"RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURI

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 314, 23 October 1860, Page 2

"RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURI

October 20, 1860. [Before J. Pointer, Resident Magistrate, J. B. Wemvss, and R. K. Newcome, Esqrs.] John Carter, limeburner, was charged by George Blick, with having committed an assault on Elizabeth Hannah Blick, his daughter. Mr. Adams for the prosecuton, and Mr. Kingdon for the defence. The Resident Magistrate said that the prosecutor had applied for a private hearing of the case, and as there was no objection to the course, the Court must be cleared. A larger number of persons than usually attend the Court were therefore expelled, leaving only a few friends of the parties concerned to hear the case, which for the greater part is of a nature to preclude publication. Elizabeth Hannah Blick, sworn: I know the prisoner Mr. Carter; remember seeing him about tliree weeks ago ; saw him at my father's house. He came into the kitchen and asked me if I could go over to his house in the afternoon ; this was last Tuesday three weeks. Witness lives m Brontistveet, and the prisoner lives on the Waimearoad; prisoner said he had something to send to ray grandmother; has been in the habit tf coming to my father's house; saw him a short time before the previous Tuesday in question; by mother went up the Waimea to grandmother's on the baturday previous, she came back on the following Wednesday, the day after the offence was committed. Told him she was going to her grandmother's ; when he came to our house he asked me where my mother was. and told him she was gone to the Waimea. He told me if I would call at his place he had something to send to her; witness did so, and he gave me six oranges to take to her; it was in the afternoon about three o'clock; witness knocked at the door and prisoner answered it; did not see any one there ;he asked me _to go in, which witness'did, and when she had got in the prisoner took her on his knee and kissed her, &c, &c (The witness here described the offence as having been perpetrated in the bedroom, the details being of a very flagrant character). * * * Was very frightened and was afraid to cry out tor fear he would strangle me ; he then gave me the oranges and I came away home. That was all that took place at that time. Did not tell my parents when I got home. Once during last summer the kissed me, but did not attempt to takeanyfurther liberties ; but he has done so since. He came to our house about three months previous to this Tuesday, and asked my mother to let me go to his house to get some oranges, which she did. I knocked at the door when prisoner answered it; he took me by the hand and led me into the front reom, and committed the act before-mentioned. Told my mother of the circumstance the day before yesterday. Told her in consequence of something that led her to ask me about it. Told her all about it. Went up to my grandmother's the day my mother came home. Have been home a week to-day. Did not like to tell my mother of it or any one else. Cross-examined by Mr. Kingdon : Did not tell any one (,f the circumstance that took place four months ago. No one, that she was aware of, was present at the time. My father's cousin lives near Mr. Carter's, the other side of tho road. There are three houses nearly opposite, all inhabited. I could have called out, but was afraid. Was not afraid to go the second time, thinking he might not repeat the offence. Know Mary Ann Lindsay ; mother sent me to her house yesterday, to ask her down, as she wanted to speak to her. Told Lindsay what mother wanted her for. Mary Ann Lindsay said to me that Carter had attempted to take liberties with her. After coming down she denied it all. After each offence witness told Mary Ann Lindsay, and in reply she said—"Oh, is that what your mother wants me for.1' She denied that witness ha< ever told her of it. By the Bench : Was 12 years of age on the 12th March last. Prisoner said—"Be sure and drop not a word to any one," both times, Sarah Brown, grandmother of witness, then gave evidence with respect to the clothes of the witness, corroborative of the commission of the offence. The evidence of the medical man [Dv. W. is, Sealey) was then given, affirming circumstances that proved that an injury had been sustained. This closed the evidence of the prosecution, and after some remarks from Mr. Kingdon, the case was remanded until Monday. Upon being again brought up, the Magistrate admitted the prisoner to bail in two sureties in ,£IOO each, and himself, in £200, to take his trial at. the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Wm. Thomas Clark, son of Ishmael Clark, residing in the Wood, was charged with obtaining goods under false pretences, on Thursday, the 13th September last. John Thornton, saddler, Bridge-street, sworn : Prisoner came to me on the 13th September for a ladies' whip and a pair of silver spurs; that he was sent by Mr. Clousten. Mr. Clousten has had dealings with me. Have seen the whip produced, in my shop, he had three, kept that one and returned two; that is the third whip the prisoner has had in different people's names. Asked the prisoner if he was working for Mr. Clousten, he said " yes," and that lie had left Harley and Gentry's. Should not have let him have tho goods on his own account. Value £1 17s. <?d. Remanded till Monday, when he was committed for trial at the next sitting of the District .Court. The prisoner was then removed.

Accident.—On Friday last an accident occurred to a man in the employ of Mr. Saxton, which resulted in a broken leg. The man, whose name is Parker, had not left Richmond long on his way to the Wairau when the horse he was on stumbled, bringing bis rider to the ground with sufficient force to inflict the above injury. The patient ia progressing favorably.