MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 202, 1 February 1875, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, February 1. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, R.M.] LARCENY. Auguste Teags, a German, was charged with the larceny of a carpet bag containing clothes. Mr J. Schwartz acted as interpreter. Constable Ross stated that the loss of a carpet bag was reported to him, and he arrested the prisoner on Saturday last, on a charge of stealing it. Prisoner, when arrested, commenced to cry, and said he had left the bag at the saddler’s. Went into several places the prisoner had pointed out, and eventually found the bag at Mumford’s store in Madras street. Mr Mumford said prisoner had left it there, and that he had given him 9s 6d on it. The bag produced is the one he got from Mrs Mumford. ( Robert Hastie stated that he was at Barrett’s hotel on Saturdaj last, and left the capet bag produced in charge of the barman, and asked him to take care of it for him. Afterwards he found out that the bag was gone, and the barman told him the prisoner had taken it. The prisoner had no authority to take the bag. Valued it at something under £5. Prisoner and he had travelled from Rangiora to town, and he (prisoner) saw him leave the bag there. John Hoppee, barman at Barrett’s Hotel, stated that the last witness left the bag produced in his charge on the previous Saturday. The prisoner subsequently asked him for the bag, and he took it from under the counter and gave it to him. John Mumford, storekeeper in Madras street, rqjnembered the prisoner coming to his place on Saturday last. He asked permission to leave the carpet bag produced until Monday. After a little time prisoner counted 9s fid on his fingers. Did not know what he meant, and lifted the bag out again and gave it to him, when he made him (witness) understand that he wanted to go to Oxford to obtain £2 from a person there for whom he had been working. He asked prisoner for the key, and prisoner told him he had lost it when he was drunk at Rangiora. Prisoner afterwards forced open the bag. He then gave the prisoner the 9s fid asked for, and retained the bag. Afterwards handed it to the police. Prisoner, in reply to the Bench, said that as he had no money, he took the bag to get 9s fid on it to go to Rangiora, and obtain some money that was owing him there. He intended to repay the money when he returned to town. His Worship said, that as this was the first offence, he would give the prisoner a light sentence, but he had better not appear before him again. He would be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor. VAGRANCY. Herman von Jetson was charged with this offence. Anne Gherkin, living at Tai Tapu, saw the prisoner in the stable at her place on Saturday last. He had been in the habit of knocking about the neighbourhood, and had been living there at one time. Charles Hudson, living at Greeupark, had seen the prisoner frequently wandering about that district, living on what he could pick up. He did not do any work, and the children there were very much afraid of him. He had been wandering about since last released from prison. Sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour. ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE. Timothy Fahey was charged with this offence. Robert Smith stated that he was in Madras street, near the bridge, the previous day, and saw the accused in the river up to his middle wading into the centre. He (witness) went across to the bridge to see what hp was doing, and accused then sank in the middle of the river. He (witness) then took off his clothes and dived for him twice. The second time he caught him by the hair of the head and pulled him to the surface, and then swam with him with one arm to the side, and afterwards pulled him out. Accused was insensible for a few moments wnen taken out of the river, but afterwards recovered. Remanded for eight days to Lyttelton. LYTTELTON. Saturday, January 30. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.] DRUNKENNESS. John Trunnell, arrested by Constable McGorman, was fined 10s for drunkenness on the Railway premises. VAGRANCY. George Wilcox was charged with the above offence. Sergeant-Major O’Grady stated that accused came to the police station at 10 p.m. on Friday, and stated that he came from Rollf Eton, was suffering from heart disease, had no money, and was unable to work. He was examined by Dr Donald, who ordered him to be sent to the Christchurch Hospital for curative treatment. BREACH OF PRISON’S ACT. John Grunnell was charged with this offence. Mr Reston stated that Grunnell was found scaling the wall at the back of the warder’s quarters at 10.30 p.m. on Friday night. As he failed to give a satisfactory account of himself prisoner was remanded till Monday.

RANGIORA. Saturday, January 30. [Before A. H. Cunningham, Esq.") POLICE ORDINANCE. J. Walsh and 0. Brown were charged with being illegally on the premises of J. Burt, livery stable-keeper. Cautioned and dismissed. ASHBURTON. Friday, January 29, [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq , R.M., and Alfred Saunders, Esq., J. P,] CREATING A DISTURBANCE IN A LICENSED HOUSE. James Ford was charged with this offence on the 13th instant. Fined 10s, LARCENY AS A BAILEE. Frank W, Turner was charged with the embezzlement of a watcb, the property of one James Johnston. James Johnston, sworn, said—l am a ploughman, at Grove farm, Ashburton. I remember the 10th Nov. I gave prisoner a watch, part of my property, to get repaired in Christchurch, as he was going to town. I told him to get it repaired at any watchmaker’s. He was to bring the watch back whether it was done or not, when he returned. He did not do so. He told me he had sold it in Christchurch. I recognize the watch produced as mine. I know it by the small hand being bent. The number corresponds with the number of my watch. Jeffs, called, said—l am manager of Grove Farm. I know the prisoner. He was working on the farm. He went to Christchurch to the Cattle Show. I recollect him coming back. He said he sold the watch in Christchurch. By the Bench—Prisoner said he got on the spree and spent the money. S. Cohen, called, said—l am a pawnbroker, residing in Christchurch, I recognize prisoner. I saw him in my shop some time in November. He came to my shop to pawn the watch produced. In a day or two after he redeemed it. Two or three days after that again he came and sold it to me for £3 13s fid. The document produced he gave me at f he time. I handed the watch over to the police. Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. ASSAULT. G. Clark was charged with assaulting one Charles Laird. After hearing the evidence, defendant was fined 5s and costs 4s, BESTIALITY. Gustavus Fox was charged with this offence. The evidence in this case was unfit for publication. Prisoner was committed for trial. CIVIL CASES. Charles Lake v G. Johnston; judgment for plaintiff, £ls 17s 6d; costs £4. Several cases were settled out of court.