RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4500, 23 August 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Saturday, August 21. (Before J. 0. Crawford, Esq., R.M.) DRUNKENNESS, &C. Edward Tuohy, convicted of drunkenness, was fined 205., or in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. Daniel Lusty, charged with drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and with assaulting a constable, was fined 405., or in default seven days hard labor. LUNACY. John Eagon was brought up on suspicion of lunacy, and was remanded until this day. . assault, &c. L. W. Thompson was charged with committing a breach of the Impounding Act, and also with assaulting W. Thompson. The prisoner had been summoned for last Saturday week, but as he did not appear in answer to the summons, a warrant was issued, and he was arrested. Mr. Moorhouse appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Bell for the defence. It appeared from the evidence that the complainaut was a schoolmaster, and the defendant a blacksmith, both residing at Taita. Some horses belonging to the defendant strayed into the school enclosure. Complainant and his boys were taking the horses to the pound, when the defendant rushed in among them

and dispersed the horses the boys and the complainant. Afterwards the defendant way* laid the complainant, and came behind' him and assaulted him in a most brutal and violent manner, leaving marks on his face which lasted for days.

For the defence Mr." Bell impugned the complainant s right to impound the horses, on the ground that he was not in legal occupation of the land, and endeavored to show that the account of the assault was exaggerated. The Bench overruled the first point, and fined the defendant 20s. for the breach of the Impounding Act, and costs. The assault was characterised as a most brutal one. The defendant for this offence was fined £5, and costs (including witnesses expenses and counsel’s fees), or, in default of payment, one month’s imprisonment, with hard labor. The Bench also ordered the defendant to he bound over to keep the peace for six months, in consequence of the threats he had used, himself in £25, and two sureties for a like amount. CIVIL CASES. There were three civil cases, all of which were settled out of court.