RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 62, 7 March 1868, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Featherston, Wednesday, March 4. [Before S. Revans, Esq., J.P., and S. Csrkeek, Esq., J.P.] DRUNKENNESS. George Young was charged with the above offence and ftied 10s., or 48 hours imprison* meat in default of,payment.

OBSTRUCTING THE POLICE IS THE EXECUTION OF THEIR DUTY.

George Styles was placed in the dock charged with'the above offence. James Connors, sworn, stated:—l am a Constable sta ioned at Fcathcrston. On Saturday evening the ‘29th February, I was called" upon by Mr Clcland of the Hutt, to arreat one James Thompson on a charge of wilfully breaking the locks of the doors of his (Cleland’s hotel) at Featherston and rescuing some property which had been distrained upon bv him as landlord ot the house for lent in arrears, I went into the house and to id Thompson the charge made against him and bv whom it was, made and took him into custodv; while doing so lie resisted, and Mrs Thompson hung on to ray arm, and I then called upon several parties to assist me, and the greater part ef them refused. I got Mrs Thompson outside the bar out ot the way. While I was outside the bar the parties inside closed the door leading into it and told me I should not go in there, that they would not allow me in. The defendant George btyles was one of those who were insiac. He took a glass in his hand oft the counter and I thought by his attitude that if I attempted to force my way in he would throw it at me. It was in consequence of the conduct ot the defendant and others that the prisoner Thompson escaped from me and he has not that lam aware of been re-arrested. I believe that had I persevered in attempting to enter the bar I should have received bodily iniury. Robert Cleland sworn, states as follows;—I -was present on the 29 th February when the defendant was inside the bar of Mr Cleland’s hotel. 1 heard the defendant say that the three who were inside, namely, Thompson, Pool and himself were able to fight any five others. I did not see defendant take up a glass off the counter. I believe that had the constable persisted in entering the bar they would have resisted him. A charge of a similar nature was also made by Constable Connors against Timothy Poole, and the bench ordered the defendant in each case to pay a fine of one pound and costs, in defaault of payment to be imprisoned for 14 days.