RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3380, 19 December 1873, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Friday , December 19. (Before A, C. Strode, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness.— Margaret Downie was fined ds, with the usual alternative ; Alex. Cowie, 10s, with the option of 48 hours’ imprisonment; and Marion M“Donnell, 40s, or seven days. Obscene Language. —Jane Monson was charged with making use of obscene language in a right-of-way off Great King street, yesterday afternoon. Constable Rooney heard the defendant making use of obscene language towards some one in Bristol House. —Prisoner stoutly denied the charge, whereupon his \\ orship informed her that it was no good hor feigning injured innocence. She had frequently been convicted; he and she were in fact very old friends. (Laughter.)--Prisoner wanted a remand, so as to produce evidence to show that she had not lived the words imputed to her ; but his Worship would not entertain Lie application, believing it was an “old affair, and fined her -10s, in default seven days’ imprisonment with hard labor. Wholesale Petty Larcenies.— Wilhelmina J. Duric, a young girl a native of Norway, was charged with stealing, between the 15th October and 19th December, from the shop of Hy. Dodd, draper, Gorge street, one pair drawers, twelve baudkei-clviefs, three sets collars and cuffs, seventeen collars, one pair stays, one necktie, and a quantity of worsted, the whole of the value of L 3. The prisoner not understanding English, Mr F, R Chapman, who was in Court, acted as interpreter. Through him she said she was guilty, hut that this was her first offence.—The prisoner had come out as an immigrant in the ship Palmerston, about twelve mouths ago, and after st ppiug at Oamaru for a considerable time, had come to town, and asked prosecutor if he knew where she could find employment. As she was in a weakly condition, he agreed to let her stop with him till she found a place. Ever since they had periodically lost things, and last evening he got a, constable to search her box, where they found a number of the missing articles. —Mr Chapman was not instructed to act in this case, but as solicitor for the Females’ Refuge Committee, he might state that the Managing Committee would probably allow her to go there. —His Worship thought the idea a praiseworthy one. Against the girl (for she was apparently nothing more) there was not anything criminal known beyond this case. It would be the means of having her contaminated by some of the hardened criminals in the gaol were she to be sent there. —Air Chapman understood that she was a fit character for the Refuge, and were a remand till to-morrow granted, he would inquire into the case. - His tV'orsliip entirely agreed with the suggestion, and remanded her till to-morrow morning.

Vaouan’CV. A charge of this nature against Frances Drury, which had been adjourned from the previous day so that prisoner’s son might be produced, was now proceeded with. —Henry Drury said that his mother was in constant receipt of money since the death of his father, provision having been made for her. Witness had found three separate homes for her, all of which she had left. He had also frequently given her money, and was willing to contribute any sum to her support; in tact, everything possible had been done for her. —His Worship suggested the Refuge, whereupon Mr Chapman said they would not admit her, as she had previously been there and left of her own accord. Besides the place was intended for young persons who could not work for themselves. _ Hbelieved Dr Hulme had informed the Committee that if she was not entirely insane, she was nor perfectly rational. —-She was remanded to the Hospital for medical examination. CIVIL CASKS. Strong v. M’Cutcheou—A claim of L2l2sßd, for butcher’s meat supplied to defendant as proprietor of the Australasian Hotel. Judg meut was given for 5s 2d, each party paying half costs. Doull v. Dalrymplc. -Claim L 37 13s 9d, balance of amount due. Plaintiff had empowered defendant to obtain a mortgage for him lor L 2,700 under the Laud Transfer Act. Defendant had obtained the mortgage, and had paid over the money, less his charges. Plaintiff objected to these charges as exorbitant, and sought therefore to recover the sum claimed as being beyond that which defendant was entitled to charge under the Land Transfer Act. Mr Stout, instructed by Mr Harris, for plaintiff ; Mr Stewart,'who pleaded “never indebted,” for defendant.-Mr Scout said that defendant was a broker, and the charges, which were for brokerage, were exorbitant. While a solicitor charged the old Os Sd for services, a broker appeared to charge 9s Od, and while a solicitor only charged for sending a telegram, a broker also charged for receiving one. For each consultation half-a-guinea was charged; andhccould not see how the claim was arrived at. After the bill had been made up, defendant, probably thinking he had made a mistake, put at the bottom of it the footnote E & 0 E (Errors and omissions excepted). —After evidence had oeen taken, Mr Stewart raised an objection that Mr G. F. Reid, as agent for the plaintiff, had not shown that he had received his (Doull’s) authority to proceed with the case.- The Bench considered the objection a fatal one, and dismissed the case.