MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 191, 19 January 1875, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, January 19. [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R.M.] DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Mary A. Collins, charged with drunkenness, was fined ss; Frank Plummer, for a similar offence, was mulcted in a like sum. ILLEGALLY ON PREMISES. Alfred Brown and Patrick Kennedy were arrested at a quarter-past one o’clock this morning, for being found in a shed at the rear of the Junction Hotel. They were sober at the time. Fined 10s each. LARCENY, Richard Williams, alias Sydney Dick, was charged with stealing a coil of rope, the property of Thomas Preece, Papanui road. Constable Smith stated that the prisoner had been given into his custody by Mr Preece for stealing the coil of rope produced. When arrested, prisoner said that he was a very unfortunate man. John Fisher stated, when passing Preece’s shop in a ’bus the previous evening, he saw the prisoner take a coil of rope from the front of the shop, place it on his shoulder, and deliberately walk away. He went and told Mr Preece of it, and they started in pursuit of the prisoner and captured him. The ropejproduced was that taken by the prisoner. John Barrett, shopman to Mr Preece, stated that the previous witness informed him and Mr Preece that a man had taken a coil of rope from the front of the shop. He with the others then followed him, and found the prisoner carrying the rope produced. Its value was about 6s. Was certain the rope had not been sold. Mr Preece gave corroborative evidence, and stated that after they had captured the prisoner with the rope in his possession, he gave him into custody. The rope produced was his property. The prisoner said he remembered nothing of the theft, and was drunk at the time. The records showed that there had been five previous convictions against the prisoner, and he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor. LYTTELTON. Saturday, January 16. (Before Wm. Donald, Esq, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. James Livingstone, arrested by Constable Barron in Oxford street, charged with this offence, was fined 10s, which was paid. VAGRANCY, Samuel Parkes was brought up, charged by Sergeant Maguire with this offence. The sergeant stated that the accused had been convicted of drunkenness several times daring the last week, and was loafing about the public-houses. Sentenced to two weeks’ imprisonment. LARCENY. Charles Parkins, arrested by SergeantMajor O’Grady, was charged with this offence. John MoQuilkin, licensee of the Railway Hotel, stated that the accused was in his employ as a servant. The articles produced —-vix, three photographs and a set of sleeve links, were his property, The accused bad no right with them. After hearing another witness, whose evidence was unimportant, the Bench sentenced prisoner to two months’ imprisonment. KAIAPOI. Monday, January 18. (Before C. Whitefoord, Esq, R.M.) DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Duncan Anderson, arrested bn Saturday by Constable Haldane, was fined 10s and costs. CATTLE TRESPASS. N. George, for allowing eight head to stray on Ohoka road, was fined 5s and costs. J. Stanton, charged with allowing seven head to stray, explained that they got out of a paddock by accident. • Fined Is, and costs. CIVIL CASES. F. S. Funston v Tommy (a Maori) ; judgment summons, claim £4 4s 8d; order made for amount to be paid, or defendant be imprisoned fourteen days. Same v. R. Fluty, claim £3 6s 6d ; judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed and costs. M‘Moran vj. Kavanagh, claim £3 16s, damages to bugtry and harness. Plaintiff who is a livery stable keeper, let a horse and buggy to defendant, the buggy and harness sustained damages to the amount claimed, and a witness was called to prove that defendant was not in a fit state to drive the horse. Defendant’s version was that the horse shied and caused the damage. He also brought witnesses, who said he was sober at the beginning of the journey. The Resident Magistrate, giving judgment for defendant, explained that no negligence had been proved against him, but he might, if he had any sort of spirit, have offered to pay half of the damages.