CHARLESTON NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 227, 23 April 1868, Page 3

CHARLESTON NEWS.

INQUEST. An inquest was held by the coroner Charles Broad Esq. R.M., on Wednesday at Heffernans Post office Hotel, on the body of William Kennedy, The jury having been sworn, proceeded to the Hospital to view • the body, and on their return the following evidence was taken.

John Irwin sworn—said, he was a carrier residing in Charleston. About four o'clock on Monday evening 1 ran the goods truck loaded out to the Darkie's Terrace ; Duke Ballam drove the truck and I minded the break. On returning, when about mid-way home, the deceased leaped upon the truck and rode till we came to the incline, the driver told me to put the break on, that the man was off. I stopped the truck and picked the man up. He was insensible, we carried him to the hospital. The deceased was a French baker of the name of Kennedy, about 27 years of age. He lived a few doors from me and I was in the habit of dealing with him ; he told me he was a Frenchman.

Dr. Bennett, sworn —stated, about four o'clock on Monday he was called to the hospital to see the deceased. He was bleeding from the ears and had a large contused wound over the npoiTiitnl bone Ha nttPTidfid him and

applied the usual remedies, believed the cause of death to have been concussion producing extravasation of blood in the brain-.

Duke Ballam gave similar evidence to the witness Irwin> He did not see the deceased fall off the truck, but hearing a cry from Irwin looked back and saw deceased lying on the track. His impression was that deceased attempted to jump off the truck. He was quite sober. R. B. Stewart, warden at the Hospital deposed—to deceased being brought to the hospital about four o'clock on Monday. He was insensible and continued so until five o'clock on Tuesday morning, when he died in my presence. The coroner said he thought there could be no question as to the cause of death.

The Jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES' COURT, CHARLESTON. Before Chas. Broad, Esq., R.M. "Wednesday, April 22. Win. Nahr was charged with a breach of the Licensing Ordinance in permitting liquors to be drunk on his premises, on the night of the 18th, between the hours of twelve and one on the morning of the 19th. His "Worship pointed out that the information was faulty, inasmuch as it amounted to two charges, one on the 18th and one on the 19th. Information accordingly dismissed. James Parsons, Chas. Weitzell, and Wm. M'Cartney were similarly charged, but the informations proving faulty, in like manner were immediately dismissed.

JPerrett and Brotonlie v. Lowe—"No appearance. Wittowshi Bros. ». Curtis —Mr O'Neill for plaintiff. Mr Johnston, who appeared for defendant, objected to the short service of the summons, it being less than the 48 hours required by the Act. The Magistrate allowed the objection, and adjourned the case to Friday. The Court having being cleared, John Anderson, a waiter, was brought up on an information, charging him with assaulting one Mary Kelly, with intent to commit a rape. The prisoner was defended by Mr O'Neill.

Mary Kelly, sworn—l am a widow residing in Charleston, and have known the prisoner two or three months, having occasionally done washing for him. About four o'clock on Tuesday morning, the prisoner came to my place. At first I thought it was the dog, from the tearing of the calico. I then heard a match struck, and saw the prisoner, who had got in by making a hole in the calico. It is a framed calico tent of one room. I asked him what brought him there ; he said "hush." I jumped out of bed and told him to go. He seized hold of me and threw me on the bed- I caught him by the hair and we struggled together until he threw me into the fireplace. I was crying out all the time and Mrs Hawkswood came to my assistance and the prisoner ran away. In reply to a question from the Bench, the Avitness said the prisoner did not do anything indecent to her. Mr O'Neill thereupon claimed that the information should be dismissed.

The prisoner was accordingly discharged, but at the instance of the Magistrate was afterwards charged on another information which was made out and sworn to by Mrs Kelley, charging him with common assault,

The former evidence having been accepted, and nothing to shake bein» elicited from complainant in cross-ex amination, Mrs Hawkswood was called and stated, that between three and four o'clock on Tuesday morning she heard Mrs Kelly scream. She woke up her husband, got up, and went across to Mrs Kelly's house, and saw a man come out of a hole in the calico and run away. She could not swear it was the prisoner, the man had on a light coat. She went in and saw Mrs. Kelly, who in reply to her qnestion said it was the waiter at lioonty's Hotel. She said she recognised him when he struck the match. Mr O'Neill called no witnesses for the defence, but urged upon the Court the weakness of the evidence as to identification. The prisoner was sentenced to 2 months imprisonment with hard labor.