RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3314, 5 August 1879, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

: THIS DAY. ; (Before Colonel Fraser, E.M.). LABCBNY. Petera, a natire, was charged with stealing a quantity of clothing and other articles of tbe value of £4 17s, from Tairua, tkerpropjirty of a natire woman I named Te Whan Defendant (a youth) pleaded not Mr A. Puckey was sworn to act as interpreter. •.;"■■:, ; Te Whai (a young woman), sworn,. de-, rosed—l reside at Tairua. On fbe 3rd of last month I was in possession of the articles. I missed them, and charged Petera with the theft. No person had authority to take them away. r By defendant: lam not your sitter or cousin. 1 i• > tuababid, iJ Tott wer6 Tered with me for taking this husband. I am a Ngapuhi, and you are a Te Aroha. It was lawful for your tribe to be vexed. You came to my oouse at night and took them, away. I did not Hear that you had sold these things. Ik is the Maori custom to take the clotbef from » woman, who is iifing with an objectionable husband, but you should have told toe first. I knew positively you took the clothes^ '.<■■■> ,■;■■•■■■::•' .-■.'■ ;;'; !.^, Constable Law, stationed at Tairua, sworn, deposed—From ' information re* ceired I went to defendant's residence, and on searching, found the articles, which he said he ha(l not stolen. He hid talcen them, but would send them back. I arrested him. „.-,.-- --deposed he had heard the evidence i of the case, and was p/ opinion that defendant had pnly. acted m accordaace with Maori custom, and the plaintiff had; been most leniently dealt wjtji, a*it was (lie custom besides taking aw<y the Clothes, to pull the woman about:> rr ;■■:' -■-; & j ;s. f» ri !■..; His Worship cautioned the defendant and let him go. j

WIFB DEBEETION. William S. Bird Was charged with deserting his wife and child, and leaving them with no adequate means of support. Defendant said he could not [plead; guilty as he hail not left his house. Mr Brassey for plaintiffMargaret Bird, sworn, deposed—l am the wife of defendant, having been married to him 5 years ago. I produce marriage certificate. I had several children before that by a former husband. I had aicbild since I married him. Six weeks ago last Sunday be: turned me out of the house, and I have not received any support from him since. He has not supported my daughter. . On one occasion he was im,prison'ed^or ill using inc. • 'J By defendant—l cannot swear that my husband wW tliv* it the time I married Jou,., My.sister;. tpld- me he was drowned, [c left' me eight years' ago. I only heard from my sister that he w^s drowned. :■' Jessie Bird, sworn, deposed—l am the daughter of the plaintiff. I recollect my father turning my, mother out. I have since then been living with my mother. Hie has frequently treated us roughly. -; By defendant—l don't like to return to you because you are too cruel. WiHiam, S. Bird, the. defendant, sworn deposed-^I married the plaintiff 1 in' 1874 on the advice of another man. It was pretty well known then that her husband was :alive. His .name' was '■. Robert Little; ,1 was living wtih her i before I married her. When I turned heri <mt < she Iras drunk and defied* m«ft She took her things away and I offered By Mr Brassey—She has been addicted to drink 1 erer since she came to Auck. r> Order made that, defendant pay 12s 6d per weekfor the support of the plaintiff and his childi Until the latter is 14 years' old, when he would pay 10s per week, j ■"! '.Court adjourned. ..,'';'.'.■.{.' '.',',,'[l