RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3601, 12 July 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY.

(Before H. Kenrick, Esq., K.M.) DEUWKKNNEBB.

George Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of being drunk on Saturday last. His Worship: Where do you lire ? Prisoner : I live nowhere.

His Worship: Then you had better lire in gaol for 24 hours. You will be fined ss.

Prisoner: I'll pay the ss, I won't go to prison. Timothy Donovan was charged with a like offence.

Prisoner said he had taken a glass or two too much.

His Worship : I had to make an order on you some time ago. Had I known that you were in the habit of getting drunk I should have made a much more severe order. You will be fined 5s and costs.

Charles Churton was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and fighting in a public house. Fined 5s and costs. BREACH OF BTEIAWB. Henry Driver was charged with allowing his chimney to be on fire. . Mr Driver said that his chimney had been swept three months ago. He could not account for the fire. Fined Is and costs. ; JtALLETTING AND DESEBTING A WIFE. Josiah Mallett was charged for that he did unlawfully leave his wife, Ellen Mallet, without .maintenance since the 29th June. The defendant said he did so, but not without cause, as his wife was always drunk. Mr Brassey, who appeared for the complainant, stated that for tome time the parties had been living very unhappily together. If his client bad taken too | much at times the conduct of the defendant had led to it, Defendant had several times

ill-treated and beaten bis.client who still bore evidence of his bruUlity—he bad also been accustomed to get drunk. The defendant had several times left his wife and did not leave her any means of support. As the only course open to his client was to bring the: case before the Court, she had done so, and now asked the Court to make an order for £1 a week.

, Mrs Mallett gave evidence in support of Mr Brassey's statement. The Court: How much money had you when you left Coromandel ? Witness : I had £2 which was sent to me from Sydney.. I have never been drunk.

Mrs Miller said that complainant was of a nervous disposition. She had'been living at her house, and she had never seen complainant the worse for liquor. Defendant: Was not Mrs Mallet drunk at your house yesterday ? * Witness: No; nor was she the worse for drink.

The defendant then went into the box. He said that for the last three years his wife had been addicted to drunkenness. He had done everything to keep her from it but could not do so. His wife came to the house where he was ""baching" on < Thursday week last, and then she was quite drunk. He was not in at the time, but there were several people who saw her. He had not 5s in the world, or he could have subpoenaed many witnesses who could speak as to hia wife's drunken habits. He never beat his wife in his life—except once when he caught her a back-handed blow on the face, but he had then great provocation. He could not live with his wife, who was frequently lying drunk on the couch when he returned from work, and when there wai often no fire or supper for him, He had lived a miserable life with her. While down at Coromandel he had heard she was" carrying on " and getting drank, but he could not send for her as he had no money. His wife could keep heraelf as well as he could, as he had not a peony to bless himself with. The c-.se was dismissed. Court adjourned.