RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5846, 24 December 1879, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Tuesday, December 23. (Before Messrs, R. J. Duncan and T. G. Macarthy, J.F.'s.) THE DOUBLE VOTING CASE.) William Hales was ag in brought up on remand, charged with having voted twice at the recent Wellington Country Districts election. Upon the application of Mr. Bell, the case was further remanded till next day. (Before Messrs. E. J. Duncan and W. Seed, J.F.’s.) A STOWAWAY. W. H. Winter was charged with surreptitiously obtaining a passage in the s.s. Rangatira from Vvanganui to Wellington, but as it appeared that the matter had been settled, the case was dismissed. CITY BY-LAWS. Thomas Taylor, for leaving a hackney carriage unattended in Featherston-street, was fined 10s. and costs ; and James Gear, for allowing a horse to wander in Tasman-street, was similarly dealt with. ASSAULT. A trumpery charge of assault, preferred by Bridget Hastings against Mrs. Brodie, was dismissed without the defence being heard. Mr. fitzherbert appeared on behalf of the defendant. Christopher Appling was charged with having, on the 9th December, assaulted and beaten John Chew, Upper Kaiwarra. Mr. Bell appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Fitzherbert for defendant. A cross information was also laid. Mr. Bell having opened the case, called John Chew, who deposed that on the day in question he had walked along the railway line, and was just off his own ground and on defendant’s, when the latter came up to him, and wanted to know what he was sneaking on his (defendant’s) ground for. After some altercation defendant assaulted him, tearing his clothes, hitting and kicking him, etc. The torn clothes were shown in Court. Dr. Harding deposed to having examined Mr. Chew, and finding some bruises upon his thighs. Complainant was suffering from nervous debility. Two other witnesses having been examined, the defence was entered upon, Mr. Fitzherbert stating that Mr. Chew had refused to go off tlie land when requested, but had deliberately laid down. Defendant had consequently dragged him off, using no unnecessary violence in doing so. Defendant was then put in the box, aud deposed to Mr. Fitzberbert’s statement, also stating that he uever struck Mr. Chew. Other witnesses having been examined, the Bench decided that an assault of an aggravated character had been committed by Appling, and inflicted a fine of £5 and costs, the cross-sum-mons being dismissed. Mr. Bell applied that defendant be also bound over to keep the peace, and the Bench consequently ordered him to enter into his own recognisances of £25 to keep the peace for three months.