RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3524, 12 April 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY,

(Before H. Kenrick, Esq., R.M.)

DBUNKENNESS. One person was punished in the usual manner for this offence.

MALICIOUSLY KILLING FOWLS.

William Catran was charged with maliciously killing two geese and two fowls, the property of Mrs Richards of the Grahamstown Hotel.

Mr Brassey for defendant

Constable McManus, sworn, deposed— I remember being sent yesterday morning to Mrs Richards' house. I went to the fowl house and saw the defendant lying asleep there with a goose in his arms, two fowls lying under his head, and another £oose lying behind him. I woke him up, and he seemed to be recovering from a fit of drunkenness. I asked him what he was doing there. He said he had been having a sleep, and denied all knowledge of how the fowls were killed. Emily Richards, sworn, deposed—l am the wife of R. Richards, licensee of the Grahamstown hotel. I remember yesterday morning. My attention was drawn to the fowl-house by the girl, who said there was a man lying there, and the geese were killed. I thought the man was dead, and sent for the police. The policeman arrested the defendant, and took him to the station. The fowls were dead. I do not think Catran killed the birds, and I do not wish to press the present charge. I have known him for a leng time, and don't think he would do it.

The defendant then made a statement that he did not know how he got into the fowl-house.

Mr Mcllhone and Mrs Bichards bore testimony to defendant's good character.

His Worship ordered defendant to pay Mrs .Richard* the value of the fowls killed, and .fined him £2 and costs. Court adjourned.