RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 811, 11 December 1865, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAT. (Before tlie Hon. A. C. Strode, R.M.) FIGHTING. Robert Johnstone was charged with having on the 10th instant committed a breach of the peace in Stuart-street by fighting. Mr Ward appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. The constable having stated the offence, the defendant said that he was proceeding home with his wife and children, when he was annoyed by some men constantly casting the glare of a hand lamp before them, and by using obscene language to him. He remonstrated with them, but in return he received a blow, and he then ran after them. In reply to "*a question from the Magistrate, ' the constable said that when he took the defendant in charge, no such annoyance was complained of. The defendant was fined 5s and costs.

EMBEZZLEMENT.

Gibbs Lockhart Ross (described as a telegraphic operator, and officer in charge of the Dunedin station) was charged with having received the sum of one hundred and fifty-five pounds, fifteen shillings and five-pence, the property of the General Government,- and fraudulently embezzled it. The prisoner was defended by Mr W. W. Wilson.

Alfred Sheath, sworn, stated—l am Telegraphic Engineer to the General Government. The prisoner was chief operator and officer in charge of the General Government telegraphic office in Dunedin. On Saturday morning, the 9th inst., I called at the office and found the prisoner absent. I then sent for him, and he came down to me a quarter of an hour afterwards. I informed him that I had come down for the.purpose of looking into his accounts. He said "Do not be 'hard with me, I'll make it all right, as I am awaiting remittances .from Lyttleton, if you give me a little time, I'll see that everything is right." I said that I was acting on behalf of the General Government, and must act according to circumstances. I asked him whether he had paid his receipts into the Bank according to his instructions. He said he had not. I asked him what he had done "with them. He replied he was ashamed of himself. I then placed another officer in charge, and the prisoner handed over to him his books aud receipts. I subsequently on examiniug the accounts found a deficiency of £lB4 16s 4d. The amount charged in the information is the receipts for the month of November only, and for which the prisoner has- not accounted.

The Commissioner of Police then asked for a remand until to-morrow, which was granted.

LARCENY,

Wm. Townsend, charged with this offence, was upon the application of the Commissioner of Police, further remanded for seven days, as the chief witness has not yet arrived from Hokitika.

There were a number of civil casee heard, but they were of a trivial nature.