R.M. COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3768, 24 March 1891, Page 2

R.M. COURT.

MASTERTON—T (JESDAY.

(Before Messrs A, W. Benall and M« Caselberg, J.P.'s)

Assault.

William Teare was charged on remand with having wilfully assaulted Mrs Betty in Smith-street on Saturday evening. The acoused pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Price briefly Btated the case.

Mrs Mary Jane Betty, sworn, stated she resided in (Smith-street. She was in this street with her daughter about nine o'olook, on Saturday night. The accused came up from behind. Her little girl cried "Oh, mamma, here's a drunken man." Witness replied, "Never mind take no notice." She then \ shifted aside to let the man pass, but lie did not do so. Witness said, "Go your way," but instead of doing so be struok her on the head, knocking the comb out of her.' hair and smashing her bonnet. Slie> became slightly stunned by the blow* but on recovering saw the man sttH standing there and told him she> would inform the polioe. The mart then cleared out. Her child was screaming at the time, and brought out a neighbour named Knott, who followed the man to the Star Hotel. On arriving at the hotel witness sew the acousodi standing in a room with a number of men. She said, "There's the man ; you Btruck me," whereupon tha, acoused came towards her and said, "yes, and I'll do it anrain." The police afterwards arrested the accused. Frederick Knott, a laborer residing in Smith Street, stated that on Saturday nigiit his attention was. drawn to a cry for help. He went out and found Mrs Betty holding her girl by the arm at his gate. He did not see the acoused at the time. Mrs Betty said Bhe had been struck hy a man, and in consequenoe of this he prooeeded up th& street with her. He then met Mr , Johnston, who said he saw a man go to the Star Hotel. They then went to this hotel, where Mrs Betty recognised the man, who, in reply to the charge, said, "Yes, and I'll strike you again you old hag." The man was not drunk, although he had had drink. Saw the constable arrest the man.

Thoaccused: Was I orose, or quarrelsome, or cursing ? Witness: I beard nothing IiMT"" that.

John Johnston, bootmaker, gave corroborative evidence.

Amelia Betty, a ohild of ten yeara of age, deposed that the was with her mother when the assault took plaoe. She was quite sure the accused was the man who hit her mother on the head.

Constable O'Leary deposed to the arrest of tho accused near the Star Hotel, He saw Mrs Betty, who told him what had occurred. Mrs Betty identified the man and charged him with the assault. At first he said ha was sorry but afterwards denied the charge. The man was under tho influence of drink, but must have known what he was doing. Sergeant Price said tho Oifftt was an unprovoked and cowOSy one, and asked that a severe fC.alty ba inflicted.

Tlio accused, in extenuation of the charge, stated lie was not out of temper at the time. Hp merely asked the girl to play her tambourine. He did not think ho could have struck tho woman.

The you at first said you know nothing*-", about tho affair, Tho accusod: But I only asked girl to play the tambourino. Mr Renall: This is a thing whioli must be put a stop to. We'll have to teach you to know batter than this. The accused: I know nothing about it, your Worship. The Bench stated that the evidence 'JF was quite conclusive as to tho assault, which was cowardly in the extreme. To commit such a brutal outrage upon a defeccoles womau, who was old enough to bo the mother of tho accused, .was an offence. of a most serious nature. There was nothing at all in the favor of the accused. He might have been undor the influence of drink at the time,! but this was no excuse. Tho accused would be sentenced to one month's, hard labor in tho Wellington Terta'w . J Gaoi « ■