RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 957, 31 May 1883, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

ASHB DRTON. -To-day,

Before Joseph Beswick, Eaq., R.M,

Larceny from a Dwelling.— William Wilson, alias William Mullens, agei 15j was charged with stealing a gun and am* munition from the house of a man named Brown. The defendant pleaded guilty; Sergeant Felton stated that the prisoner had told him that he had previously served 12 months at Burnham. Tho Bench sentenced him to 3 months’ imprisonment. Breach of Borough By-laws. —Henry Dudley and B. Lancaster were fined 5s each for breach of the by-laws.—Julian Ward and J McCormick were fined respectively 15s and 20s. The Oherxsby Hotel Cases.— On the charge brought against Matthew Charles Sheppard, for a breach of the Licensing Act, being called, Mr Loughrey, who appeared for the defence, put in a certificate showing that Sheppard had applied for a temporary license for the Ohertsey Hotel. ; The Bench held that this was not sufficient, and after argument it was decided to adjourn the case till half past one, : in order that the Licensing Clerk be communicated with. —On resuming, Mr Loughrey said that he had obtained a duplicate of the license from the County Treasurer. The police aban-; doped the casaedging jdeflndaptjwith ai breach 6f the Gaming aid' Lotteries 'Act,, as it would depend chiefly upon his Worship’s judgment in tho case heard last week. The first information was for selling liquor in prohibited hours.—John Riddell, living at Ghertsey, said he remembered being at the Chertsey Hotel on a Saturday at the end of April. He might have been • there a ■ of ■ hpurs. When witness left the house was closed, and he unlocked the door and went out. Cameron left before witness. [The Bench here cautioned the witness, saying that he was giving his evidence very badly.] Did not know at what hour he arrived home, although he was sober. Was in the taproon, which was separated from the bar by a door. The last drink he had was an hour before leaving.-—By Mr Loughrey : Went to the hotel' at about eight o’clock,' and stayed about two hours. He thought that no liquors were served, an hour previous to wittiess leaving.—By'the Bench: Witness might have been in the hotel three hours, —Alex., Cameron, f deposep that ho was boardingTh ’the hotel at the end of April. Remembered being in com-; pany, with certain men ppe evening. Stopped up till about twelve o’clock/ but could not say if all the men went away before that time. The people in the taproom were’ playing euchre, and witness saw the barman, who was bringing in drinks between eleven and twelve.—By Mr Loughrey : There was no clock in the room. Had three drinks during the evening. Could -not say if the bar was closed when the men went away.—Fred. Bowler, telegraphist, said he r emembered being in; Company with certain men at the.CheHsey Hotel. Could not say what the time was when he went there, but he left about midnight. Left by the door fronting the railway line.—Br Mr Loughrey : Witness was not supplied with liquor. Did not take any particular notice when the last drink was served.—Henry Wilson gaveevidonce similar to tho previous witnesses in regard to being at the Ghertsey Hotel on an evening at the end of April. Left the hotel between 11 and 12. Went out by the side door, which was opem—By Mr Loughrey ; Did not stop talking outside the hotel when he left. Could not say if the door he left the house by had been previously unlocked.—John Downly gave corroboratory evidence. Witness was playing euehtO up' tb 11 o’clock, for “ a shilling in and the winner shouts. There were no drinks on the last game. The last time witness ' w» J ■‘barman was a half an hour previous. —By MrLo.ughrey: It .was some-! times customary to ; play euchre for “ dry shilling.” The front door had been locked long before witness left the hotel. —By the Bench : J Could not say if ho won money on that that evening.—This concluded the evidence for the prosecution.— Mr Loughrey said that there was nothing to support the information, which was for keeping the house pppn during prohibited hours. There was ho evidence before the Court to prove this. He would not call any witnesses.- His ti Worship said that he was quite satisfied fhat the house had been kept , open afterhours, ; ;and that drink had been supplied. The offence; was a serious one, and defendant would! be fined £5, and the,conviction would be; endorsed on the license.—Mr Loughrey appealed to the Bench not to endqrse tha license until the whole of the information had been heard. The defendant was about to leave thp Chertsey Hotel, and if the endorsement were made it would injure inuocen^pcople.,—-The Heqoh jpfcidi that the request could not be acceded to. j —The same defendant pleaded guilty to| allowing unlawful games, under the, Licensing Act, and was fined £lO, another endorsement being placed on the license. The police withdrew tho other information. The case heard last week, under the Gaming and'Lotteries’' Act, was dismissed.

CIVIL CASES. Macdonald v. Spencer, claim of HO 9s 6d for balance of wages. —Mr Wilding appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Purnell for defendant. L 6 19s fid was paid into Court. This was a case in which the plaintiff gave evidence that he had been engaged to cart wqol fop .the defeidaut at the rate of L2 a week. For the defence it was stated that a special arrangement had been,made for tho plaintiff.to receive L2 a week if he stayed throughout the wool season,* and this condition had not been observed. Witnesses having been examined on both -sides, judgment was given for L 8 9s fid, and costs. Beckett v. Leddy —Claim of LI2 9a 9d, for work done. Mr Wilding appeared for plaintiff, and Mr Purnell for the. defendant. lls lid was paid into Court. This claim was for the balance of threshing contract. A good deal of evidence was taken, and the Bench ultimately decided to adjourn the case till Friday week, for the purpose of obtaining expert evidence, and also to enable the plaintiff to produce his bagman.