RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 962, 20 July 1881, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT, GISBORNE.

Tuesday, June 19th, 1881. [Before M. Phice, Esq., R.M.] J. Boardman Dawson was arrainged before his Worship on a charge of lunacy. Sergeant Bullen deposed : I am Sergeant in the Armed Canstabulary stationed at Gisborne. Last evening Dawson came to •my private residence, and said “ I am going to play my last card. I either want Mrs. Dawson arrested, or a constable to watch my house, as I am afraid of my wife. He said his wife bad threatened to kill him, and that Mr. Turton and Mr. Fraser were witnesses. Subsequently he asked me if I had a heart that could feel for a woman. I said I had. He replied, “ It’s no damned use my speaking to you. If I had your wife with a man’s shoes on, and that girl at Madame DeCosta’s with a man’s shoes on, I could rule Gisborne. How is it that men feel for women, and women don’t feel for men ?” I said “ I don’t know.” He replied, “ It is because of the devil.” All this time Dawson was in a frightfully excited state and wandered away about some telegrams he had sent to Sir George Grey. He enquired if I would arrest his wife. I said no.. He then replied, “I will play my last card. I charge her with murder.” I told him I could not allow him to go away, as I did not consider it safe either for himself or others. He did not appear to be suffering from drink. I have not seen him so excited before. I have watched him for some days. He has not been so incoherent before. Dr. Pollen and Dr. Percy gave evidence to the effect that on examination they found that Dawson was not in a fit state to be at large. He was incoherent and wandering in his ideas. These did not arise from the effects of drink. Dawson said bis wife was trying to murder him. When he began a day’s work he was obliged to stop to think about public and sanitary matters. It was thought proper to send him to a lunatic asylum. He is not safe to be at large. Dawson put some questions to Dr. Pollen, tending to show that he [the Dr.] was not competent to judge on a question of lunacy. He also interrogated Dr. Percy upon several subjects which; while they did not betray any advanced symptoms of confirmed lunacy, were of such a nature as evidenced anything but a mens sana in corpore sano. After consultation his Worship decided to commit Dawson to the Napier Asylum for medical treatment. HOANA V. G. K. TURTON. Mr. Rees appeared for the plaintiff and said he had only been just previously instructed in the matter, and from what he saw of the ease he thought it should not have been brought in the present shape, and advised that the plaintiff should offer no evidence. He had seen sufficient of the matter to say that there were no good grounds for proceeding. On that understanding His Worship felt

satisfied that Mr. Rees’ application for a withdrawal of the information should be allowed ; and felt satisfied that no criminal intention lay at the door of the accused. Mr. Turton said he had only acted in a strictly professional manner in this case. He held a cheque belonging to the plaintiff, over which he had a lien, for £2 2s, and he was prepared to hand it over to anyone authorised to receive it. His Worship was very glad to find that the case had been withdrawn. 11. E. WEBB V. J. DICK. Judgment summons. Claim £7 ss. No appearance of defendant.-r Judgment for plaintiff ex parte, the amount to be paid in full with costs of Court, on or before Tuesday the 26th, or in default, one month’s imprisonment. S. STEVENSON V. A. LEDGER. Mr. Brassey for plaintiff, Mr. McDougall for defendant. Claim £2O for horse hire and value of a saddle. From the evidence of the plaintiff it appeared that the defendant hired a horse from him on the 21st June to go to Tologa Bay. There was no special agreement. The horse and saddle have not been returned. Ledger said he would pay for three days, and Stevenson could have the horse if he sent for it. By Mr. McDougall : I deny that Ledger said that Mr. Turton wanted a horse. Ledger said he wanted a horse for Mr. Turton, and would be responsible for it for three days. I do not know personally to whom the horse was delivered. A. Ledger sworn deposed, that he went to Stevenson for a horse to go to Tologa Bay as a witness in a case in the Resident , Magistrate’s Court. He said Mr. Turton will want a horse, for which he, plaintiff guaranteed 3 day’s pay. He knew nothing of Mr. Turton getting the horse. By Mr. Brassey : —I did not supply Mr. Turton with the horse. Stevenson said he would not let Turton have the horse without a guarantee. I gave Stevenson the guarantee for 3 days only. Judgment for plaintiff, £l2 with costs. COOK COUNTY COUNCIL V CALLAGHAN. ’ Claim 10s for rates, judgment for plaintiffs with, costs. A. GILLIES V. C. W. BULLER. Claim £l3 10s for Commission. Mr. Nolan foy plaintiff. Defendant pleaded not indebted A nonsuit was accepted in order to allow the plaintiff an opportunity to amend plaint.