The Prisoners at the Auckland Police Court. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1674, 29 March 1883, Page 2

The Prisoners at the Auckland Police Court. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Auckland', Last Night. As eaily as 10 o'clock this morning' the R.M. 1 Coiirt' and ilia precincts wore crowded with people anxious to get a 'glimpse of the Maori prisoners from 'Waikato as they were marched from the guardhouse to the Court- room. It was fully 11 o'clock before the Maoris made their appearance vwitli ' their attendant guard. Mr Hiusthousc, Mr Newshani, and WetereTc Jlerenga at length identified, the whole party, and several men of the A. C' -Force having been; placed, on, duty in the eoat-iooms, the pri&oncrs had^their handcuffs removed, and were placed along theteastc'rni side of the Court, the dock providing accommodation for only five or six. The majority, after standing for a while, squatted down on the floor. The names, of the prisoners are as follows :—: — Te Mahuki, Tariu, Hone Waikato, Ngatuahira, Ngari, Wamui, Poihipatukutarepa, Pn Tot'urangi ' Efone Timi, Hamilton, "kite', Hon' Toiroa, Hori Hohepa, Te Kete, Taniknngihaeata, Ngawharu, Te Whata, Te Warn, and Paro. TJieu w,ere, changed, with having unlawfully { consniitted< «ia 4 kggravated assault upon jone Wilson Hurfathou&e at Te 'Kumi oii the 20th inst. ' Mr' Scth Smith, ' K/.M., presided- upon thp,bench, Superintendent Thomson represented -' v' police,! '.and >r>Mr>ii Lawry,f.<from the Native Office, attended to take down i the , witnesses' ; depositions.. .The 'first charge preferred was one' 6f fyfgra'vated 'assault, I ' 'Vizr, that on- 'the 20th .inst. j» aft ,Te Uira, tin the Waikato^ disttict, accused did make an assault upon Charles Wilson Hursthouse, putting him „ in bodily ,fear, and in danger, of his life, and that they' stole f ro^m' l him a fhorse, saddle and bridV,' at -macintosh coat^and blue serjge coat containing a watch and chain and p'ockei; book ;'anct furtlicr, they subsefjuei¥tly. r beat and ill-.treated-him. Mr John Wlnte^ interpreted;-' •*• Mr F. J. -Earniitiftructed by Mr John - §heehan> appeared. for jfche accused, ( 1 Mr .tlie CJroy'n Ptosecntor, in opening, said :—lt: — It is' 'unnecessary, tpefrtojpH/O.'toi V7enterr/ r i w\o, jqthe details oor;,i r ;, th^ocii^ftinatencea preceding the .appearance Here of priasi ] those^ • wil^ ( xp^nie .out in duejcoftTse. .I^ial}jjthereip^o,-cpnfiue myself to a few observations upon the par tipulsr offe,uce which, dsi i)o ; \yj preferred against them. . They are charged under 1 thg ,42r4^section of * f the, yL^rcfjny, , Act, which states (pat., jWhosoever 'shall, together with on4'"or'"'moro person or persons, rpb^pr assault with intent to rob any person, or snail* fob any person, and at - time of orl immediately wmbW^WPA wirT* TTvf v use sh^U^bel^itt^ol/feldnvj^TM^lSrge, ,

therefore, against these, M&orjs, is that of assaulting Mr Hurstliouse, ami stealing from him. the articles specified ,in the in-forrndtlon.-.^kmt^ With I ', 'tofc/eqftbiltly beating nn(l ' 'illtreatihg 'him: • The evidence which, I , have to place before ''yoW^ Worship* is, I think, sufficient' l to' «iitliblistr tliat 1 7 . otii of the 23 prisoners Ijefore you were actively engaged intlie assault upon Mr Hursthouse at Te U!ra on'the 2pth" iiist. ' The' other six willbe indicted as Haying' acted as guards .while Mr Hursthbuse and his compjihtonsweredetaitfed in the whare at MahuttPi kh'iailga. Mahliki the Jp.-ider is ' the nat|ye whp.jncHjed to, and, instigated the assault, fi'riihvas the a,nimaking9pirit in the whole affair. He is an insignificant chief,, nud oannot bo regarded a^ of any great ( iafl.honce' in hiB 'trijje. Mr Hursthouse and Ie Wcterc" deposed to the facts of the assault as already publislied r , j j , The case lasted' all clay, and it is 'the intention of the Crown Prosecutor to indict prisoners also, for assaulting and robbing Mr Nlpwsham, assaulting Wetcrc te lleti^a, assaultinc Te Haere, and with causing a riot at Alexandra, while four of them will be indicted for assaulting Mr Ahier.