MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11493, 28 January 1903, Page 4

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

INSOBRIETY.

James Leeson and Robina. Atack, who pleaded guilty to liaving Iweii drunk on Mon <Jay, were each fined 10.s and costs by Mr R." Beetham. ft.M. Eliza- Le Strange and Joseph Tresdor, who had already been convicted within the preceding six months, were each n'n«l 20s, in default seven days. THEFT AND VAGRANCY. Henry Deighton, an old man of apparently weak intellect, pleaded guilty ro a charge of baring stolen three pennyworth of bananas from Alfred Cumnrings's shop. He denied a further charge of having insufficent lawful means of support. After evidence had been given by the , police, the Magistrate sentenced the man to six months' imprisonment on each charge, the terms to run concurrently. A ROVING- CHILD. Florrie Bartley, a girl of thirteen, appeared upon a charge of having been found frequenting the streets with no settled place of abode. Sergeant Bourke explained that the father lived at Belfast, and had four children, of whom three were in the Industrial School. The man's wife had left ihim, and the girl would not stay at home. The girl explained to the Magistrate that she ram away because she did not like ueing left at home by herself. Sergeant Bourke added that the girl's father worked at the Belfast freezing works, and worked day and night work during alternate weeks. The Magistrate committed the girl to the Receiving Home. BROKEN PROHIBITION ORDERS. James Edmund Baker and Alexander Scrimgeour were each fined 20s for entering licensed premises during the currency of prohibition orders against them. THEFT AND i-ALSE PRETENCES. Henry Bryant King elected to be dealt with summarily upon a. charge of stealing a "Venus" .bicycle, valued at £17, on January Ist, from Frederick Nelson Adume, and pleaded not guilty to the charge. Evidence was given that the accused had hired it Venus ~ucyc*e at Adams's shop, paying £3 deposit. No further instalments had been paid, and wh«n the machine was demanded it w«,s found that the accused had cold it to Albert Pareons, a boarding-house-keeper, far £2 10?. The arrangement vraß that the accused should have the bioyole back in a fortnight on paying £3. The accused, who gave evidence, stated that he w-ae a bandmaster, a professional musician, and a discharged soldier. lie had been drinking heavily lately, and did not altogether know wnat he wae doing. Accused was also charged with obtaining £2 from John Ousack, of tine Royal Hotel, and 18s 6d from William A. Lawrence, of the Papanui Hotel, iby means of valueless cheques. He admitted these changes. Hia Worship said lie oould , not deal with, the man a» a first offender, for lie hod already been placed on probation. He would be J sentenced to six month*' imprisonment lor stealing tlie bicycle, and tdiree moniiis an each of the other .two charges, tie sentences to be concurrent. THEFT OF JEWELLERY. Harry Nevin was sentenced to el* months' imprisonment for stealing a tratch and other articles of a total value of £2 12s, the property of Thoimae Miller. MAINTENANCE. A maintenance order against William Clifford Reid, directing him to contribute 5s weekly towardu his wife's support, warn increased to 7a 6d. Mr Kirk appeared lor tlie defendant.