RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 659, 17 May 1870, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE COURT.

Monday, Max IG. (Before J. Giles, Esq., R.M.) John Hudson, charged with drunkenness, was fined 20sT ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. Jesse Frith was charged, upon the information of Sergeant Kiely, with having attempted suicide by drowning on the morning of the 16th instant.

Edward Chamley, miner, of Giles Terrace, stated that he was passing the National hotel, corner of Gladstone street, about midnight on Sunday, when he was accosted by tho prisoner, who said -. " I say mate I'm going to drown myself." Witness asked him if he had any money, and told prisoner he had better give it to him before he did jump into the river. Prisoner then took off his hat, coat, and vest, and sat on the steps leading to the river, up to the middle in water. Some parties arrived at tho time and to them witness stated the circumstances. Prisoner appeared to know what he was about.

Francis Wakefield Hine, publican, resident in Hokitika, stated that he was accosted by the previous witness shortly after 12 on Monday morning, who informed him that a man was up to the. middle on the steps leading to the river and that he intended to drown himself. Witness went and spoke to the man, folding him by the arm. Prisoner told witness to mind his own business, and as soon as tho latter released his hold, accused slid deeper into tho water. Witness again caught hold of him and, with tho assistance of another, dragged him out. He was satisfied that but for assistance prisoner would have been carried away by the river. Accused was evidently drunk. Another witness was called who corroborated the statement of the previous witnesses, and Constable Hunter proved that accused wa3 brought to the lock-up without coat, hat, or vest, and wet abovo tho middle

His Worship was in doubt whether to send tho prisoner to trial, and remanded him till Friday next. CIYII CASE. Lloyd v. Freeth: Claim for £99 10s for storage. Mr Home appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Pitt for the defendant. The plaintiff's claim was based upon an alleged verbal agree-

Mont entered into between himsolf and defendant uudor which tho lattor waa to pay a nominal rental of 10s for storing timber on a section of ground situated in Wharf-street and Kennedy-street and should move at 24 hours' notico whenever required to do so. Notico had been served upon the defendant to move the timber and in consequence of his not doing so he had been notified that a charge of £1 per day would bo demanded for further occupation. George Limbrick, who had been in the employ of defendant at tho time, stated that tho latter had informed him that he had arranged with Lloyd to put timber on tho section. Witness, on behalf of defendant, served notice upon Lloyd under date Jan. 31st that defendant claimed the section. In reply to that Lloyd stated that he held the ground under arrangement with the Government. The evidence of the defendant was to the offset that he had never entered into any agreement with the plaintiff. Lloyd did ask, when ho waa stacking timber who had authorised witness to do so, and Lloyd then stated that the section belonged to him. Rent was spoken of and plaintiff mentioned the sum of 10s per mouth asking whether he, defendant, did not think that reasonable, witness replied " that is not much," but never said he would pay it. Under cross-oxamination defendant admitted that Capt. Leech might have ordered him to move the timber off the footpath. Ho did not tell Limbrick he had arranged with Lloyd to stack the timber on the ground. His Worship, after bearing counsel on both sides was of opinion that plaintiff was to blame for not having first proved his title in the Warden's Court. Plaintiff nonsuited with costs.