COURTS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 245, 22 July 1872, Page 3

COURTS.

POLICE COURT.— Saturday. [Before E. W. PeCKiSY, Esq., a. r., and J. Wakmoll, Esq., J.P.] DRUNKENNESS. John Purcell and Michael Sullivan were charged with being drunk. The former having been three times convicted within one month was sentenced to 7 days’ imprisonment, in addition to the usual penalty. The latter was lined 10s, or 24 hours’ imprisonment. BREACH OK LICENSING ACT Henry Bush, landlord of the Karaka Hotel, Short land, was charged with a breach of the Licensing Act, in permitting music and dancing in his licensed house, on the 16ih instant, without having obtained periuissson from tlie magistrate. Mr Dodd appeared for defendant, and stated that Mr Bush was absent at Coromandel at the time. There was a little music and dancing, and the parties who took put in Ihe entertainment wi-iv lo Igors in the house, who were enjoying themselves a litth-, alter working hard at the, lire. He (Mr Dodd) app ared at the r quest of Mrs Bush. Tlie house was a very well-eondu ted one. He would plead guilty to the charge, and was sure the Bench would either dismiss tlie case, or impose a light penalty. Mr Billion said the house was usually well con looted, hut on this occasion complaints had been made by t 1 • e neighbors lo ilie ] o’ice. Thei" was a lot of Maori men and women tlcre, all more or 1 -ss under the inllu nee of liquor, as was Mrs Bush herself, he was sorry to say. Under the circumstances he would not. ask for a heavy penalty, but nevertheless hop-il such a fine would he imposed as would prevent a recurrence of the offence. The B Mich fined defendant 20s and costs, which was imm -diately paid by Mrs Bush. FIGHTING. Robert, Gardiner, alias Jane s Charlton, and Henry Morant were charged with fiediting at Grahams own, on the 18th instant. D tective Murphy stat'd that on Thursday last his attention was direeted lo tin* European lion 1, win n- there was a crowd of people, among whom w '.'<3 tin: two defendants, who wre partly stripped, and had apparently been fighting. The landlord was separating them, and saying he would have no fighting in his house. Gardiner went out into the yard, and soon after came hack and challenged Morant. They then both went into the yard. Witness folhiwed them, and told them if there was any more lighting lie would have to arrest them. One of them told him to he off up the street and mind his own business. Willi-ss remained on the premises some time so as to prevent a renewal of the light. Both men appeared excited and inclined to fight. Gardiner had been previously convicted of a like offence in November last, and was hound over to keep the peace for threo months. The B 'lieli called upon each of the defendants to find two sureties of £25 each to keep the peace for the next three months, and themselves to be bound in £SO. ASSAULT. Edward Higgins was charged with assaulting his wife, Mary Ann Higgins, at Grahamstown, on the 18lh instant, by kicking her. Mr Dodd appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. The complainant stated that she and her bus 'and live near the Oily <f London claim. Tier husband uses her very badly, and on the day in question kicked her three times on the head, and threatened to throw her down a sii ift, and hang her. She had lately been confined and was in a weak state of health.

Bv Mr Dodd : I used to like my husband, but not now. I married him at the G ey. I did ot tel! him I was a widow. I had never lie n married before. I had had two ehildnn before. lie abused my daughter, who was his own d iiight'T also ; he once tried lo c mini t a rape on her. I never gave him any provocation. I have alwavs done mv duty towards him, and have worked for and kept him when he otherwise would have starved. Mr Dod' l , on behalf of tlie husband, said bis client altogether denied the assault having been committed. There had been a quarrel, but lie never struck her nor laid a band on her in anger. The statement of the woman was altogether uncorroborated, and she evidently had a strong feeling against him, and laid this information so as to get him out of tlie way. John Wilson depos.-u that he had known the defendant for sum ’ time as an honest steady, sober, hard-working man. Tin ir Worships dismissed tlie ease.