RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5102, 31 July 1877, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Monday, July 30. {Before his Worship the Mayor and J. E. Smith, Esq., J.P.) DRUNKENNESS. ' Two men, charged with having been drunk and incapable, were dealt with in the usual manner. THE CASE OF MICHAEL LAPPIN. Michael Baffin, whose name has now become notorious in town, was brought up. The Inspector of Police stated what was known of the man. He had brutally ill-treated his wife while she was in an extremely delicate state of health, and the unfortunate woman shortly afterwards died. Since that time prisoner had done a term of imprisonment, and on being released upon the expiration of the term to which he was sentenced, he did not attempt to gain a livelihood honestly, but had gone about begging and practising impositions upon numbers Of people. There were a great many complaints against him, and a remand was asked for in order to enable the police to procure evidence. Eemand granted. CRIMINAL ASSAULT. Frederick Gillan was brought up on remand, charged with having criminally assaulted a child named Augusta Clements. The evidence taken in the case, which is obviously unfit for publication, showed that a very gross assault had been perpetrated. Prisoner, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. COMMON ASSAULT. George Scrimshaw. was charged with assaulting his wife at an early hour that morning at the Lower Hutt. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mi - . Gordon Allan. Constable Stewart deposed to being sent for to quell a disturbance at Mr. Scrimshaw’s house. When he got there he saw the defendant kneeling on his wife’s chest, and apparently trying to smother her with a pillow, which he held over her mouth. In reply to Mr. Allan, the witness said that some hours previously to the occurrence Mr. Scrimshaw had called at the police station and made some complaint about his wife’s conduct. He had on former occasions given her into custody for assaulting him, but when the matter came before the Court had withdrawn the charge. The magistrates dismissed the case, with a caution to both parties to be more seemly in their behavior for the. future.