MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 206, 5 February 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, February 5, (Before R. J. S. Harman, Esq, and Colonel Packe, J.P.’s.) DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. Thomas Davis, for drunkenness, was fined ss. George Smithson, arrested for being drunk and creating a disturbance in a public thoroughfare, was fined 20s or forty-eight hours, ILLEGALLY ON PREMISES. Charles S. Guy, charged with being found illegally on the new premises of Mr Wild, at Papanui, and striking matches among some shavings, was fined 10s and severely cautioned. VIOLENTLY ASSAULTING A BAILIFF. Nicholas Smith was charged on warrant with violently assaulting a bailiff in the execution of his dutj. John Lewis stated that he was put in possession of a house in Kelmore street under the warrant produced, on the 2nd February. Prisoner came in about an hour afterwards, and when told that witness was a bailiff he said, “I want you, you old , and you are the man who took the things out of my house three years ago.” He (witness) said, “You keep away from me and don’t interfere with me in the execution of my duty. Go home to your wife, if she is your wife,” and then prisoner struck him several times, nearly stunned, and drew blood from him. By prisoner—You struck me more than once, and with your fist. I did not jump for joy after you struck me, and say “ I have you now. ” I did use the expression about your going home to your wife, if she was your wife. James Genet stated that he was in the house that night when Mr and Mrs Galbraith were called out. Prisoner shortly afterwards came in, and the bailiff ordered him out. He would not go, and they commenced to call each other names, and spit in each other’s faces.. The bailiff said, “Go home to your wife, if she is your wife,” and then the prisoner struck him once. It was not a made up thing for Galbraith and his wife to go out while the prisoner went in to assault the bailiff. . By Prisoner—After you struck the bailiff he seemed rather joyful. You did not strike him more than once. By Mr McKnight—l don’t know whether one blow would mark Lewis as he is marked, Mr McKnight stated that a seizure had been made in Galbraith’s place, and the under bailiff had • been assaulted by him (Galbraith) and his wife. He (witness) took these two people to the lock-up, and shortly after they were bailed out and returned to their house, the prisoner went in and assaulted Lewis, The accused made a statement to the effect that he had not said anything to provoke the bailiff, but that he (Lewis) had told him to go home to his wife, if she was his wife, and also used a disgusting expression with respect to her, and this had provoked him to strike him. Lewis had also offered to “square” the matter if he (|pri-

soner) would tip him “toscifunt,” which meant £2. The Bench told the accused that he had been guilty of a most serious offence, aggravated by the fact that the execution of the distress in no way concerned him. The one redeeming feature in his favor was the expression most improperly used to him by the bailiff regarding his wife. He would receive the benefit of acting under the provocation that expression might have created, and he would be fined 40s and expense of witnesses, or one week’s imprisonment in default, LARCENY FROM A DWELLING. Carl Gundersen, a Dane, was charged with stealing a silver watch from the house of Mr E. W. Trent, Templeton. H, E. Nathan, pawnbroker, Colombo street, stated that prisoner pawned the watch produced at his shop on the 21st January for 6s. Catherine Peterson, in the service of Mr Trent, deposed to prisoner going to her master’s house on the 19th January. She asked him into a room to have some dinner. Next morning she missed the watch produced. It was hanging on a nail, and she had seen it there in the forenoon before the prisoner came. Mrs Trent remembered seeing the prisoner at her house on that day. He was treated kindly by his servant, who is a countrywoman of his, and asked to have some dinner. The watch produced belonged to her, and was missed in the evening that prisoner had been there. Prisoner had no right to take it away. Valued the watch at £5. The Bench (through an interpreter) told the prisoner that, having abused the hospitality with which he had been treated was an aggravation of his offence, and he would be sentenced to four months’ imprisonment with hard labor. ASHBURTON. Thursday, February 4. fßefore Alfred Saunders, Esq,, J.P.] DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. John Winter charged with this offence on January 30th, and admitted on his own recognisance of three pounds t© appear before the Bench this day, having failed to appear, his recognisance was ordered to be estreated. DRUNK WHILE IN CHARGE OF A HORSE, William Jackson was charged with this offence on February 3rd. Admitted. Fined 10s. BREACH OF RAILWAY BYE LAWS, Peter Kelly was charged with a breach of the 23rd clause of the Canterbury Bye-laws at South Rakaia on February Ist, in crossing the railway while an approaching train was in Bight. Admitted, Fined 20s. L. C, Pember was charged with a similar fleece at Ashburton. Fined 10s. A complaint was here made to the Bench by the police, that the servants of the railway, witnesses in the foregoing cases, had been ordered not to attend. LARCENY. Peter Kelly was charged with stealing a pipe and 16s 6d from one Thomas Wilson. After hearing the evidence of prosecutor, this case was remanded to the 11th, prisoner being admitted to bail, himself in £25, and one surety in £25.