MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 178, 4 January 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, January 4. [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq, R.M.] DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Mark Toole, charged with being drunk and resisting and assaulting the police, was fined 20s ; John O’Brien, 40s ; and George Stevens, 60s; in default one week’s imprisonment, and cautioned. DRUNK AND ILLEGALLY ON PREMISES. William Hutton, arrested for being drunk and illegally in Mr Matson’s stables on Saturday night, was fined 40s, or ninety-six hours, and cautioned not to appear before the Court again. John Gimblett, charged with being drunk and illegally on the premises of Messrs Rountree and Co., Colombo street, was fined 20s. Trevor B. Barrett was charged with being found illegally on the premises of Dr Frankish at half-past one o’clock that morning, and striking the constable in the eye. Captain Williams, of the Merope, stated to the Bench that he interested himself in the prisoner, and when released he would take him on board his vessel, and deliver him to his friends at home. He would answer for the prisoner’s safe custody, and the vessel would sail about the 21st. His Worship would discharge the prisoner on these conditions. He (prisoner) was evidently a manvais sujet, and for his own good he would have to be looked sharply after, or he would come to no good. Prisoner was discharged. DRUNK AND INDECENT CONDUCT. Mary A. Greaves and Samuel Geddways were charged with indecent conduct near the Theatre on Saturday night last. The woman, who is an old offender, and had been cautioned when last before the Court, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labour. Geddings was fined £5. LARCENY OF A RING. Alexander Allison was charged on warrant with this offence.

Detective Benjamin stated that he arrested prisoner at Southbridge, and charged him with having stolen a ring from Frank Garri, and pawning it at Cohen’s pawnshop in Christchurch. Prisoner said the ring belonged to his grandfather. Frank Garri stated that he was a fisherman, and lived at Lake Ellesmere. Prisoner had been about his place more or less during the last three months. About three months ago he (witness) lost a ring, and next saw it on New Year’s day in a pawnbroker’s shop, close to the City hotel. The ring produced was his. When he lost it he told prisoner of his loss. He kept the ring in a match-box. The value of it was about 15s, He would swear the ring was his, and had had it in his possession for the last four years. The prisoner had no right to pawn it. Sigmund (Cohen, pawnbroker, stated that the prisoner came to his shop on the previous Monday, and bought something and exchanged the ring produced for another. He (witness) placed the ring in his window for sale, and it was afterwards claimed by the last witness. When the detectives called he gave it up to them. The prisoner had nothing to say in defence. As there was no previous conviction against the prisoner, he was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, with hard labor. LARCENY OF LINEN, EOT, Mary Ann Gibson was charged, on remand, with this offence. Eliza Coles stated that the accused was a shipmate of hers, and had been staying with her about two months ago. After she had gone she (witness) missed a quantity of household linen, handkerchiefs, and some spoons. The property produced belonged to her. The pillow-case was marked with her name. The prisoner had no right to take them away. The value of the articles would be about ss. Mrs Susannah Hustler stated that she lived at Addington. Prisoner was staying at her house about two months ago. When accused was married, she (witness) saw her open a box, and she then left a pillow case, diaper towel, some hankerchiefs, a piece of print, and some aprons, in her care. The articles produced are the same. Afterwards handed them to the police. Sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, with hard labour. ATTEMPT AT AKSON. John Condon was charged with having attempted to set fire to a stable at the Railway hotel, Dunsandel. Constable Smith, stationed at Southbridge, stated that from information he received the previous morning, he went to Dunsandel with Mr Sear, the prosecutor, and found the prisoner detained there in a stable. Cautioned him, and told him he would charge him with attempting to set fire to Mr Sear’s stable. He then brought him into Christchurch. Thomas Sears, manager of the Dunsandel hotel, stated that prisoner was at the hotel on Saturday last. He went there in the evening and had his tea and engaged a bed. About 10.30 he (prisoner) was in the kitchen of the hotel, and he asked him to leave the kitchen and go into the public room. Prisoner refused to leaye the place, and he (witness) then put him out. Prisoner became very violent, and afterwards came into the bar and said, “You , you’ll have the place crackling about your ears before morning. ” Prisoner afterwards asked for some matches, which were refused him. He (witness) afterwards gave him one match, and prisoner went out. He afterwards returned and tried to purchase some matches in the tap room. About a quarter to eleven he went out. Some time afterwards lie (witness) went out and saw prisoner in a shed close to the stable. His attention was attracted by a light in the stable. Got assistance, and when they went into the stable they found the prisoner under a buggy pretending to be asleep. Thomas Henry, storekeeper, at Dunsandel, gave similar evidence, and stated that he heard prisoner offer a shilling in the taproom for a box of matches. He heard prisoner threaten that he would be revenged before he left the township. Was with the previous witness when they found prisoner in the stable. Had seen a light there before they went to the place. There was a quantity of straw around where prisoner was lying. After further corroborative evidence had been given, his Worship said that he did not think a jury would convict on the charge of an attempt to commit arson, and he would therefore dismiss it; but it was very equivocal conduct on the part of the prisoner to use the threats he had. The charge would be dismissed. LARCENY FROM THE PERSON. John Johnston was charged with stealing £7 from W. Reid,

Constable Sheeran gave evidence of the prisoner’s arrest. He had been given into his custody by Mr Reid, on the charge of stealing £7 out of his pocket. Afterwards went to Blyth’s dining-rooms, and received the £5-note produced from Mrs Blyth. The note had since been identified by the prosecutor. William Reid stated that he was a farm laborer livit-g at Southbridge. On Saturday last he came to Christchurch by the South train. They had some drink in the carriage, and on the way up he became sick and put hia head out of the window While he was doing so the man who was sitting nearest to him put his hand into his pocket, and took out one £5 note and two £1 notes. The prisoner was the man. Did not discover his loss until he arrived in town, when he gave information to the police. On Tuesday morning he saw prisoner and recognised him as the man. He watched him go to Blyth’a dining-rooms, and he then gave him into custody. The money was in his (witness’s) left hand trousers pocket. There was a slight pencil mark on the back of the £5 note, and a small piece out of the edge of one of the £1 notes. Had seen the £5 note since, and recognised it as belonging to him. Would swear the £5 note produced was his. There was no pencil mark on the note in Court. Elizabeth Reid, wife of last witness', was in the train at the time her husband came to town, and saw prisoner rub against her husband and take his hand out of his pocket. Mrs Blyth stated that the prisoner came to her boarding house on Saturday night last and gave her £5 note to take for his tea, bed, and breakfast, but she would not swear to the note produced being the one he gave her. The prisoner had often stayed at her house beiore, and had always behaved honestly. When he [came to town on that night she told him she hoped he would take care of himself, as he was often in the habit of losing his money when he came to town. The prisoner replied that he had not brought much money to town that time, as he was only going to stay until Monday. Mrs Reid, recalled by his Worship, said she had had “ some pop and lemonade in the carriage.” His Worship said he was perfectly satisfied that the note produced was not the one that the prosecutor described as his, as there was no mark on it, and there were some stamped letters which seemed to have escaped his attent ion. He could not believe that any women would see a man place his hand in her husband's pocket without speaking of it at the time, unless she was very much exhilerated, and not by pop and lemonade alone, and he could hardly believe the whole of the prosecutor and wife’s evidence. The charge would be dismissed.