely on the forehead, causing the blood to flow most profusely. He was stunned, and as soon as he recovered himself, he perceived the prisoner lifting the cleaver again, to repeat the blow, but from some cause, it fell from her hand. He then 1 left the house, in order to have his wound dressed. Mr. Kennedy appeared on behalf of the prisoner, and endeavoured to persuade Mr. Cole to withdraw the charge, pleading that the prisoner had no previous intent to injure or ill-treat him, and that the interference between man and wife, had occasioned the attack, which he acknowledged was perfectly unjustifiable, and for which the prisoner herself, exceedingly regretted. The prosecutor stated, that he considered it to be his duty to leave the matter wholly in the hands of the magistrate, to be dealt with by him, as he should think proper. He had interfered, solely from motives of humanity, and to prevent serious consequences ; but he had been treated with the greatest brutality, and he considered that the prisoner, for her own sake, should receive some warning to check her outrageous behaviour. The prisoner, through Mr. Kennedy, then pleaded Guilty to the charge. The Chief Magistrate observed, that as the prisoner had pleaded guilty, there was no occasion to call the evidence of the constable, who prevented the second blow from being struck. As to interference between man and wife, it must be well known, that it was the duty of every one, to interfere, in cases of breaches of the peace, and to take the parties into custody. Mr. Cole did not know, that the parties quarrelling, were man and wife ; but had very properly endeavoured to prevent mischief, and ill usage to the prisoner. His humanity had been ill requited. .Mostfortunately was it for the prisoner, that she had been prevented taking the second blow, or she would have been probably, standing at the bar of the Supreme Court, within a few days, under the charge of Murder. As the prosecutor had left it with him, to deal summarily with the case,— the sentence was, that the prisoner pay a fine of Five Pounds to the Queen, with costs, or be imprisoned for two months with hard labour.

Oddfellows. — Yesterday being their second anniversary, the Auckland Society of Odd-Fellows dined together at Wood's Hotel, on which occasion the excellent Band of the 58th - Regt attended. We are obliged to defer, until our next publication, an account of the proceedings. Appointment. — His Excellency Governor Grey has been pleased to appoint Mr. Thomas Bateman, to be Sub-Collector, Landing Waiter, and Harbor Master, at the J3ay of Islands.