MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 78, 31 August 1874, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHDR C H.Monday, August■'3L' . .[Before C. 0. Bowen, Esq., R.M.] ; ■ DRUNK AND USING OBSCENE LANGUAGE. Robert 'M. Rowe, for being drunk, using obscene language to a Mrs Barnett, and annoying some residents in the Whately road, was fined 20s or forty-eight hours, and cautioned. . DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Richard Harper for this offence, and against whom there had been twelve previous convictions, was fined 20s or fortyeight hours, and cautioned. John O’Brien, for being drunk and committing an act of indecent exposure at the back of the Golden Age Hotel, was also fined 20s or forty-eight hours in default. VAGRANCY. William Holmes and John Parker were charged with being illegally in a stable, adjoining the Hospital. Detective Benjamin stated that about one o’clock on Sunday morning he found the prisoners in a stable, in the Hospital grounds. He then arrested them. He had known them to be leading a vagrant life for some weeks past. Mr Brown, watchman at the Hospital, said the prisoners had no right to bd there. It was a very dangerous place for men to sleep in, as there was a quantity of wood and straw in the stable. Charles Jackson, barman'at the City Hotel, had seen the prisoners knocking about the bar of that hotel for about a month past. Chief-detective Feast knew the'prisoners. Parker had been convicted of larceny and robbery, and the other man had been knocking about- under suspicious circumstances. Ho had been accused of robbing a man, but when searched, nothing was found on him. His Worship said he saw that there were eight previous convictions against the prisoner Parker. He had cautioned him when last before him against leading a vagabond life. He did not seem to care for work, and a stop must be put to this sleeping in stables, as the result would be serious one of these nights. He (Parker) would be sentenced to one year’s imprisonment with hard labor, and Holmes, who was before the Court for the first time, would be given a chance, and be sentenced to a fortnight’s imprisonment, not with hard labor. Minnie Thompson, alias Edwards, and Jane Glass, two disreputable women, were charged with creating a disturbance in a house in Lyttelton street. Sergeant Kennedy stated that a report was made to him the previous night that the prisoners were creating a disturbance in a house kept by Mary Welstead, who had been committed on Saturday. The house had been locked up, and prisoners forced their way in. When he went there he found the prisoners in the house ; they were drunk at the time.

Constable Hughes stated that he had seen the prisoner in the house. He also described the persons he had seen in that place from time to time. The prisoners said they rented two rooms from Mary Welstead. His Worship told them he would dismiss the charge of being illegally on these premises as they had a colorable permission to be there. He would caution them however against being found there again, as if brought before him on that charge they would be severely dealt with. Mary Welstead was charged on remand with keeping the disreputable house alluded to. '/ Sergeant Kennedy repeated his previous evidence given by him. The evidence of some neighbours showed that bad characters were in the habit of frequenting the house, and that rows occurred there sometimes all night long. The prisoner was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labor, as a vagrant. In reply to his Worship, Mr Callender said the woman’s children had been taken to the Charitable Aid Home on Saturday, and would be provided for while the woman was in prison, LYTTELTON. Saturday, august 29. [Before W. Donald, Esq.,R.M.J DRUNK. Peter Peterson and George Dyer were charged with this offence. Peterson, waa fined ss, and Dyer dismissed with a caution. They were arrested by Constable Wallace. CIVIL case. , •• Haydon v Murray (Captain of Albatross). This was an action for payment for 35 tons of ballast supplied by plaintiff for.the ship. The Court gave judgment for the amount claimed. : rJL KAIAPOI. Friday, August 28. (Before Josiah Birch, Esq., and E. G. Kerr, Esq., Mayor.) LUNACY. Mary Danburry, a disorderly woman, was brought up as a lunatic, through excessive drinking. Her daughter gave evidence that her mother was not fit to take care of herself, was constantly drinking, and filthy in'her habits. She wished her sent to the new ward at the Lunatic Asylum, and her sons made to pay for her support. Drs Dudley and Fletcher stated the woman was not of unsound mind, but suffering from nervous debility brought on by drink. ‘ The ; Bench said the case would have to be dismissed. No reason had been shown’why she ought to be sent to -the Asylum for lunacy. . There had been two convictions, but it required three before they could deal with the case under the Vagrancy Act or as an incorrigible, or they would straight away have committed her to gaol for twelve ■months. Her friends would be fully justified in'procuring an order from the Judge, pf the Supreme Court to have her committed to the inebriates ward. , ■ - -xhhL