RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5276, 21 February 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Wednesday, February 20. (Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., 11. M.) Mary Pigram was charged witli having been drunk and incapable; but as it appeared that the accused had only fallen down in a fit she was discharged. William Harris was charged with drunk and disorderly conduct. Constable Sullivan deposed that prisoner was acting like a madman, and threatened to split his (the constable's) head open with an ax». The accused said he was drunk, and did not know what he was about. Elizabeth Harris, the wife of accused, who bore on her face marks of violence, requested to be allowed to give evidence, and told a very pitiful story to the Court, which was to the effect that she had been married for two years, and had been during that time frequently subjected to acts of cruelty on the pait of her husband. He would send her out at all sorts o' times, often at uight time, to get food by any means so long as she got it, and if she returned without any he would beat her moss unmercifully. On the previous evening he had caught hold of her, dragged her along the floor by the hair, and had split her head open with a sugar basin. Ob the charge of drunkenness the accused was fined 205., in default 48 hours’ imprisonment. Mrs. Harris said she wanted a married woman's property protection order. The Prisoner (appealingly): Liz., can I see you outside? The Wife: No, I do not wish to speak to yon. An application for an order was then made out. It transpired that there was one child by the marriage, a little girl, two and a halt years old, and the accused wanted to have charge of it, but the magistrate considered he was not fit. The order was granted, Mrs. Harris to have the custody of the child, anil the defendant to pay costs.