RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1289, 25 May 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before T. W. Parker, Esq., R.M.) DKUNK. John Rochford, charged with the above offence, was ordered to pay a fine of 53, or to go to gaol for 24 hours. I'IOHTINCJ. Frank Gibbin, charged with committing a breach of the peace in Thames-street last evening, was fined 255. ILLEGITIMATE CHILD. Adam Thpmson was called upon to show cause why he should not support his illegitimate 'child, and was remanded till Thursday next. NEGLECTED CHILD. John Laughlin, a; - neglected child, was remanded till Thursday next. Bernard O'Grady; of Reidston, was charged with having sold one glass of wine to Robert Horsman, on the 16th May, contrary, &c. Inspector Thompson prosecuted, and Mr. Hislop appeared for the defendant, and pleaded not guilty. George Finn deposed that on Sunday, the 16th inst., he left Oamaru with a boy named Haggie (now deceased). They went to Reidston, and at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon they visited defendant's house. They went into the sitting-room, and saw there defendant and two other men. Defendant gave them some biscuits, and. asked them what drink they would have. Witness had wine, and Haggie had lemonade. After they had this a man named Dick told defendant to give them another drink, and witness again had wine, deceased taking shandygaff. The two men present had beer. Defendant then told Dick that he wanted half-a-crown. Witness was not sure whether Dick gave him 3s or 3s 6d, but he saw money pass between them. Defendant said he would owe Dick 6d.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hislop: Witness believed that the two men left the house \vith him. There was an interval of about five minutes between the two! . drinks.. Defendant* brought the beer into the room in two glasses, but witness could not say where ; it was brought from. He did not gather from what was said that the money was for the drinks, but he supposed it was for the drinks, as the liquor had been supplied. . : George Matthews gave evidence to the effect that he visited the house of the defendant twice on the 16th irist.-—once in the morning and price in the afternoon.; He had a glass of beer in the house in the afternoon. Horsman also had a, drink.; P&fen&at WW Hot asked in Iris (witness')

hearing to supply the drinks.' Horsman was paying defendant an account, arid witness thought that wa3 the reason why the drinks were supplied. Witness saw only one boy come into the house while he was there. He was not sure if there were two boys in the room, as he left three minutes after Haggie came in. Witness did not see any money pass between Horsman and defendant. He would swear that the two boys were not in the room that he was in. He did not see the last witness in the house. He was sober at the time, but he believed Horsman was'a little the worse for liquor.

His Worship : If you have been speaking the truth, the occurrence that took place oh that day must have made little impression on your mind.

• Richard Horsman, a ploughman, deposed that he. remembered the 16th instant. He was at defendant's, house on that day, at about two o'clock. He paid an account, and then asked defendant to " shout." They had some beer. Witness saw Haggie in the house, but ho had no recollection of seeing Finn there. He saw the boy Haggie eating some biscuits, but he did not see him drinking anything. The amount of the account was the only money witness paid to defendant on that day, •Cross-examined by Mr. Hislop : I will swear that I did no.t pay defendant any money for drinks on that day. After Mr. Hislop had addressed the Bench, his Worship dismissed the case. [Left sitting.]