DUNEDIN MAGISTRATE'S COURT'S

West Coast Times, Issue 115, 30 January 1866, Page 2

DUNEDIN MAGISTRATE'S COURT'S

(Uelbre a. a. FiuGornld, Esq., tt.M.) Monday, Jax. 29. , Lvn'AOv. — Chailes I!nk. r who had been arrested as a lunatic, was discharged as he had thoroughly loeovcrod. Wifk UKATr.vo.— James Murphy was charged with violently nnsauloing and threatening iho life of his wife Mary Muiphy. The dofondant appealed in court with her files frightfully disfigured from the ill usage of her husband, bub said that she did not wish lo press tho charge if defendant would only promiso to behave better in future, and abstain from drink. The defendant promised to do so, and tho case at the request of complainant was then dismissed. Violent Assault.- Anothor case, in every wny similar to the former, in which Alice Fitzpatrick charged her husband with having violently assaulted nnd threatened her life. Mr South appeared for iho defendant, and objected that two allegations could not bo ma<|o under oiir information. The Magistrate ovoriuled this as he considered it was quito competent for tho complainaut first to charge the defendant with tho assault, and thon to require him from ox. pres-sions used prior to or subsequent to tho assault to tind securities to keep the peace. Mr South contended this point at somo length, but tho ease was proceeded with. Mr South requesting tho Magistrate to take a noto of it. The complainant then detailed a long courso of ill-usage that she stated she had bpcn subjected to by tho defendant, and lioro on her throat marks of violenco occasioned by some means or other. She also swore that ho had threatened to murder and finish her, and ho said that afteraccompli'ihing this ho would go and givo himself up. In cross-oxainination by "Mr South the complainant denied that she had ever given tho defendant any cause for ths violenco referred to. She had not torn down the houso Sho had destroyed a part of tho houso by getting into a window when ho had turned her out of tho house. Sho denied that hho was ever under the iiiuurnco of liquor in hor life, io aftVct her. Sho had two children, both living. She had torn some shirts from his back, had bitten him, and siid ho was strangling her. Sho went on to admit that hlio had injured him, but declared that aho had only done so to protect herself. Air, South then t-nid ho would show that he could provo niiilico on tho part of the complainant. He hiid proofs boy on d question that Ui<! woman was in Iho habit of drinking, and that then .she was a most furious woman, and that, so far from complainant being in danger of defendant, the case was just reversed. Ho was willing that lii.s client should be bound over, and he would immediately lay an information against the complainant. 110 would cither do this or go on to provo that tho information was actuated by malice, as the J!cnch might elect. The magistrato bound the defendant in his own recognizanco of £100, and two sureties in .CIO each, to keep tho peace for six mouthy lowanN hut wife and her Majesty's subjects. OIITAIKINO MoNKV UNDKII FaI.SK PIIKTKNCHS. — Antonio Hauspcolier was charged wiih tho above offence Sergeant Wayne proved that on Saturday last ho saw the prisorer, and anested him on that day, as being George Antonio, on two warrants, one of obtaining money under false pretences, and tho other that of hrceuy as a bnilloo. Witness told him the charge, and cautioned him in tho usual way. lie also oxplninod the warrant of larceny ns n bnilloo, 110 said ho had received a box from a woman at tho Loid Nelson Hotel to put on board tho steamer Yarra. On bringing it to the steamor, prisoner stated that he was directed by the oflicors to put it on board a .schooner, ns the latter was to bo towed from the river to the Qroy. Ho further said he put it on board and know no moro about it, thinking that it had gone to its destination. The statoment of tho prisoner was perfectly volnn'aiy. When arrested afc first, the prisoner said ho know nothing nt all about the matter. The prisoner was then remanded for a week. This was all tho business, and the court then adjourned.