RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4851, 9 October 1876, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Saturday; October 7.| There were two cases of drunkenness, and the offenders: were dealt. with in the usual manner. ’ : HOME LIFE. ' Samuel Banks was charged with having assaulted his wife Florence Banks ©n the 4th inst. ' ; ... . Mr. OUivier appeared for complainant, Mr Allan for defendant. . . ’ The particulars' of the case' were of a dis ; tressirig character. It appeared that the peace of the family circle, which consisted of the parties to the action, their children, and some relations of the wife, hadbeen disturbed chiefly by the jealousy of the husband, and perhaps assisted by the fact of their being two'many captains in the ship—that is. Banks 1 did not seem to be-recognised as sole head of the household. Mrs. Banks, a very delicate-look-ing woman, gave evidence as to her husband’s cruelty ; that he beat her, knocked her down, and on one occasion, after being prevented by anothermah from sfrikingher with a brandy bottle, he threw a knife at her. While under crossexamination by Mr. Allan Mrs. Banks fainted. On the first occasion of the case coming before the Court she was similarly attacked immediately after swearing to the information against her husband.' The case occupied some time _in hearing, the evidence on both sides being lengthy, and as is generally found with a certain class of witnesses, these" had to be permitted to give their statements in their own way, the consequence naturally being that a a good deal of unnecessary talk had to be' listened to in order to select points of importance occasionally let lall amid a torrent of words. The defendant Of course gave a very different version of tile'case from that given by his wife. There appeared to have been faults On both sides, 1 Mrs. Banks having neglected certain duties, becoming a wife, such as consist in the preparation of her husband’s meals at seasonable times and in ‘ a proper manner. Defendant i complained that Mrs. Banks had set him to work cooking soup for himself whilst she was out in the yard sitting down with a female relation engaged in the questionable amusement of learning how to swear; bad language, he alleged, being peculiar to’ the former lady. He denied that he had illtreated his wife ,in the manner stated although the latter 'showed on lier arms the, marks of hard and-brutal usage. His Worship met the case by binding defendant over to keep the peace for three months, himself in £2O, and one surety in a like amount.

Mrs. : Banks had applied for a protection order, but no evidence was taken, counsel agreeing to let the evidence in the former case answer-tor this. His Worship granted the order,' defendant to pay 10s. a week towards the support of his youngest child. He was permitted to take charge of the eldest, a boy, as there was no evidence ’to show that he had ever been guilty of unkindness towards the children. * ’