RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 627, 4 May 1882, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

ASHBURTON— This Day. (Before his Worship the Mayor and Mr R. Alcorn, J. P.) A Bad Lot.—Thos. Gillon, alias Gallon, alias Burke, alias Williams, was charged with assaulting Michael John Maher by striking him on the head with a stone. Accused was also charged with being drunk. Fined 10s, or 48 hours’ imprisonment. A further charge was then _ preferred against Gillon—that of obtaining goods by false representat'ona. It appeared from the evidence adduced that on the Ist May accused visited the South Rikaia Hotel, and informed the landlord that he had been working for a farmer in the district named Patterson, and that a cheque was then due to him for wages. Patterson, accused added, was going to pay a visit to the township that day, and would hand over the cheque as soon as he arrived. On the strength of these representations Gillon was supplied with dinner and a flask of brandy to wash it down. Strange to say the evening came but “ Mr Patterson ” did not. Mr Gillon went away without going through the form of settling his bill, amounting to 7s Gd. In short, it was a case of “ had.” The ac-

cused subsequently came on to Ashburton by the express, and just by way of finishing up the day in a festive and agreeable manner, he determined to “ make a night of it.” The result was he got drunk, and meeting Maher gave him a playful tap on the head with a stone, which nearly knocked him down. —The accused, on being asked if he had anything to say, made a rambling statement to the Bench, which was anything but satisfactory. —Sergeant Felton produced a terribly long list of “ previous convictions,” from which it appeared accused must have 1 lived for a considerable portion of his . time at the expense of Her Majesty. He . was sent tip for another six months. Breach of Borough By-Laws.—D. . Betts, for allowing a horse to be at large, 5 was fined 10s. | CIVIL CASES. r Greenless v Fountain—Claim L 6 10s for work and labor done.—Mr Brandon 1 for plaintiff.—lt appeared from the evidence of the plaintiff that he had been r engaged by the defendant through 1 Parker, the labor agent in Christchurch, B at L 3 per week. Claimed for two weeks and a little over.—Defendant said he had B authorised Parker to engage plaintiff at LI per week ordinarily, and L2 per week j. during the harvest. He had not done any harvesting, and had refused to work on Sunday.—Cross-examined by Mr Branscn, defendant admitted that plainr tiff had assisted with the harvesting.—Mr s Branson contended his client must recover, and as to working on Sunday, that d was, be submitted no day for working; no one could be compelled to work on Sunj dry. Judgment for amount claimed with e costs.