RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3750, 1 March 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Monday, March 1. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness.— Daniel Knox, William Watson, and Henry Walden were each fined ss, with the alternative of twenty-four hours’ imprisonment ; William Hook, 10s, or three days’; James Abrahams, 20s, with a like alternative; John Sevens was discharged with a caution. A charge against Alexander Davidson was withdrawn by the police, there beiug some fault in the apprehending constable’s conduct, and which the Commissioner was about to investigate. Assaulting the Police.— Henry Walden on a further charge of assultine the arresting constable was fined 20s, in default six days’ imprisonment. Alleged Theft. —Mary Jane Williams, a young woman, was charged on the information of Ellen O’Neill with stealing from the Caversham Immigration Barracks ten sovereigns and twenty-one shillings in silver. —Mr Harris defended and pleaded not guilty.—His Worship : Has the money beeu recovered ?—lnspector Mallard : No, The short facts are these : Accused is a recent arrival—a passenger by the Garaloch—and the prosecutor is also a recent i.rrival. Prosecutor lost the money and also the bag in which it was planed. The mpney has not been recovered, nor any portion of it; but the bag in which it was placed was found under the mattrass of the accused’s bed by the constable on making a search in the single women’s apartment.—Prosecutor, in answer to the Bench, said that she did not particularly suspect anyone of the theft. She did not suspect accused more than anyone else. His Worship said that, under the circumstances, it would be better to let the accused go at large, Mr Harris handed in a letter from the person with whom accused had been working at Home, stating that accused was a trustworthy, honest, industrious girl, willing and obedient, and that she had left her employment because of the family emigrating.—The prosecutor allowed the charge to be withdrawn, and his Worship said that he thought he was justified in saying that, so far as the facts were before him, the accused was discharged without a stain on her character; indeed the probabilities were the other way. It was highly improbable that the girl would take the bag and place it uuder her mattrass. It was more probable that someone else had placed it there.

t CIVIL OASES. Russell v, Firewood.—This was a fraud summons, and Mr Stout appeared for plaintiff—Mr Stamper, junr., for defendant. His Worship, after hearing the evidence, said he looked upon this as a very bad case, and he must set his face against a working man getting into debt when he was already hopelessly insolvent. Although

thers was now no imprisonment for debt for a' man who acted in a straightforward, honest manner, anyone who incurred a debt and could not pay it, or acted as defendant had done, must be taught that he could be punished. He ordered immediate payment, or, in default, thirty days’ imprisonment. Judgment was given, by default, for plaintufm the following cases, with costs :—Hainan and Co. v. Sinnamon, claim LlO, on a promissory note; Burgess v. Rutherford, L2l7s, for board and lodging and money lent; Alexander v. Jen Hinson, L2 4s ? for wages due; Wain v. .Kelso, L 27 Is, repairs to a buggy; Hutchinson V ” *rj 6 ’ Is for boots supplied. M Donald v. Dryden. -In this case, heard lose week, his Worship now gave judgment for plaintiff for L 9 4s 6d. with costs.