From Western Post & Mudgee Newspaper 27 November 1861: POLICE COURT Tuesday November 26 Before the Police Magistrate, his Worship the Mayor, and E MARLAY, Esq. Bridget CLARK, a deplorable looking character, charged with being drunk, pleaded forgiveness on the usual grounds that she had a poor little family who could not do without her. Discharged with a caution. Cornelius SULLIVAN, brought up for protection. Defendant said he had been a patient in the hospital, but had left without being discharged, and was taken into custody, for not having a home to go to. His eyes were not well and he would like to return to the hospital. Discharged. Silas WINTERS, summoned for wages. The complainant not appearing, the case was dismissed. W C WESTON for libel. Mr. BRODRIBB for plaintiff. Mr. JAMES for defendant. Mr. JAMES raised two objections to the information, which having been overruled, Mr BRODRIBB called Wilson RAMSAY, who said that he was duly qualified surgeon. He produced a copy of the 'Western Post' newspaper, which he had purchased from that office on the morning of the 13th instant. It contained a letter signed W C WESTON, addressed to TCD, alias Long Chon, &c. He (Dr. RAMSAY) had been in the habit of writing letters to the 'Western Post' under the nom de guerre of TCD. He had not the least doubt that the letter signed W C WESTON was addressed to him, and would swear that he was the person alluded to in it. William HOWARTH said he was editor of the 'Western Post'. The letter in question was inserted in every copy of that paper issued on the 13th instant; he produced the original letter, which he had received by post from Rylstone; he could not swear to the signature, he never having seen Dr. WESTON write. W W ARMSTRONG, of Rylstone, said he was acquainted with the hand writing of defendant; the letter before the Court he believed was in the hand writing of Mr. WESTON he had not doubt on the matter. He considered that Dr. RAMSAY was the person referred to as TCD and Long Chon. Cross-examined by Mr. JAMES: The reason he knew Dr. RAMSAY to be the person referred to was, that he had heard from Dr. RAMSAY indirectly that he had written letters bearing those signatures; he had heard of previous letters signed TCD. Dr. RAMSAY had remarked in his hearing, that the letter referred to him. Dr. RAMSAY was a friend of his. Mr. N P BAYLY, J.P., said the had read the letter in the 'Western Post' and believed that it referred to Dr. RAMSAY. Cross-examined by Mr. JAMES. He founded his opinion upon a conversation he had with Dr. WESTON, who had called at his house, and expressed his indignation at two letters Dr. RAMSAY had written reflecting upon his character; Mr. WESTON said he had made up his mind to go to Mudgee and give Dr. RAMSAY a good horsewhipping; he (Mr BAYLY) told him he fully deserved it, as Dr. RAMSAY's letters were uncharitable and unwarrantable in every sense of the word, to use the mildest construction, but recommended Dr. WESTON not to take the law into his own hands, as he had good grounds for an action. Mr. HARDWICK, J.P., was called to give evidence, and complained of being unnecessarily brought all the way from Rylstone in a case he knew no more about it than his neighbours. He certainly had read the letter in the paper. Mr. BRODRIBB having briefly addressed the Court, Mr. JAMES said he was satisfied to leave his case in their Worships' hands. The Bench said their only course was to commit the defendant, the case would be submitted to the Attorney General, it was not for them to say whether he would find a true bill or not. N P BAYLY, J.P., took his seat on the Bench. Samuel SORBY, brought up for cutting and wounding. Constable MOREN said the prisoner was given into his custody on Sunday night, for stabbing his wife with a pocket knife, with the intention of doing her some bodily harm. It occurred at Mount Frome. Upon searching prisoner he found a pocket knife. Margaret SORBY said the prisoner was her husband; about 7 o'clock on the evening in question he knocked her down, and held her on the floor, when she got up he asked her for a piper, and she was in the act of reaching one for him, he came behind her and stabbed her in the neck; she believed that he would have killed her had not two persons come up at the time; the whole of her dress was covered with blood; half an hour after the occurrence, she went to Dr. KING, who dressed the wound. She had not quarreled with her husband or given him the least provocation; he was not quite sober. Dr. KING said he had examined the wound; it was a punctured wound of a muscle of the neck; he did not probe it; it was, however, deep, from the quantity of blood which had flowed; the knife before the Court was likely to produce such a wound. The case was remanded until Friday, in order to obtain the evidence of the two parties who had witnessed the assault. BIRTH On the 13th instant, at Crooked Corner, Cudgegong River, the wife of Mr. Thomas NEVELL, of a daughter. ***END*** N.B. All care has been taken to transcribe the above accurately, however errors may have been inadvertently made. Spelling of names/places should be as appears in original. Transcribed from microfilm available from the State Library. Annette Piper Coolah NSW