RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4410, 8 May 1875, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Eeiday, May 7. (Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., R.M.) VAGRANCY. William Taylor was charged with vagrancy. It appeared that the defendant went to the police-station about 5 p.m. on Thursday evening, and demanded a night’s lodging, stating that he had just finished his work at Johnsonville, and was unable to obtain the necessary accommodation elsewhere. His character not being one of the best, his Worship sentenced him to one calendar month, with hard labor. THEFT FROM AN HOTEL. Augustus Yelverton, a member of the notorious family of that name, was charged with stealing a chair, value Ss., from the Empire Hotel. Constable MoWilliam said ; Yesterday morning my attention was called to the prisoner, who was walking up Willis-street. X went after him, and arrested him in a yard behind the fire-engine depot. I then brought him back to where he had planted the chair. Hr. Moeller came up and claimed it as his property. Ms. James Mason said he was going up Willis-street a few minutes before ten o’clock on Thursday morning, and saw the prisoner on the opposite side of the street, below Mr. Miller’s Hotel. He then crossed over to the Empire Hotel, went into the yard, and afterwards came out with the chair produced. He then went to Murphy’s Melbourne Hotel with the chair, and was turned out. Told the constable the chair belonged to Mr. Moeller. It was found behind a gate, opposite the Melbourne Hotel. The prisoner urged in his defence that there was no evidence on which to convict him, and took exception to the slang term used by the constable in saying that the chair had been “ planted.” His Worship, on being informed by Sergeant Monaghan that there were previous convictions against the prisoner in Dunedin and Wellington, sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment, with hard labor. LUNACY. Peter Costin, on suspicion of lunacy, was remanded for three days. ASSAULT. James W. Davison was charged with assaulting E. D. Judd. This was a painful case. Mr. Gordon Allan appeared for the complainant, Master Judd ; and Mi-. Buckley for the defendant. E. D. Judd, a youth of eleven years of age, being sworn, stated : The defendant is my stepfather. I live with him at the Waiwetu. My mother and two brothers also live there. I remember last Eriday very well; my father was at home then. I was in the _ street when he went in. He ordered me to light a lamp. I immediately did so, and brought it to him. He then said that I was to stand at , the door and light him in. He was carrying in potatoes from a cart at the time. I held the light as best I could. He suddenly struck me with his fist in the back, which knocked me down. Whilst I was on the ground he lacked me severely. I felt pain at the time, and still continue to do so. I then ran away. Cross-examined by Mr. Buckley : This all happened on Eriday. My brother advised me to take this action against my stepfather. As far as I know, they are on tolerably good terms. My mother has never beaten me for bad behaviour towards my stepfather. It was about 6 p.m. when the assault complained of took place. My stepfather was drunk at the time. Nobody told me to say he was drunk ; I could see it myself. I know a Mrs. Ward. I did not see her after the beating. She did not speak to me at all about it. Cross-examined by Mr. Allan : My step-; father was not walking steadily ; he was without doubt drunk. I told my brother, who does not live with us. He advised me to take this action. I am not sent to any school. Cannot write. My sister taught me to read. Samuel Judd : I am brother to the complainant. We both live with our I was at homo on Eriday, and Davison assault my My stepfather is usually kind when he is sober, but when ho is drunk, he is very unkind. He has previously threat-; ened to take my brother up by the heels and dash his brains out. 1 Thomas Judd : I am older brother, of the two boys. The property on which Davison lives belongs to the two boys. He does not pay any rent for it. On Eriday last they both, came to my place and made a complaint to mo, about the assault/ I then advised them proceedings against Davison. Cross-examined: I have asked the trustee if the rent has been

paid. He said that he had not received any. My mother lost the property on her marriage with Davison. I never in any way endeavored to persuade the boys to leave their mother. I have always supported them. They have frequeatly complained to me about the ill-usage they received from Davison. Mr. Buckley addressed the Bench for the defence, and called Mrs, Ward, who, being sworn, stated : lam a married woman, and live at the Hutt. I know both the defendant and the complainant. I remember last Friday very distinctly, E. D. Judd, the complainant, came to me and told me that Davison had shaken him.

Miss Judd was subsequently questioned, without being on oath, and disclosed a most deplorable state of family quarrelling. Ultimately the defendant was fined 10s., and costs, or, in default, forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. WAGES. A rather amusing case of disputed wages, between Stephen Malan, a French Canadian, and Hubert Shilling, master of the ketch Dido, was heard, resulting in judgment for the amount paid into court, plaintiff to pay costs.