COURTS

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 249, 26 July 1872, Page 3

COURTS

POLICE COURT.— Yesterday. [Before VV. FRASEII, Esq., R.M.] DRUNKENNESS. Peter Branagan, on bail, charged with being drunk did not appear, and the amount of his bail was ordered to be forfeited. CHIMNEY ON FIRE. Solomon Marks was charged with allowing the chimney of his house in Owenstreet, Grahamstown, to catch on lire on the 22nd inst. Defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s and costs. assault. Robert Easter was charged with unlawfully assaulting Mrs Kate Clarke, at Shortlaud, ou tire 10th inst., by knocking her down and kicking her. Mr Dodd appeared for complainant, and Mr Tyler for defendant. Mrs Clarke stated that on the evening of the day in question, defendant came to her house in Riclimond-street, and asked to see Alice McMahon. Witness told him that the young lady was ill in bed, and therefore lie could not see her. He kicked at the bed-room door. Witness told him not to do it. He said he would do the came to witness, and struck her on the face, knocked her down, kicked her, and left her insensible. It was because she refused access to the girl’s bedroom that the assault took place. Witness is now in a delicate state of healLh.

By Mr Tyler : I don’t usually go by the name of Norton. I have been Mrs Clarice since January, 1871. I don’t know what he wanted with Alice McMahon. Defendant mly came once that evening. A window was broken. He jumped oil the table through the window. The assault took place in the passage. Defendant did not have anything to drink that evening. I did not ask him to “ shout.” He did not shout two bottles of porter. Witness did not want him to give her money for the purpose of prostitution, nor for payment for drink and a broken window. Witness did not rush at him with an open knife. Witness has been previously convicted. Was convicted of vagrancy when she had £1,500 to her credit at the bank aud on another occasion got a month, because she refused a constable admission to her house.

Alice McMahon stated that she was ill in bed on the night in question. Saw defendant in the passage. He had got Mrs Clarke down, and had hold of her by the hair. She was, screaming. He got up and went into the dining room. He then got on a table, and jumped through the window, which was broken. He called Mrs Clarke very bad names. Mrs Clarke was insensible.

I3y Mr Tyler : My eye was blackened accidentally yesterday. I did not tell defendant that Mrs Clarke had struck me. I lost a brooch at defendant’s hotel some time ago. He has since told me that he had seen that brooch at Mr ltae’s, the pawnbroker’s. He told me this on the 10th instant, and on other occasions. I do not get my living by prostitution. My people keep me. 1 never saw anything bad about Mrs Clarke. She may get a little drunk sometimes, and so may 1 sometimes.

For the defence Mr Tyler called Stewart Miller, who deposed : I am a miner, aud know the defendant. I kuow defendant and also Mrs Clarke. I went to her house with defendant, on the night of the 10th instant, but I left before he did. When we went in Mrs Clarke shut the door, and locked it. She took up a knife, Jaud threatened defendant, who was jammed up in a corner. Site kept brandishing the knife at him, and he then struck her. Mrs Clark seemed to be pretty well drunk, aud was much excited. The other girl was sober. Defendant went to the house about a broach which the girl, Alice McMahon, had lost. Alice McMahon went out, saying she was going to fetch some brandy, but instead or that she went and fetched a policeman. She wanted Easter to give her some wouey, but he .efused.

The R.M. said there could be no doubt a serious assault had been committed on Mrs Clarke, and fined defendant £5 and costs, or in default, 14 days’ hard labor. The fine was paid.