RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 145, 17 November 1870, Page 4

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, ROXBURGH.

Thursday, 10th November. (Before J. Beighton and vj-. F. M'Kay, Esqs., J.P.'a.) SINGULAR CHARGE OP CREATI.VG A DISTURBANCE. The Police v. M'Leod, M'Pherson, Cocker. — This was an information laid under the 4th section of the Vagrant Act Amendment Act, 1863, charging the defendants with having been guilty, on the 3rd November, of insulting behaviour towards persons assembled in the schoolhouse, Teviot. Sergeant Smyth prosecuted, and Mr. F. H. M'Coy appeared for the accused. Cocker did not appear, the summons against him not having been served. Several witnesses were called, who proved that while the teetotal soiree was going on, a great disturbance was made by several persons outside rolling baiTels filled with stones, throwing crackers onto the roof; but nothing was proved against the accused except that M'Pherson fired one cracker, and M'Leod rolled a barrel and placed it on its end near the door. Mr. M'Coy addressed the Bench at .sq|he length. By the admission of some of" "the witnesses for the prosecution, this so-called teetotal soiree had been turned into a political meeting by Mr. Mervyn, M.H.R., who had taken the opportunity to treat the assemblage to a statement of his political views ; and it was an established custom to make a noise when the views of the politician were unpopular, as appeared to be the case in this instance. Tbe learned counsel appealed- to the Bench to dismiss so paltry a charge. Their Worships decided that an indeseretion had been committed by accused, but not by any means sufficient to warrant them in doing other than dismiss the case. Case dismissed , A great amount of interest wa^r manifested by the public in this case, the Court being crowded.