RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.—GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1353, 8 September 1883, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.—GISBORNE.

[Before E. K. Brown, and A. Graham, Esqrs. J.P’s.] Thursday. A Native was brought up charged on the information of the police, widi furious riding iu the Glad-tone Road. Constable banner gave evidence of the fact, and W. Daly, sei th r, and H. Brown, who described himself as a journalist, corroborated the former s rtatein.-nt. L’lie wi< nesses asked f- r expenses, and the Bench fined the defendant £l. and costs of Court 7s, together with 5s for each witness. The Native said the witnesses had told lies, and he would not pay, but go to prison. Friday. [Before W. H. Tucker and W, Common, Esqr’s., J.P’s.] J. Ponsfoud v. 0. Hubble. Mr Rees appeared for plaintiff. Mr O. Hubble was charged on the information of the plaintiff with a violent assault, by striking him (plaintiff) on the face with his fist, on the Ist of the present month. The circumstances of the case, as set forth by Mr Rees, are briefly as follows The plaintiff is the contractor for the Athauaaum ijui.diugr, and sonic dispute arose about the work. Air Ponsl’ord saw Lhe defendant on tne premia* 8 and ordered him off, when the defendant struck tne plaintiff in the face. The defeti latit pleaued justification. Mr John P.nsioid was present on the buildings on the Ist of {September, and saw the defendant there. He asked him his business there, when the defendant struck him with his fist in the mouth. He never t ave any provocation beyond ordering him off the preini'-i-s. Messrs Smith, Hepburn, and TutC'ien were present. When he (t onsfonl) ordered Habile off the premises lie received a blow in r* turn. Air U. Smith was present at the time of the assault. Air Ponsford ordered Hubble off the premises, and accompanied the order by pushing Hubble He was not certain whether ne pushed him twice. He ••ertuiul* p ish d him once. He (Mnith) invited Hubbit there The reason why he invited, ilubb.e there was that a complain! had been ma le to i im that the work w»4 not being carried out properly. Mid as he thought the Engineer’s time had expired, he naked Hubble to pass an opinion as an txp rt. He did nut, as a Borough Councillor, know Mr E.nneian in the matter Air 1 ut< hen said that Mr Smith sent for him last Saturday and asked him, as a ineinbe*- of the F. vV. Committee, to come and inspect the work. I’hej wei t to the building, and Air Ponsford seized hold of Air Hubbie and said “ here, you clear oat of this.” Air Smith and he stopped the work, as they thought U was not being carried on properly Lhe Engineer nad been taken on again unknown to every mein tier of the Uouu il. He wgs certain rhat Ponslord caught hold of Hubble fist. Ponsford had hold of Hubble when the h ovv was si ruck. Mr Hepburn was perfectly clear that lhe plaint iff nad collared the defendant before the blow was struck. The defendant said Mr Ponsfurd ran at him like ‘ a hungry bull at a hay slack.” Ihe Bench decided to reserve judgment until to-morrow murmng at LO AO. POLICK v. •» ONES AND WaRKEN. Mr Kenny appeared for the defendant Jones. This case arose out of a dispute about a dug. Constable Wilson sia'edthuton September Ist he saw the two defendants in the Gladstone Kuad disputing ibout a dog, and a scuffle endued, and ne had i > part them, l’he defendant Warren then walked a*ay down the road. L’he defendant J me* followed Warren, and rushed at him and collared the dog. He t.uen had some difficulty in again patting them. He was sure that Warren wa.ked away and tliut Junes went after him. He did not see any blows struck. They were scuffling f *r possession of the d *g. J. Henderson saw the defendant standing close by the fence at Townley’s store, when Jones ottered a pound note for the dog. Warren refused and walked away. Jones followed and a struggle ensued. No blown were struck. Air Kenny submitted that no breach of the Act had been committed. The police had been somewhat over zealous iu this matter. It had merely been a struggle for possession oi the dog. G. Jones stated that he was in the Masonic Hotel and saw the dog, which he offered £1 for. Mr Warren agreed to take that amount, and said he would go and get the collar and number. But he never came back. He (Jones) then followed the dog and took him up on his shoulder, when the other defendant caught the dog by the tail, and pulled both dog aud him over on their backs. He h id never followed the defendant as stated. There was only one struggle, and that was when he was pulh-d over on his hack. Orme < >l.-en saw the two defendants at Page’s, and saw Jones with a dog and a note in his hand. Jones offered £1 for the dog, wh ch Warren refused J. Warren said he was offered £1 for the dog by Jones' He said “ All right. ’ H*left, and s ood outside the Masonic, and saw Jones go up the road with his dog. He let Jones go as far as Townley’s, when he went and took the dog from him. Joins 'hen struck him with a whip. He followed him (witness), threw him down, and got him by the throat. The police came up about ’ alf a minute alter the commencement. T tere were two struggles. Mr H. Bruce saw Jones and Warren ■struggling between Townley’s and Teat’He saw that Jones had Warren bv the throat. He pulled Jones off, and Warren walked away Their Worships said they did not want to hear any more evidence called. Thev saw that the attempted site was only a joke. There was more excuse for Warren than f*»r Jones. Warren would be fined Is aid costs 5s ; and Joues ss, and costs, 7s 6d. Tne tines were immediately paid.