RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 21, Issue 216, 21 March 1872, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE.

(Before Vincent Pyke, Esq., R.M.)

Thursday, March 14.

W. Talbot for being drunk and disorderly was fined 10s, with the alternative of 24 hours imprisonment.

Richard- Wallace was charged with stealing 3s from the till of the Commercial Hotel. It appeared that prisoner came into the bar of the Commercial Hotel on the evening of the 14th inst., and asked the barman, whom he had previously known, for a shilling for the piirpoae of getting a bed. To this request the barman declined to accede, but gave him a glass of brandy. The prisoner after this became a nuisance, and the barman went for the boots fov the purpose of turning him (prisoner) out, On returning, the barman found prisoner behind the bar with tho till open, He had three shillings iv his hand, which lie dropped into the till when he saw tho witness. The police were sent fir, and

prisoner given in charge. A further charge of Having no visible means of support was preferred by the police against Wallace.

The Resident Magistrate sentenced him to three months imprisonment, advising bin> whau he uaiue out of gaol to transfer his talents to some other place,

Monday, March 18. (Before the same Magistrate.)

- H. Rolf for being dxunk and disorderly was mulcted in the usual peualty of 10a, with the the dption of 48 hours' incarceration.

' William Pine and A, Henderson were charged with creating a disturbance in the Commercial Hotel.

Mr. Gooday appeared for Henderson, and Mr. M'Coy far Piue.

Sub- Inspector Thompson conducted the prosecution. F. Bastings stated that on the afternoon of the 7th, Pine had a few words .with Hills- iv the Commercial Hotel. He (Pine)- wanted to fight Hills or any other b — y bobby. Henderson was. then standing at the bar. Pine said he would lick any d — d Scotchman in the country, and then walked up to Henderson and patted him on the back, saying, " You are the man I want." Witness told Pine if he wanted to fight he had better go outside, aud turned round to speak to Pope, the driver of Cobb's coach. While speaking to Pope, witness heard a smart blow struck, and on looking round saw Henderson's, face cut/ A fight then. took place. Witness cleared tfee counter of a&the glasses, and th@n tried to put the cwbatants out, and after some time succeeded in doing so, Robert Hills deposed that on the 7th lie saw Henderson and Pine in PeeW street. They had a few words together. Witness went into the Commercial Hotel, and was reading the paper when they came in. Pine said that he (meaning Henderson) was the b— — *y b rhe wanted, and said he would lick any b y bobby. Henderson told him to go away. Pine then took off his coat, and squared up to Henderson, when Henderaon struck him. A fight then took plaoe, which lasted about ten minutes. The combatants separated themselves, both being considerably the worse.

Dr. Halley testified to the damage done. The boues of Henderson's nose were out of place, but he had put them straight, Pines' face was much cut, and erysipilas had set in, but he was now recovering. The other two cases arising out of this affray were then proceeded with. Wrn. Pioe, charged with using filthy and obscene language, pleaded guilty. Pine v. Henderson and Henderson v. Pine,- oross-informatiou3 for assault. The evidence in this oase. was the same as iv. the first case. Mr. M'Cay, on behalf of Pin^ contended that the bar of a public house was not a public place, and that Her Majesty's subjects were nqt put iv fear or from the affray.-

The Resident Magistrate dismissed the first ease, binding the parties in their own recognisances of £50 each, to keep the peace for 12 months. _ Iv ihe second case lie fined Pine £5, or two months im. prisonment with bard labour, severely censuring him for using such abominable language. In the last cases he had a doubt in. his mind. The evidence in the case was not conclusive who had com* toenced the affray, therefore hd wouict give the accused the benefit <vf the doubt> and dismissed the information.