RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 381, 20 October 1868, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Monday, 19th Octobeb. (Before J. Giles, Esq., R.M.) ASSAULT. John Cox was charged with assaulting and obstructing Constable Irwin in the discharge of his duty. The assault complained of consisted in pushing up against the constable in an insulting manner on Saturday night. The defendant was fined forty shillings, or three days imprisonment, REMOVING- DRIFT-WOOD. John Hurst was charged with this offeucs. Inspector Franklyn said the police had great difficulty in enforcing the regulation so as to prevent the removal of drift-wood. Constables were told off expressly to watch the beach day and night, but in spite of the late warning given by his Worship, persons were in the habit of sending children to pick up wood off the beach.

Constable Pringle stated that on Saturday evening he met the defendant on the sea beach, carrying a slab of wood on his shoulder. On being told that he was committing a breach of the regulations, he said he was not aware of it.

The defendant said he picked up the woodoutof the river near Stanley Wharf during the flood, and carried it to the place where he was working, and the nest day was taking it home when accosted by the constable. He did not know he was doing wrong. His Worship, though prepared to inflict the heaviest penalty upon any offender who was guilty of a wilful infringement of the Ordinance, would if this case, considering its peculiar features, only impose a nominal fine on five shillings and costs. ASSAULT AND JOBBERY. Chaides Brown was charged with having on the 12th September last, feloniously and violently assaulted one Donald Beaton, storekeeper, at Deadman's Creek, and feloniously steal from him the sum of 17s 6d. The Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Inspector Franklyn said, that as the prisoner was only brought in on Saturday, there had been no time to allow of subpoenas being issued, he would therefore merely tender the evidence of the arresting officer, and ask for a remand.

Detective Lambert stated, that he arrested the prisoner at Mbkihinui on Friday last, on the warrant produced. After cautioning him in the usual way, he was told the charge was for robbing a store at Deadmau's Creek. He then said he knew nothing about it, but on the way j down prisoner remarked that if he" had not run away

nothing could have been done to him, but as he had, he supposed he would get in for something. On being searched the following property was found in his possession;—some sawyers' tools, eight shilliugs in silver, aud a miner's right, issued at Brighton twelve mouths ago, in the name of Charles Brown.

The prisoner, who had nothing to say, was remanded to nest flay.