RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 25, 3 February 1863, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before M. Price, Esq., K. M.) Fmday, 30th January. Inebriates. — Daniel Collins -was mulcted in the penalty of 20s. for being drunk and disorderly. Wrn. Brown, who was guilty of only the former offence, got off for ss. Tub Alleged Criminal Assault. — Thos. Burns was again brought up on the charge of having committed a criminal assault on the person of Ellen Crisp. Prisoner was defended by Mr. South, and Mr. Harvey conducted the prosecution. Ellen Crisp deposed to the assault, and identified the prisoner as the person who attacked her. J. H. Hodkins deposed to seeing prisoner run past him without a hat, and a hat produced in Court, which had been picked up near the place of assault, was said by John Thomson to belong to the prisoner. Each of these witnesses were examined at considerable length, and the case was remanded till Monday. SATTTKrJAY, 31sT JANUARY. Dkunk. — George AVorrell, for being the worse for liquor in Tay-street, was fined in 10s. Assault. — George Clarke was accused of assaulting Mr. K G. Hoskins, in the Criterion Restaurant. Prisoner had been a boarder in the Criterion, and on Friday wished to take up his old quarters, . but being tipsy and unruly his company was not wanted there. After some altercation, " mine host" was assaulted, for which prisoner got fined in 10s. Bush JBuhniiig.— J. E. l\. Taylor was charged, v,i(-h, illegally burning buah in the

town of Invercargill. After hearing evidence, the case was dismissed, it not being clear that defendant, who was employed to clear the the section, had set fire to the wood. Monday, 2nd Februaxit. Robbery. — Daniel Collins was charged with stealing £4 or thereby from the person of William Henry Fitzgerald, on tlie previous day. Prosecutor, who described himself as a mariner, stated tfiat he left the Golden Fleece on Sunday forenoon, in company with the prisoner, whom he did not know, except from seeing him about the town. Together they had some liquor in Cameron's, more in Livesey'B, and after that prosecutor missed his purse. Up to this point his evidence was given with tolerable clearness, but he foundered so much that he was ordered out of the witness-box as not being in a fit condition to appeal there. The case wjjs remanded till Tuesday. The Criminal Assault.— Thomas Burns was again placed in the dock, and Mr. Harvey (for the prosecution) stated that on consideration of the evidence given on Friday, they would now depart from the graver charge, and ask summary judgment for a common assault. Hia Worship thought that was the wisest course. Mr. South accepted the withdrawal, and contended that the evidence did not bring home the lesser offence to the prisoner. His Worship said there was not the shadow of a doubt but an assault had been committed, and by the prisoner. After commenting on the circumstances of the case, he inflicted .the highest penalty, viz., two months' imprisonment with hard labor. The Effect ot Nobblers. — The case of Peter Tray nor, remanded from Thursday, was then heard, that individual being now ablfl to hear what could be said regarding his sanity. Dr. M'Clure said that Traynor was now completely recovered from delirium 'remens, caused by excessive drinking. With a warning lecture from the Bench, the poor man was dismissed, and he left the dock promising to shun the vice for the future. — The case of SVelsley Despard, which was next brought up, had a similar origin, with this difference, that the effect was a series of epileptic fits, during the continuance of which he was perfectly insane. A rernaud for a week was granted, Dr. M'Clure stating that it was quite impossible Despard could then be brought into Court.