RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4369, 22 March 1875, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Saturday,'March 20. (Before J. O. Crawford, Esq., R.M.j , " Thomas of the Post Office Hotel, was chargeflwith assaulting Alice Gi'ay, a barmaid. Prosecutrix stated that she was employed by defendant, who came into the bar on Friday and said he didn’t believe in her low style, and told her not to take money from drunken men. He -charged her with robbing these drunken men, and ordered her out of the bar. Witness asked hini what he meant by “robbing men,” and he said he wouldn’t have money taken from men who were the w'orse for liquor. He said she was low, and accustomed to live in low places. Witness said she would leave at once .if defendant would pay her, and he then caught hold of her arm, tried to pull her out, and wanted to make people believe she was drunk. Mrs. Urwin then said witness had robbed her. Defendant’s rough usage left marks on her arm, and her dress was tom, in return for which she smacked his face, and he retaliating by striking her on the cheek. Witness did not strike Mrs. Urwin ; merely pushed her away when she abused witness. The person alluded to as haying been robbed was not drunk, though he might have been the worse for liquor. Sergeant Ready went into Urwin’s Hotel on the occurrence of the row, when Mr. Urwin insisted on prosecutrix being taken into custody for assaulting him. He wished witness to put her out of the house, but he (Ready) suggested that she should have time. Mrs. Urwin was then abusing prosecutrix violently, and Mr. Urwin complained that he could get no assistance from the police. They always had had a “ down” upon witness and abused him frightfully. This being the whole of the evidence for the prosecution, the following evidence was called for the defence.

John Clayton said he was in Urwin’s place on Friday, when Urwin came down and called to the barmaid, and told her he could not allow anyone to be served whilst under the influence of drink. Mr. Urwin ordered prosecutrix to leave the bar six or seven times, but she refused until she got her wages. Mrs. Urwin then asked to go away quietly, and not to create a disturbance. She refused, and Mr, Urwin took her by the arm and pushed her out. She then got hold of the top of the bar, so that he could not move her, and struck him on the face. With the assistance of the cook she was removed, but she was very abusive, and called Mrs. Urwin a low creature. Didn’t see Mr. Urwin strike her.

By prosecutrix : Mr. Urwin considered you had robbed him by taking brandy. The person served was drunk. ’.

A. Comford, billiard marker,-'said he heard a row, during which Mr. XJrwin said he would not allow drunken persons to be served in his house. She said she was there to serve liquor and if he didn’t like it he could lump it. Mr, Urwin then told her to leave, and upon her refusal Mr. Urwin shoved her. She smacked his face, but he didn’t strike her. r H. Bird, the cook, deposed to assisting_ to get prosecutrix out of the bar, and to seeing her hit Urwin in the eye. His Worship dismissed the case.