RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, HAMILTON. Yesterday.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1430, 1 September 1881, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, HAMILTON. Yesterday.

[Before H; 1 W. -Northcroft; Edq.,' E.M.] , Assault. Mary Teresa Mubhih** .a ' married woman, was brought .up ou warrant and charged with .that she, did, on the 30th inst. at Hamilton Bast, assault one Mary Ann Teague by .striking her, on. the side of the head with her fist, and afterwards striking her on the head with k billhook. Sergt. McGovern conducted the prosecution, and theaccused> who was undefended, pleaded not guilty. The Sergeant briefly stated the driiimstances of the case, adding that this' was the second time the accused—- who, 'when, drunk, was a perfect pest to the neighborhood — had been charged with * similar offence. He called ' Mts Teague. who deposed that on the previous afternoon she was standing at Mrs Kellys door talking, when the accused came up and told Mrs Kelly that she had been over the river to get ft summons for the person Who poisoned her fowls, and on being asked who r it wM«he* said, "It wag this black, things " suiting i~ the action to the word by striking witness on the side of the head with ncr fist. Mrs Kelly told Mrs Murphy she had ino business to do thatv ( an,d walked into the yard fp^yed by witness. The , accused followed, and taking up the billhook (produced) struck over the head ; with it. Afterwards witness took it from her, cutting her hands in doing so, and threw it over the fence. Accused afterwards knocked her down,' kicked her, : and called her opprobrious names. The evidence of Mrs Keliy was corroborative. This witness stated that Mrs Teague did not give the slightest provocation to the accused. This was the case for the prosecution. The accused made a statement to the effect that Mrs Teague had told a parcel of falsehoods, and that it was she who had first raised the billhook, which accused took from her and threw over the fence. She also expressed a wish to call Mrs Gordon, a woman who was with her at the time of the occurrence. The Court was then adjourned for the eviclenco of this witness. On resuming, the evidence of Mrs Gordon was taken, which was to the effect that she walked with the accused as far as Mrs Kellys, when the latter stopped and she walked on. She saw nothing whatever of the alleged assault, although it might easily have taken place without her knowledge. The accused then made a long statement relative ,to the good character she had always borne, and which she said was well-known to the police. Sergeant MoGovern said the accused had better not go to him for a character. After some further remarks from the accused, His Worship inflicted a fine of £3 and costs, and bound her over in two sureties of £10, and herself in £25, to keep the peace for twelve months, remarking that she ought to feel thankful that bhe had got off so lightly.