RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1499, 29 April 1886, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Temuka—Wedkbsdat, April 28, 1886. [Before J. JBeswick, Esq., R.M.] OBSTRUCTING RAILWAY OFFICIALS. John Joseph Slattery was charged with having on the previous evening obstructed the railway officials in the execulion of their duty. He was further charged with having made use of insulting language to the said railway officials. William Aldertou, Station master, Temuka, stated that on the arrival of the last train from the North the accused came into the office and asked why he had been charged 16s Id for a leturn ticket from Temuka to Christchurch and back. Witness replied that it was the correct fare. I he accused said they had teen robbing him. Accused followed witness to the ..door of

the goods shed, but afterwards went back u> the office. To the accused : You were not exactly drunk, but you made use of the words ——— rogue, R.J.'Connell, clerk at the railway staled that when the train came in accused came into the office and asked in an excited manner why be had been charged 16s Id when 12s 41 was the excursion fare to Christchurch. He said several times he would not be robbed by —— rogues like they were. Constable Guerin gave evidence to the effect that be heard the accused make use of the words be would not be robbed by —— rogues. The defendant said he went into the office quietly, and asked why he had been charged 16s 6d when the fare was IBs. Ho had been told by another person that travelled with him that he only paid about IBs. He was perfectly sober and did not speak excitedly. He never used the words —— rogue. He only said he would not be robbed. When taken to the lock-up ho was horribly biased by the two policemen. One of them (Constable Morton) nearly choked him ; they knocked him down and hit bis head against the iron rings in the floor. Anybody could see the bruises on his head. They crushed bis chest until ho was nearly killed. They took his boots away »nd put them outside the door in the rain, and they were wet when he got them next morning. His Worship said he felt convinced the man was not sober. He also believed he bad been guilty of interfering with the railway officials, and of having used insu ting language. He was fined £1 for each off«oce, £2 in all. CIVIL CASKS. Mogridge and Wiltshire v. R. F.annagan—Claim £lO 9s 9d. Judgment by default for amount claimed and costs. A. J. Diamond v. W. Amos—Claim £6. Judgment by default for amount claimed and costs. I he Court than rose.