MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 187, 14 January 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, January 14,

[Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, R.M., and Col. Packe, J.P.] DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.

John Ray charged with drunkenness and resisting the police, was fined 20s; George Tippett, arrested for being drunk and using improper language in Lichfield street, was fined ss; John Williams was fined 40s and cautioned; Patrick Kennedy, who had been remanded for a week on the charge of drunkenness, was discharged on his promising to take the pledge. George Wilkin, who had been remanded for medical treatment, was also discharged. USING THREATENING LANGUAGE. David H. Cox, who had been remanded the [previous day on the charge of using threatening language to his wife, was bound over to keep the peace towards his wife for six months, in his own recognizances of £25. BREACH OP THE CITY BYE-LAWS. For permitting horses and cattle to wander, the following persons were dealt with— James Falloon, adjourned case, dismissed with 10s expenses ; John Garland, fined 5s ; C. E. Paget, dismissed; Wm. Horner, ss; James Rosser, dismissed; Chas, Deal, fined 5s ; Wm. Armitage, 5s ; and Robt. Beattie, ss. LETTING OFF FIREWORKS. James McKenzie was summoned for letting off fireworks in the street in front of the Bank of New Zealand on the night of 31st December, and fined 10s. Wm. Dunsford and O. Caygill summoned for a similar offence, were each fined 10s. FIGHTING IN THE STREETS, John Rafferty was charged with fighting in the ’streets on the night of the 7th December, and fined 20s. Henry Haskett charged with a similar offence, committed opposite the Caversham on the 28th December, was also fined 20s. USING OBSCENE LANGUAGE. John Lane, charged with using obscene language on the night of the 2nd January, in Gloucester street, was fined 10s, UNREGISTERED DOGS. Edward Amyes was summoned for being the owner of an unregistered dog. The defendant stated that the dog had only been recently brought from Otago, where it had been registered. His Worship admitted the case to be a hard one, but was compelled to inflict the usual penalty. Fined 20s. BREACH OF PROTECTION TO ANIMALS ACT. John Walker, Henry Walker, and Charles Craythorne were summoned for trespassing on the farm of Mr Prebble, at Prebbleton, on the 17th December. Mr Prebble stated that on or about that date he heard some shots being fired on his land, and sent his son down to tell the trespassers to leave. He saw some persons on his farm, but could not recognise the defendants as being the persons. Walter Prebble stated that on the 17th of the previous month, his father told him to tell the men to leave the farm, He went down and saw that defendants were the men. They had a dog and guns with them and they fired three or four shots at pheasants. Henry Walker was carrying a cock pheasant in his hand. To the Bench —I am quite positive the defendants are the men. They live between two and three miles from our farm. The dog was a brown retriever. By defendant Craythorne—l was talking to you that day, and to the others. Mr Prebble re-called—Stated that defendants lived between two and three miles from his place, and his son knew them well. A witness named Grant, called by Craythorne, stated that on the 17th he and Craythorne tied a gun to the gate and fired off both barrels. He fired it off in that manner as it had not been discharged for some months—since the last shooting season.

John Walker called a witness named Hugh Thomas, who stated that both he and Walker were shearing at Mr Cameron’s station from the 10th to 29th December. They had been knocked off by rain once or twice, but Walker did not leave the station during that time. John Wells stated that he was woolsorting on Cameron’s station. John Walker was there shearing from the 10th to the 29th December, and only left the station for a short time one afternoon to go over to a new public house. Henry Walker called James Prebble, who stated that he (Walker) was not at home on the 16th or 17th December. He was away at Temuka. s To the Bench—l was not with Walker at Temuka, but I heard he had gone down there. I didn’t see either of the Walkers for several days before the 17th December. Wm. Buckeridge stated that he was with Henry Walker on the 24th December, from nine in the morning until late at night. John Wright stated that he was with Henry Walker, at the Halswell, on the 24th.

His Worship pointed out to defendants that the 24th was not the day ou which the offence had been committed, but the 17th. That date (24th) had been incorrectly stated in the information, but when the case was opened, he aaked them if they objected to the information being amended, and they did not.

Other evidence of a similar nature was given.

In reply to the Bench, Craythorne admitted having fired off the gun as stated by him, at his own gate, but he had not had a gun out of his own house during the season, and had not fired at any game. Walter Prebble, recalled, said he was only about twenty yards from the defendants on ' that day. Had told them to leave the premises, and Craythorne said to the others that they had better go off. The two Walker’s had puggarees on their hats, Mr Heslop, postmaster at Prebbleton, stated that the father of John Walker had received a registered letter from him on the 19th December. He (the father) on opening it remarked to Mrs Walker, who was outside in a cart, that John had sent then down

some money. Some few days afterwards when he went to Mrs Walker’s house looking for a horse, he was told that John was away at the Ashburton shearing. A witness called stated that he knew the Walkers had no dog at their place. His Worship said he would dismiss the cases on the evidence There had been - some mistake made; he hardly knew where, and he would give the accused the benefit of the doubt. It was a pity that Mr Prebble . did not go down at the time himself, as his son might possibly have made a mistake in identity. He might tell the defendants, and others, that if a case of that kind was brought up before him and proved, he would inflict a very heavy penalty, as it was monstrous that the efforts of the Acclimatisation Society and the self-denial shown by others should be frustrated, and taken advantage of by some who made a practice of killing game at every opportunity they got. T 1 e cases would be dismissed, but he trusted that on a future occasion if Mr Prebble heard shots fired on his land, he woirld take good means of identifying the persons. A second charge against Henry Walker for unlawfully having a cock pheasant in his possession was also dismissed. ABUSIVE LANGUAGE. Wm. Hardy was summoned for using abusive language to Ellen Smith. Mr Thomas appeared for the defendant. The complainant' stated that on the night of the 29th inst defendant’s horse was near her door, and she asked him to take it away, when he told her to go to , and that he would make the place too hot for her. In cross-examination by Mr Thomas, the witness admitted that ill-feeling had existed for some time between defendant find herself. Mr Thomas admitted the language complained of had been used, but under very great provocation. Fined Is. Wm. Sycamore was summoned by Edwin Best for having used abusive and threatening language to him. This was a misunderstanding between neighbors caused through plaintiff having smacked defendant’s son, when the language complained of had been used. Fined 10s, and 6s 6d costs. ASSAULT. Thomas Shailer was summoned for having assaulted W. H. Terry, on the 4th January: The boy (Terry) had been employed by defendant, and when leading a horse to water he did so across a footpath after he had been repeatedly told not to do so. Defendant then gave him a box on the ears. Having heard the evidence, his Worship said it served the boy right, who should have done as he was told. Case dismissed. The case of John Leece, for assaulting J. G. Roberts, was withdrawn by leave of the Court. WIFE DESERTION". Robert Wheatley appeared to answer a summons fdr failing to support his wife. Mrs Wheatley stated that she had received no assistance from her husband since August last. An order for 12s a week had been made at Akaroa and this amount had not been paid to her since that month. His Worship ordered the arrears, £7 16s. to be paid, and the 12s to be paid in future, through the R. M. Court, Christchurch. BREACH OF DESTITUTE PERSONS ACT. The case of Henry Hobbs for failing to maintain his son, was adjourned for a week. KAIAPOI. Wednesday, January 13. [Before Dr. Fletcher, J P.] • DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. James McGowan, arrested by Mounted Constable Beck, and charged with this offence, was dismissed with a caution, it being his first offence. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY, AND WILFUL DAMAGE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY. John Evans, arrested by Mounted Constable Beck, was charged with breaMng four pan s of glass in Middleton’s Hotel. Mr Middleton promising to forego the damage until prisoner could pay for it, the prisoner was fined 10s and costs for being drunk and disorderly, and for the damage £1... ;