RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5371, 14 June 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Thursday, June 13. (Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., K.M.) HUSBAND AND WIFE. John Maher, who was brought up a few days ago on a charge of suspected lunacy and discharged, was again summoned by his wife for having assaulted her on June 12. The complainant deposed that her husband had been drunk ever since his Worship let him off on the previous occasion. He used abusive language, called her bad names, and prevented her from earning a livelihood for her three children. Because she could not write, the defendant called her a most ignorant Irish PigDefendant was sworn by desire, and said he had been drinking some tea months ago, and was then put in the hands of the law by his wife. Since then he had been a teetotaller until last Monday week, when he was brought up on a charge of lunacy, and when his wife could not prove it, he went up to a clergyman and gave up the pledge for a month. His wife was continually saying to him, “ You rascal, you are in the hands of the law.” She aggravated him, and hand he never raised to her since the time he gave up drink, ten months ago. Nine-tenths of her statement was a perjury. She should have stated that ho was cooking in the kitchen, and general manager, looking after twelve boarders, running about day and night, and working hard. They were going on fourteen years married, and his wire was most impertinent to him. There was not one of the public who could say that he ever spoke a low word to them, but ho must say that his wife's language was rather low at times. That was the cause of the whole row. She was continually annoying him in the height of his business. He had not a good intellect at the best of times, and when he broke the pledge it was rather worse. >Ho would like to know why his wife had taken out a warrant instead of a summons. By taking out a summons it would have given him a fair chance of bringing evidence to prove hia character. 1 1 , His Worship; That does not affect the question now. You could bring witnesses under any circumstances. Defendant: I could bring evidence of good character. Yesterday morning I got up at 5 o’clock, and worked hard until the dinner was cooked. My wife stated I was drunk all day, and I wish to bring evidence to prove that I was not. His Worship ; It is quite clear that you are not a happy couple. (To defendant :) I shall bind you over to keep the peace for a month in £lO, and one surety of £lO. If you cannot keep quiet, in all likelihood you wifi, be bound over for six months. You are also ordered to pay costs. ' ' Defendant : Thank your Worship. CONSTABULARY POLICE ORDINANCE, &0. :: The case against Charles Taylor, and a number of cases brought under clause 189 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, were adjourned until next day at eleven o’clock. Mi*. Travers will appear for the City Council, and Mr. Gordon Allan for defendant in the case against Charles Taylor. PROVOKING A BREACH OP THE PEACE. George Underwood was charged by Henry James Underwood with provoking a breach of the peace. The charge was proved* and defendant was bound over to keep the peace for three months, himself in £2O, and one surety of £lO, Defendant to pay costs (95.) PROTECTION ORDER. Johu Deborde was summoned by Sarah Deborde under the Married Woman's Property Protection Act. Complainant stated that her husband got drunk every week, and when drunk he was like a madman. He threatened her life, and sharpened knives to kill her. Both herself and children had been made ill by his threats. He was drunk last Friday and Saturday, and violent. She had four children, aged respectively 12, 6,3, and 1 years. She wished to have the custody of the children, and maintenance for the three younger ones. Her husband was a smith and fitter at Mills’, His wages were 9s. a day. James Harding deposed that the Debordes lived in the same cottage as himself. Hia wife and himself occupied the front, and the Debordes the back. He had both seen and heard the defendant intoxicated. He was very violent when drank, and quiet when sober. His drinking was at least of weekly occurrence. He had heard him abuse his wife. He (witness) had been in the house for six months. During at least three months defendant had been drunk every week. His Worship issued a protection’ order ; the wife to have custody of the children, and defendant to pay £1 per week for the support of the children, and costs. NEGLIGENT DRIVING. D. McKenzie was fined 10s. and costs for driving round a corner at other than a walking pace. CIVIL CASE. L. T. Bowden v. T. Gush.—Claim, £ll4s. Judgment for amount claimed and costs, 11s. Zohrah, Knocker and Co. v. E. E. Metero. —Claim, £43 I7s. 6d. Judgment for amount, claimed and costs. , Alcorn v. Vincent.—Claim, £3 7s. 3d.Judgmcnt for amount claimed and costs.