R. M. COURT CAMBRIDGE. (The following report was unavoidably crowded out of last issue.) Thursday, 6th January, 1876. (Before W. N. Searancke, Esq., R. M. and Major Clare

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 569, 13 January 1876, Page 2

R. M. COURT CAMBRIDGE. (The following report was unavoidably crowded out of last issue.) Thursday, 6th January, 1876. (Before W. N. Searancke, Esq., R. M. and Major Clare

George Clune, James Clime. Alexander Clune, Frederick Ansell, Thomas Chin, and Edward Martin, were charged with hanng wilfully mnd maliciously d*a ro>ed certain proWrty m tht private dwellings of the JRev 3 J Neill and C I Ashwell, and in the Odd Fellows Hall— to wit 15 panes of glass. The prisoner* pleaded " not guilty." Sergeant Chitty Conducted the prose* cutiea. The fir«t witness called «u the Ri»v. 8 J Neill— the following ii the substance of hit evidence. Bemember tire ni^ht of the 31st Dtio. and the morning of the lit -Jan. 18fr5-76 Abont 7 p m on the 3l»t December went to Mr H«ugb> tons to get tome medibine for Mrs Neiil, who was ill. She continued ill all the night. Abutb ut half-part one on the morning of the l*t was •wakened by nones made by tin cans and othtt things. After some time I lit a ■eannle and about the tame time one or two panea of Glass were broken. Force wiu also applied to the I went to the door and askfd them what they wanted, and why they broke the windows. One of them, who seemed to be the leader, said they granted money for drink. I §aid £ would not cite any, and tried to •hut tke door, but could not for some minutes. They were beatinf tin cans. Whin I went m. I heard torn* more panel break, and two men were baard talking at oaeof the windows. Mr. Neill asked them if they were men. A voice replied, they wore 8h» said •' No ! you are fiends!" I could notrecog* iiißo them After this sereral panel of glass were broken. About, fire in the morning wt hsird two men walking round the houie und talking. After listening some time I got up and saw a man disappearing round the stable, he had a bdt round his shoulder It was lulf past one when th-T came. It was a quarter to two when th« party went away, in the morning found my horse gone, aud siijns of blood on the rerandan.—By Sfergt Cbitty— Nine panes of glass and some flownr pot* w«,e broken. The horse might hare been frightened away by tho nois«. I repotted the occurrence in the morning to dubmspeotor Watts, and after that I telegraphed to the Defence Minister. Mr Wntt called to me as I was going to tho telegraph office. The mob did not enter the h-uae but one stood on the threshold —By (he Court— Wbrn I proceeded to the telegraph office I had no intention of reporting to the police. I met Mr Watt* accident^ he said be would not consider himself doing hi* duty if he did not look into the matter. I did mot thiak the police could stop it, it might occur again. After telegraphing I wrote to Major •Jlare, who come down to my house in aooui half an hour. Mr Watts and constable Brown also came down. They looked at the windows, &o. Ihey saia it was unfortunate that I had telegraphed to the Natiro Minister. The word was either unfortunate or extraordinary. Nothing like this occurred before at my house. 1 have nerer had oco*sion to &p;.ly to the polioe fof assistance before.— By Mr Watts— You said something about a Crown prosecution. I doubted that the police could put it down, because such things hare, 1 am led to behero, happened before. Mnjor Wilson was next examined. — His erideuce went to shew that the mob whilo at his house, where they went before going to the M»uBi% behaved in an orderly and quiet manner, and alter having something to drink they went away peaeably* He heard tliem afte wards at the Manse, but did not thiuk i h y were doing any damage. lie coul 1 not reco^mso Any of the prisoners Ho would not urea- that he could reeosjuiso any of them at bn place, it was rery dark. Michael Wail, sworn* said. I am a labourer residing at Canibn gc I rtsmembtr tho night m question, we went down with a tin-can band to the Mansoi After a hit Mr Neill got up and a->ked who br kothe window*, we §ai.i «c knew nothing about it. He nsLed the name of the person who s ood before him. The answer vtas " Montgomery." Some of Us spoke about the New Year, and os^ed him for a me inonry or drink, lie refused to giro cither He then shut the door, the tin cans made a noiae agnin, so I walked round the rerandah with the rest and saw some windows broken. There was a lot of chaps about the rerandah. 1 heard Mrs N*ill say that each of these panes would cost fiv« or six shillings to repair.— To Sergeant Chitty —I know all the prisoners, they were all there except Boyle and Chin. They were all with us during tht evening. I saw James Olune break on» of the windows with his hand. I heard another break. I did not go to the Manse with the intention of breaking windows. We went down just for amusement with the tin can band. The porson whom they ©ailed Montgomery, is I behere Peter McKearney. No on* broke into the house. I did no> see any horse. Ido not think it was light enough to see any borse. I came away witn the first party and went to Mr Ablivmll's. I was still with the tin kettle mOb. I heard some glass break. I did not see Bovlo or Chin. We left Mr Ash* well's, *nd cine down to the Oddfellows' Hail. We were followed by the tin can party. I heard windows Drank, but I was outsiue at the time. I then went home. I did not notice Chin at the Manse. I remained at the Oddfellows' Hall till they all went away. There was about SO men in the tin can mob. There were many that I could not recognise Ido no* know their names. I beliere Peter M< Kearney was the collector. I did not hear anyone say* we should go to Mr Ashwell's. I was playing a conoertina. Fredenok Ansell — I did not tee you at the Manse, or at Mr Asbwell's, but only on the road you went into the Oddfellows' Hall. I went as far as the door with you. You were walking with some of the part j . James Collins was with you. You were walking along the road. To Chin— l saw you at the Manse. To Alei Clone— l saw you there. By the Court — I conld not name any others that wore with us I did not see James Collins with any tin can. Robert Stewart was the next witness examined The eridence of this witness was very contradictory. The Bench had several tmm to re* mind him that he was on his oath He at first sta'ed that all the prisoners »er« with him at tho Manse except Boyle, but wh-n quistioned by 4n»ell he admitted that he did not see him either at the Manse or at. Mr Ashwell's In minor point) he coroboratod the evidence of the preceding witness. The evidence of William Lockley and Daniel McClennan was also taken. he latter also said all the prisoners cxc ept Boyle were at the Manse, and when questioned by Ansell also, he did not see him there ; he said he could not remembi r the names of any of tho party, not present, he saw Chin at the Manse. Constable John Crew, sworn — Remembered the night of the 31*t December and tho It I January, was at ft ball at the Oddfellow- Hall, saw the two Chines, Martin, and Ansell, fiey came with the tin kettle party Ansell came msido t two panes of glass were broken. M.o Kearney was there, he had a black bell-topper on. Ansell did not seem to belong to the party, did not see him while the row whs going on. Constable Brown t'ated that he saw them ffora dark until about 1 o'clock in tho morning of the New Year, they seemed about to disperse, and he went to bed being rery tired, he did not see Boyle there, This w.is the case for the prosecution, Thomas Boyle was discharged, there being no evidence against him. For tho defence Chin eallei Pamuol Hewitt^ ! who swore that Chin went to bed at ± to one, he did not think that he could hare gone out again without waking him (ihe witness) as they slept in the simo room. Tho other prisoners had no witnesses to call. The Bench after »n able summing u p discharged Frederick Ansell and Thomas Thin and fined th« remaining four, George Olune< James Clune, Alexander Olune aid Edward Martin, £3 16s 6J each, including costs »nd damages, or in default one month's imprisonment with hard labor.