MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 120, 19 October 1874, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, October 19. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) VAGRANCY. Mary Ann Greaves and Ellen Thompson, remanded on Saturday on this charge, were discharged, and strongly cautioned not to appear in court again. using obscene language. George Wilson and William Kinson, for using obscene language in a public thoroughfare, were each fined 20s. ILLEGALLY ON PKEMISES. Elizabeth Howell was arrested for being found illegally in the yard of the Warwick Hotel late on Sunday night, The accused received a very bad character from a witness, and the police, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor. J. G. Reilly and Mary McCauley were arrested for being found illegally in the College stables, in Antigua street, on Saturday night. Reilly was sentenced to 48 hours'imprisonment, and the female prisoner, against whom there had been several convictions, and who has been leading a life of vagrancy for some time past, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor, vagrancy. Sarah Jane Amy was arrested on the charge of having no lawful visible means of support. Evidence was given to show that the accused had been seen wandering about in the company of prostitutes, and had been heard to solicit prostitution. She had also been seen in the park late and early, and sleeping in a paddock at the back of the White Horse Hotel. Accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor. larceny. T. B. Barrett was charged with the larceny of a saddle, the property of Edward Millett.

Sergeant Wilson stated that prisoner was given into his custody the previous night by one of Mr Millet's grooms on the charge of stealing the saddle produced. The saddle had since been identified by Mr Millet. The groom had also handed him (witness) a second saddle and a bridle.

Patrick Graham stated that he was groom in the employ of Mr Millet. He fastened up the stables at ten o'clock the previous night, and a short time afterwards he heard the stable door open, and went to the window and sang out "who was there ?" A voice replied " All right." He then asked the person what he wanted, and he said nothmg. The prisoner was the man who spoke, and he then asked if Mr Millet was in, and when told that he was inbedhe (prisoner) said, "Oh, all right," and then went away. About ten minutes afterwards he (witness) heard the stable door opened again, and he got up again and saw the stable door was open. On going into the stable he saw the prisoner had the saddle produced on one of the horses. When he (witness) first went to bed the saddle was hanging on one of the pegs in front of the stalls. Prisoner had taken the head stall and rug off the horse. The prisoner then ran away, and was afterwards given in charge for attempting to steal the saddle. The second saddle, which had also been hanging in the stable, was found outside the door. Had authorised no one to remove either of the saddles.

To the Bench—The prisoner hired a saddle horse one day last week. He had no business in the stable.

Mr Millet stated that he knew the prisoner by sight. He had given him no authority to remove any saddle. The saddle in Court was his (witness) property and waa worth about £5. The second saddle was not his property, and it and the bridle would also be worth about £5.

James Rolleston said he was a passenger with the prisoner by the Merope. Prisoner told him he had a job to bring some colts from the country, and wanted him (witness) to go with him and assist him, and he would find him a horse. He told him that he was going to get the horses at Millet's stables, and took him (witness) to the stables about seven o'clock to look at the horses he was going to hire. Graham, recalled by his Worship, said that when he went into the stables prisoner was girthing the horse, and had the saddle on it. His Worship said that he would have to dismiss the charge of larceny against the prisoner, as the saddle had not been removed from the premises, but if an information were laid for being illegally on the premises, he would hear it then.

An information of that nature was then laid, and the evidence having been read over to the prisoner, he said he had only gone to the stables to hire a horse, and the idea of stealing the saddle had never entered his mind.

His Worship told the prisoner that his coming back surreptitiously the second time showed that he went to the stables for an illegal purpose. He must be sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labor. John Ray was charged with the larcency of a £5 note.

Detective Benjamin stated that he arrested the prisoner in front of the Warwick Hotel on Saturday evening, on the charge of stealing a £5 note, half a sovereign, and 6s 6d in silver, the proper of Wm Pilkington. He said the money was his own money, and the £5 note taken from between his shirts at the Warwick Hotel belonged to him. Prisoner could give no account of how he became possessed of the £5 note produced, which had been handed to him (witness) by Mr Simmonds.

William Pilkington stated that lie got a £5 note from the landlord of the Warwick hotel on Friday last, and also a half sovereign and 6s 6d. He went to bed ahout 11 o'clock that night, and had this money on him at the time. Prisoner asked him to count it before he went to bed, and he did so in his (prisoner's) presence. Prisoner slept in the same room, and he (witness) hung his trousers on a nail. He woke up in the middle of the night and saw the prisoner walking about the room with a lighted candle, and when he (witness) awoke in the morning his money was gone. He accused the prisoner of stealing his money, and he denied it. Later in the day the "prisoner was searched, and the £5 note produced was taken from him. Mr Simmonds then took possession of the note. He (witness) could not swear to the note.

Wm. Simmonds, landlord of the Warwick Hotel, stated that he gave the prosecutor change of a £lO note on Friday last, a £5 note being among the change. The note produced is the one he gave the prosecutor. " On same night gave prosecutor half sovereign and 6s 6d in change of a note. Pilkington reported the loss of the money to him next morning. Accused the prisoner of taking the money and he denied doing so. When Pjlkington found the £5 note he handed it to him (witness) and he handed it to the detective. The prisoner had had no money of hia own for some days past. Evidence was given of the prisoner having changed half a sovereign on Saturday, and of the £5 note having been seen to drop from the prisoner when he was being searched. The prisoner having been formally cautioned, said that this money was his own, and he had kept it secreted to enable him to leave town, He was committed to take his trial at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court. LARCENY FROM THE PERSON". Thomas Hind Toppin was charged with stealing 2s Id from John Hennessy. Constable Hughes stated that he saw the prisoner search the pockets of a drunken man the previous day in Hereford street. He appeared to take something out of the man's pocket and put it in his own. When he challenged him with the robbery he acknowledged having taken the two shilling piece and penny produced. The prosecutor remembered being with the prisoner, and he also remembered prisoner asking him for a shilling, and he told him to take the money out of his pocket. They had been together, and the prisoner was welcome to his money. Case dismissed, LYTTELTON. Saturday, October 17. [Before W. Donald, Esq, R.M.} DRUNKENNESS. John August Anderson, arrested by Constable Emsen, was charged with this offence, and fined 10s, which was paid, George Smith, arrested by Constable Wallace upon a similar charge, was sentenced to foity-eight hours' imprisonment in default of paying a fine of 10s,