Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1892-06-11 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

BROUGH POLICE COURT.  The Middlesbrough Stipendiary commented strongly on Monday on the amount of perjury committed in his court. The case before him was a charge of assault preferred against James McVay, a notorious character freluently convicted. by Mary Ann Smith, a widow with whom he had lived. The assault took place on the March. Prisoner did not appear, and on complainant's evidence a warrant was issued. !He was apprehended on Saturday on another chorge.—Complainant on entering the witnessbox, refused to be aworix, saying, •• I won't kiss the book that -be head a hints to in, on the Saturday eight, lacaueo 1 was that excited I can't say."—The Chief constabletaid she tame to the poli..e station and said prisoner had tried to strangle her, cud threatened her with a long knife. She ropeaved t;i at statement on oath Letoro the Magistrates, and on the strength & it a warraut was granted. Eventual.y complainant was sworn. Site said she had parted from prismer, with whom she hal been living some time before the sasault, and on that night he came out of a passa,,e and caught hold of her. He did not say he would "rip her up." He had no knife in his hand that she saw.—Did you not say he held a kuiie over your head ?—I will not swear at all. I .lid note,* the knife on Saturday night. He had it that week.—lnspector Atkiubon was thou sworn, and said he took down a statement from complainant's own lips, read it over to her, and she signed it as correct. In it she said: "lbo had a knife in his hand. It was a big one with a r.ng round the end. He held the knit° over my head. and said, 'Now, you —, I will do for you.' I am afraid he will murder me, end I will not live w.th him again."— Complaineut said he did not threaten her with the knit. on the Saturday night, but during the week before,—The Stipendiary : Then why did you wake this statement it it was not true, de. scribing the knife ?—Compleinant : It was my witnese said it—Thu Stipendiary Nonsouse.—An independent witness spoke to seeing prisoner assault the woman, but did not see any Prisoner said complainant assaulted him with a bottle, and then ran away shouting "blue morther.' (Lauhter.) He called two witnesses, who contradicted each other and the other witnessea.—The Stipendiary said ' either one side or the other was conunittine perjury, which he regretted to say was not an unusual thing in that Court It was most painful to . have to sit in that Court where there was so much lying.—Priaoner was bound overto keep the peace, and ordered to pay Ala costs, or 14 days for the assault ; for being drunk and riotous he was theta i 21s, or 14 days.  Mr Monteith Smith, advocate, of Edinburgh, will contest Buteshire in the Liberal interest. Lurnovisstsinra TO didettor A UOJilAil Tiraara Rol:AL.—Ai the Auckhuid Local Beard on Wednesday afternoon plans for the extension aad improvement of the Bishop Auckland Theatre ' Royal were submitted, and after a brief discussion ! were unanintouely agreed to. The alterations to the building Sr. to be *Aeon, e. itsstursatriOst or • k'itts ;Intaxes.—At Wed. nesday's meeting ol• the Auckland do,ol Board it was reported that the whole of the m•mbeis of the town hre brigade had resigned. After a brief die. ! ouseion it was decided to appoint a practical man SA captain, and to leave to him the reorganising of the tire brigade, but s new engine Las not to be purchased.  A