RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4409, 20 February 1883, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY. (Before H.Eenrick, Esq., E.M.) An inebriate was fined ss, or imprisonment until the rising of the Court.

_ .TTNIiAWF.Ut ASSAULT. .. Mrs Fanny Eliza Greening was charged with unlawfully assaulting Ada Greening, a child under eight ye^rs of age.

Mrs Greening admitted having com mitted the assault, but stated that she was under the influence of liquor, find did not remember the affair.

Sergt.-Major Keily staled that foe child was the step-daughter of the accused. The father was absent at Te Aroha when the assault was committed. On his retuvn he missed his child, and on enquiring his wife told him that she had gone to Tararu. He proceeded there, but could iiofc find her. On the morning of the 161 h she was discovered underneath his Jnouse with a loaf of bread and a blanket, Vith her head and body dreadfully battered and bruised. He had found out that the injuries had been inflicted by his wife, who had beaten the child with the back of a' hairbrush and the cane handle of a feather duster. The morning before a neighbor had seen his wife pulling the chid alonjj the street, and puling her ears. After they'got to Greening's house tbe child was heard to scream as if from beiDg beaten, when the cries suddenly ceased. As soon as the father found the child he took her to the Hospital, where she had since been under treatment.

Eichard James Greening said the child was his. On his return from Te Aroha he found his wife helplessly drunk, and the child as above described. The accused was, occasionally given to drinking habits; but when sober, she treated the child kindly. '■■■,' The Bench said it had received a letter from the accused, in which she expressed regreb for her conduct, and asked the clemency of the Court, promising to behave soberly and as a dutiful wife m the future if it would overlook her fault.

Mrs Greening expressed her contrition, and repeated her promises of amendment. His' Worship said "the>assault was an aggravated one, and by a morciful accidene tlie defendant had eseaprd being charged with a heavier offence. Tbe law did not admit of drunkenness being offered as an excuse for ; it was an aggravation of the office. He would trast her promises, but she would not be allowed to altogether escape punishment for her action. She would be bound over to come up for sentence when.ealkd. upon. She would be call d up if she again gave way to drill';, as it T7OBI evident that when drinking she was not fit to be at large. In addition lie would issue a prohibition order agai st her, (o extend to the Thames Borough pud County, and the Piako County, in c so Jier residence should be removed to Te Avoha. ■■ "■'"

The Court then rose.