MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 5, 5 June 1874, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH.

Friday, June 5. [Before C. C. Bowen, Esq, E.M., R. J. S. Harman, and G. L. Lee, Esqs., J.Ps.] DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Frederick Stafford, a young lad lately arrived in the province, and arrested by Constable Hughes the previous evening fo; drunkenness, was discharged with a caution. LARCENY, Augustus Yelvertou was charged with stealing a chair. Sergeant Willis stated that a Mr Harris brought the prisoner to t'.e depot the previous evening, and said he found him in his house sitting in a chair, which he believed to be stolen. Prisoner subsequently said th?t he had stolen the chair, and would sterl everything he could get hold of. Richard Brown Harris stated that, between 5 and 6 o’clock the previous day, as he and his wife went into their house, they found the prisoner sitting there in the chair produced. He told them that the bailiffs were in his place, and that he had taken the chair away, and wanted to sell it for 10s. He (witness) offered him 5s for it, which he took. Prisoner wished him to go and have a drink, and witness went with him with the intention of taking htm to the lock-up. When they arrived at the swing bridge, prisoner asked him if he could take care of some things for him, as he intended to “crack a crib’’ that night. Witness said he would if they were not too bulky, and that he himself intended to crack one also that night, and asked prisoner to come, and he would show him the one. When he got him near the depot he caught hold of prisoner, and said “ this is the crib I mean.” He then gave him into the custody of Sergeant Willis. Henry Scrimshaw, cabinetmaker, Colombo Street, missed a chair that morning, tbp chair produced is the one. Valued it at 18s 6d. Had not sold the chair to anyone. By prisoner—l know it is my chair, there are no other chairs of the same kind in Christchurch.

Alfred Scrimshaw, son of the previous witness knew the chair in Court, saw it on the platform of his Father’s house, missed it from there previous day. By prisoner—l know the chair by the handles. Another son of Mr Scrimshaw’s said he was sure the chair produced was right at the end of his father’s platform the previous day, he didn’t bring it in the that night as it had been taken away. By prisoner—l know the chair by the pattern. The prisoner had no witnesses to call, but he denied stealing the chair. Mr Scrimshaw he said had not identified the chair as his property, and there was no evidence to convict him of stealing it. His WorshipJ said the bench had not the slightest doubt about the matter. He saw that since the Bth December, 1873, prisoner had been before the Court six times. Chief Detective Feast said that the prisoner came to the province in November, 1873, and since £'iat time had been a vagrant in every sense of the word, loafing about, doing no work. Prisoner said that he received an annuity from his late uncle, Lord Avoumore, and was now paid through his first counsiu, Lord Avonmore—late Major Yelverton, and had no occasion to work regularly. His Worship said the Bench were very sorry to see a man who had had such opportunities occupying the position of the prisoner. His carper here had been a very disgraceful one, and the Bench had grave doirbts whether a charge of vagrancy should not also have been preferred against him, as he was foqnd after dark in another man’s house, Ife would be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, and the Bench warned him to q,lter his mode of life when he came out, or he would receive a very severe sentence jf he again appeared before that Court. ASSAULTING HIS WIFE. The case against John Ford for assaulting his wife, which had been adjourned to allow of defendant returning his wife’s clothes to har, was called on. Inspector Buckley informed the Bench that the defendant hg,d brought a box containing woman’s apparel to the depot, which he said contained all the property belonging to his wife. His Worship said that under those circumstances he would dismiss the charge. TRANSFER OP LICENSE. A transfer of the license of the South Railtaia Hotel from the old to a new house, was granted to George Robinson,