RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE,

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 404, 31 October 1874, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, LAWRENCE,

Before E. H. Carew, Esq., R.M. ) Friday, 30th October. Police v. Percy Geeves.— The defendant was charged with 'cruelty to a hor&o, by drmnglt while it had a sore back and sore shoulder. The defendant pleaded Not Guilty. Constable Evans being at the coalpit on the 16th inst., saw a horse, claimed by the accused as Ins property, with bad soi'es under the saddle^ The harness wag stained with humor f rom the sores, an/1 no attempfc had been made to make the harness sit without hurting. The sores were old ones. Sergeant Farrell deposed that the last witness pointed out the horse to him at Wetherstones on the 19th. He described the soreß, which appear to have been very bad. The accused said he had not harnessed the horse himself for more than six months, and did not know the condition it was in until the police pointed it out to him. The accused, who had twice before been convicted of a similar offence, was sentenced to ten days imprisonment in H.M. Gaol, Lawrence, with hard labor. Inspector Thompson conducted the ease for the police. J. O. Love v. T. Patterson. — Charge of assault and battery. Plea, Not Guilty. Mr. Inspector Thompson prosecuted (the prisoner having been given in charge) ; Mr. Copland for the accused. J. C. Love deposed — At eleven o'clock last night I was in hed. I heard a noise. I went to the door and saw the prisoner lying on the ground near the door. I asked him what he was doing there. He got up and pushed me into my place. I went into my room to get dressed. He followed -me into my bedroom and caught me by the 'throat, and knocked mo down. He threatened to murder me if I went out. He fell asleep, and I Trent for the police. When I coxae hack with the police he was in my bed. Sergeant Titchener arrested him. He tried to strike the Sergeant. Cross-examined — I thought accused was drunk. I do not kuow'him. 'He did not break the door. I had a strugglo with him after he got into the house. Mr. Copland, for tho defence, said that prisoner was unconscious of what he did. He was , drunk. He had been employed for a long time on Greenfield Station, and coming to town after a long absence, owing to tho "Bhouling" of his friends, he became temporarily insane. Ho had boon in the police force, and was a respectable man. He was extremely sorry for what he had done. His Worship said that though drunkenness was no excuse, yet the circumstances were such that he would not inflict the highest penalty. Fined £3, and costs of court 5s 6d; in default seven days imprisonment. Serge-ant Titchener v. Same. — Information' for assaulting the informant, being a police officer, in the execution of his duty. Mr. Inspector Thomson prosecuted. Mr. Copland for accused pleaded Not Guilty. The occasion was that of the arrest referred to in last case. Sergeant Titchener said ,that the prisoner seemed sober, but in a state of semimadness. There was great difficulty in arresting him. He was not secured until the Sergeant had knocked him down several time 3. Witness was not in uniform when he went in, but said, "I am. a police constable. I want you to leave this house." He replied, violently swearing, and commenced to fight, Mr. Copland urged that this should not bo treated as a separate offence from the last. He laid stress on the state of mind of the accused, and the fact that the Sergeant was not in uniform. His Worship said that any private individual might have done the same. The accused being convicted, and it having been said that he was formerly in the police force, it was stated that he had only been a few days in the force, he was dismissed for misconduct. The prisoner was fined the same amount as in the last case ; but his Worship said that had the oflicer been injured at" all, it would have beed a much heavier punishment.