MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14835, 28 November 1913, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr W. H. Bishop, S.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Five first offenders for drunkenness were fined. ss, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Alfred John, who, while .under the influence of drink, got in front of the "special" constables and created a scene by waving his arms, was fined 20s, in default seven days' imprisonment. OBSCENE LANGUAGE. Alexander McKenzio, on charges of drunkenness and using obscene language, was fined 4Qs } in default one month's imprisonment on the more serious charge, and convicted for drunkenness. MISTAKEN IDENTITY. "I can't plead guilty to a charge of drunkenness," said Lizzie Watson, "because I was arrested a few minutes after I saw Mr Bishop, and he knows I was not drunk. , ' "Spoke to mc in the street?" queried Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M. "I'm not in the habit of' being spoken to by all sorts of women in tho street." It was explained that the woman had been talking to Chief-Detective Bishop, and -th& matter was satisfactorily cleared up. The accused was fined 10s, in default forty-eight hours' imprisonment. ■ THEFT. Three youths, named Albert Frederick Johnson, JoseplTWolsey, and Thomas James, all aged sixteen years, were jointly charged with the theft at Lower Riccarton, on November 21st, of £3 4a, the property of Donald McKinley. There was another charge against Johnson and "WoTsey, that they did steal three days later, from the same person, the sum of £t 10,s. . , . , -~ , :. , Chief-Detective V Bishop," who 'prosecuted, said that the. thefts had been made from a. Lower Ricoarton storekeeper. Johnson going into the shop and taking the money, and giving some of it to the other boys. Tho accused pleaded guilty, and were each fined 20s, in default one month'e imprisonment, on the first charge, and ordered to refund the money. A similar fine was made in respect of the second/ charge. . CIVIL BUSINESS. Judgment by default was entered for 'plaintiffs with costs in the following cases: —Gees, Ltd. (Mr Thomas) -v Henry Hurrell, £6; Bradley Bros. (Mr Taylor) v. J. Rowe, £6 10s; W. Sanders, jun. (Mr Taylor) v. John McNeill, 18s; W. H. Homer (Mr Taylor) v. John McNoill. 15s; P.. A. Aldersley (Mr Champney) v. Frank'Mora, £2 Is: Hy. Berry and Co (Mr Spratt) v. Octavitis F. Cook, £10 8s Bd; ? same>. Edmund Gower, £13 9s 9d; Maling and Co. (Mr Wilding) v. J. Tcmpleman, £4; Chandler and Co., Ltd. (Mr Harper) v. Smith Bros., of Winton, £6; James Rodger and Co. (Mr Taylor) v. B. Wingfield, 15s: F. t>. Kesteren (Mr Rowe) v. D. J. Gordon, £12; J. Patterson (Mr Mosley) v. A. J. Prendergast, £2 12s; Christchurch City Council v. J. K. McNeill, £3 3s lid; same v. Agnes Weir, £8 5s 2d; same v. John O'Connell, £1 13s 8d ; same y. same, £1 17s &d: same v. J. R. Oliver and A. E. Oliver. £4 0s 8d; same v. James Gordon, £2 2s 9d: same v. John O'Connell, £4 15s 6d; Georce Evans (Mr Taylor) v. W. G. Shackle, £3 16s 8d; Dresden Piano' Co. (Mr Tavlor) v. George Jeffry. £7 Is: T. Grenfell (Mr Taylor) v. Hu C h Lynn. £1 5s 6d: Booth, Macdonald and Co. (Mr Wilding) v.. Thomas Atkinson, £1 5 S 6d; J. Mansfield and Son (Mr Tavlor) y. r J. m O'Sullivan. £29 11s: F. Johnston (Mr Tavlor) v. Geo. H. Chambers. £4 Is 6d; Hunter and Phillips (Mr Wilding v. William Henry Long, £11 2s 10d. J A LOAN TRANSACTION. < James Power (Mr Cassidy) claimed from John Conniffe (Mr M. Donnelly) the sum of'£lo, being an amount allowed to have been lent to defendant by plaintiff on August 17th, 1912. Plaintiff stated that on the /date mentioned, defendant, who -was staying at his hotel, borrowed tho sum of £IoT and left the same day, neglecting to pay both tho £10 and his board. The latter, however, was paid some time afterwards. Plaintiff's sister, Bridget Power, deposed that she saw her brother pay the defendant tho sum of £10. For the defence, it was contended that the plaintiff had confused the allesced loan with the cashing of defendant's chequo for £10 some days previous to August 17th. Defendant, who stated that he was a rich man, . denied having borrowed any money from plaintiff. , The Magistrate, after commenting on the unsatisfactqry nature of the case, .said he had no reason to believe that the mistake made had been anything but an honest one. He could not disbelieve tho evidence of plaintiff and his sister. Judgment was for plaintiff for amount claimed aud costs.