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RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Wednesday, July 14. (Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Peter Gilligan for this offence was fined 55., or in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. ASSAULT. Mrs. Mary Ann Bell charged her son, Richard J. Bell, aged eighteen, with assaulting her on the afternoon of July 8. Mrs. Bell deposed that her son came down stairs on the above date, at two o’clock in the afternoon, and demanded his breakfast, which was given him by his youngest sister. On his refusing to take it, witness told him he would get no more. He then struck her three times on the breast, and shook her very severely, at the same time calling her “a drunken old ,” and making use of obscene language. This was not the first time defendant had struck her ; he had done so frequently both in England and out here. When the policeman came with the summons, the prisoner threatened to knock witness down stairs if she did not leave the house. Defendant had not been working for some time past, nor did he intend to work, as he said ho would make his father and mother keep him. Defendant denied the charge, and stated that he had only put his arms round bis mother’s waist to protect himself from a fork with which she was making a thrust at him. Isabella Bell, sister to the prisoner, said she did not see her brother strike his mother. On the afternoon of the Bth July he came down stairs and asked for his breakfast. My mother,

who had been drinking, said something to him about frequeutiug Mrs. Mason’s house, and he called her “a drunken old .” On further examination witness stated she could not see whether the prisoner struck his mother as she (witness) was in the next room. Sergeant Monaghan said that the prisoner, with several other young men, were iu the habit of frequenting Mrs. Mason’s. Richard Bell, the father of the prisoner, said he thought the cause of it all was the mother’s excessive drinking. Bor days and nights she would stop away from home. The night previous to duly 8 she had slept in another man’s house. When in drink she had a very violent temper. His son had been very kind to his parents, and when in work had given them all his wages. For some time past he has not been doing anything. Witness did not believe the prisoner had struck his mother, hut had put his arms round her waist to protect himself from a fork which she had in her hand. Witness was not present at the time. His sou was in the habit of frequenting Mrs. Mason’s. His Worship severely reprimanded the prisoner for his conduct. He would uot send him to gaol, as it would make him worse. After warning the defendant against frequenting such houses as Mrs. Mason’s, he dismissed the case. There were no civil cases.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18750715.2.16

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4468, 15 July 1875, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
491

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4468, 15 July 1875, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4468, 15 July 1875, Page 3

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