RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2530, 14 February 1877, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY.

(Before W. Eraser, Esq., K.M.) ABUSIVE LANGUAGE. :

Sarah Smith was charged with using abusive and insulting language to James Maguire on the 12th instant. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr G-. N. Brassey appeared for the defendant, and Mr, Macdonald for the complainant. All witnesses were ordered out of Court. | Mr Macdonald stated the case. He said that the evidence for this case might do for the others. James Maguire, swornj deposed—-lam employed to convey the mail between here and Tapu, and reside at Tararu. On Monday XwaraJ; Boundary Creek getting some drift wood, and Mrs Smith called me up to her. J know a man named Owen. Jffe was there at the time. Mrs Smith said, "You -••-•"•.- —; you are taking -my drift wood." I said that the wood was free to everybody. She said, "You young bastard, go home to your —— of a mother." She said it quite loud that everybody could hear. She shook her fist in my face when her husband came up. I said to him, "■ Smith, you had better take your wife home." She said, " Tarn if he or you do." " I used no insulting or provoking language. She had a stone in her hand, and said.she was going to knock my ■■ head off with it. She said, " you young didn't you say that Johnson was my fancy man." I said that I did not. I did not make use of the language alleged in the information. I did not say to Smith "Take your —— woman home."

By Mr Brassey—She had quarrelled with me before. She used the language I swore shei used. I did not say •' l 7ou old —— go home to your fancy man Johnson, and mind youY bastard." I took up a stone to frighten her. I told Smith to take home his wife, and did not call her a— — woman. A girl named Clark was near, and my sister was- there who she was calling a —— young —-.- . By Mr Macdonald—When I picked up the stone Mr Smith was there.

John Smith, sworn, deposed—l am the man who laid the information against Maguire for using insulting language to me. I came up at the end of the row between him and my wife. I saw Maguire lift lip a stone. He-told me to take home my " drunken woman." My wife had no stone in her hand. i .\ William Owen, sworn, deposed—l was getting drift wood on Monday morning when Maguire and the Smiths were getting wood.' She (Mrs Smith) used very bad language, which I don't like to repeat. I did not hear Maguire use bad language, and I was near enough to hear him if he did. I saw Mrs Smith with a stone in her hand, but she did not throw it. Some time before I heard Smith say to Maguire that he could have a log, «nd after the row I heard Smith, tell his wife to go inside. By Mr Brassey—l did not say that Maguire used bad language. I saw a stone in Mrs Smith's hand. George Charnock, sworn, deposed—l know Maguire and Mrs Smith. I was going to my work on the day in question. I heard, Mrs Smith use very bad language. Maguire did not say anything. I did not see any threatening attitude on either part. . Eobert Wilson, sworn, deposed—l know Mrs Smith ami Maguire. I was going past them and they were both " blarneying." Mrs Smith was using very bad language, and Maguire did not use any bad language. (Witness detailed some of the language which is unfit for publication.) . , George Einlay, sworn, deposed—l know the two parties. I was not near enough to hear what they were saying, but I saw Mrs Smith shake her hand in Maguire's face. , Maguire did nothing. By Mr Brsssey—l did not see a stone in Maguire's hand. This concluded the evidence. His Worship said that he would dismiss the other two cases. He was not at all sorry for the defendant, but it was her uutortunate husband who would suffer.

j Defendant would be bound over to keep the peace for three months on two sureties of £10 each. He hoped that her [husband would let her take the punishment. ; A: CROSS ACTION. James Maguire was charged with using abusive and insulting language to Sarah Smith on the 12th inst. Dismissed. ANOTHEB CASE. • The same defendant was charged with using abusive and insulting language to John Smith on the 12th inst. dismissed; . Court adjourned.