MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11499, 4 February 1903, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

INSOBRIETY.'

John Diffin, who ivaa fottod drank on the railway station platform on Monday, and who has been thrice convicted on charges of drunkenness during the lasttwelve months, way sentenctd to fourteen days' imprisonment by Mr R. Beetbam, S.M. Two male first "offenders were each fined £a. STOLEN BICYCLES. A young man named Henry Hilton Thompson pleaded "Gulty" yesterday to elutrges of stealing two bicycles, valued at £20 each, and onts overcoat, vaiued at £2. Chief-Detec-tive Chrystall explained tuiai tihe inaciuncs had been laft outside two different buildings in Christchurch whise the owner? were inside, and were taken artray by the accused. One bicycle was found in V smashed up condition, and the other was discovered in a pawn ahop at Wellington, where it had been sold for £4. The overcoat had been taken from the Shamrock Hotel. The Chief-Detective put in a lon£ j list of previous -convictions agaicst the ac- j cueed, and said that at t>hx> present time Thompson was undergoing nine months' ] imprisonment for toeft at Wellington. The Magistrate sentenced tlhe accused to twelve months' imprisonment, on each of the charges of bicycle theft, the terms to be cumulative, and sentenced him to a furtlier term cf three months 'for the tiheft of tihe overcoat, tlhe latter terra to oe concurrent. PROHIBITED PERSONS. WiliLam Wiggins was fined 40s for being found in the Cave Rock Hotel, Siimntr, during the currency of a prohibition order against .him. Edwin Charles Preston, who was similarly charged -with being found in the Imperial Hotel, was ivlso lined 40s. ALLEGED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. An old man named George Waterman denied having attempted to commit suicide. Constable Trehey gave evidence that on tlhe morning of January 25tih lie saw a hand holding on to one of the iron bais cf wie fire tank in squire. He saw a man in ; ;ho w;,tr, and ymlkd him out. 'fiie man told him that Ik had recently been in fhc iho:-2\tiil for influenza, and since his d;schar;r<-< he had not been right in the head. He also said that he had no desire to commit Miicide. The accused, who explained tiliat lie had been trying to wo.s'h his h«ad when he fell over, was discharged. ALLEGED THbJjT OF A HORSE. William Murphy, upon <; charge of stealing a darK buy gelding, valued at £20. and a saddle and bndta valued ot £8 14s, was TonKunded on the application of the police. Bail was allowed! two sureties in £100 eaoii. Mr Wise, for Mr Russell, appeared for the accused. INDECENT LANGUAGE. Henry Alexander (Mr Byrne) charged Constable Flewellyn with having used threatening ia.ngua.ge towa.rds him at Marshlands on January 2nd, and the constable charged Alexander with having permitted 23 head of cattle to graz* on the Canal Reserve, and with, having used indecent language. The Magistrate, after hearing contradictory accounts of what had transpired, fined Alexander 20s on the charge of using indecent language, and dismissed the otiher informations. Mr Cress well appeaired for Constable Flew.»llyn. ELECTION ENROLMENT CASES. ■Henry Haveloek Hanna (Mr Flesher) pleaded "GuiAy" to ,v charge under the Electoral Adt of having sent in a claim for enrolment ■when its ivae under 21. Mr Flesher explained that, tie defendant had signed the declaration at the request of a canvasser, who had stated that it would be all right provided the defendant reached 21 before the election. As a matter of fact, he attained his majority on. November 19th. His Worship said that the offence wua a serious oae, and he could not impose a nominal penalty merely. The defendant would be firmed 20s and costs. Mr tSta-inger appeared f<ir tiie Registrar of' Eleotora. 'Mre M. .Marriner, of Papanuii whose husoand appeared and admitted the offence, was charged with sjriding in a claim for enrolment when she had Dot resided in the colony .for twelve months. A fine of 20s and costs was imposed 1 , David: John Price wae charged with signing the name* of four different persons to enrolment claims, and an election canvasser named Harold. Henry Ellis was charged wilttot attesting the signatures without having seen the pflople . Mr (Jaseidy appeared for Price,, and Mr Maude for Effis. The charges wi-ire admitted, and the Magistrate fined each defendant 2Q» and costs on one charge each. The othe* ohargee were 'wkihdrarffn. A TRESPASSING BOOKiIAKER. H. J. Tosker, a. local bookmaker, admitted 'having trespassed on the Plumpfon Park Trottin-g Club'e grounds Oh New Year's Day. As this was.tihe man's first offence, hie Worslhip imposed a fine of 40s. Mr Hoban appeared for the defendant. MAINTENANCE. Thomas Dunn was sentenced to one months imprisonment for disobeying an order directing 'Him 1» contribute towards the .maintenance of a. near relative in the asylum. Edlward O'Brien (Mr Cassidy) appeared upon a charge of failing to provide lor his illegitimate ohild. Mr iJtringer, who appeared for the complainant, stated that an agreement had been come to whereby the defendant was to contribute 5s weekly towards the child's support. Hie Worship made an order accordingly. Orders against Philip Kelly and Philip JoUm Kelly were varied to 5s and; 3s weekly respectively.