RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 570, 21 October 1869, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Wednesday, Oct. 20. (Before R. C. Reid and S. Thorpe, Esqrs., J.P.) VAGRANCY. Thomas Deane was charged with having no visible lawful means of support, contrary to the Vagrant Act, 1866. He was sent to gaol for fourteen days, with hard labor.

ABUSIVE LANGUAGE. Thomas Dewdney was charged with having, on the 15th inst., so behaved himself towards Jane Anderson in a public place as to provoke a breach of the peace. Mr Pitt appeared for the defendant. Jane Anderson stated that, on the 15th insfc., after the Court had been adjourned, the defendant accosted her in the street with abusive and insulting language, calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. Without any provocation, he called her " names," and threatened to " make her laugh on the other side of her lace yet." Mrs Cato corroborated the evidence of the complainant, showing that the language made use of was unprovoked. A fine of one shilling was inflicted, with costs. ASSAULT. C. Anderson was charged by Alfred Smith with assaulting him on Sunday last, on the track leading to the Caledonian Terrace. The complainant stated that while on his way to see after cattle up the Orawaiti river the defendant came out of her house and stated that she was a married woman, defying him to say anything to the contrary. She afterwards took up a large stone to throw at him, but subsequently took the supple-jack which he held and struck him across the face. She did not throw the stone. She came to the store afterwards and lifted a tumbler to throw at him, and pushed him with her fists. Frederick Maub gave similar evidence. The defendant made no statement iu defence, but called, as a witness, Mr Maguire, who described the defendant as a very respectable and civil person, who must have received provocation of an unusual character to be induced to retaliate. The Bench, for the assault, inflicted a fine of 40s with costs, and ordered the defendant to find surety to keep the peace for three months.