MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 234, 10 March 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, March 10. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M., and Cyril Hawdou, Esq, J. P.) DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. George Peters, arrested for being drunk and disorderly at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, was lined os, and William Storey, for drunkenness, was also lined ss. DRUNK AND USING OBSCENE LANGUAGE. Flora Martin, an old offender, charged with being drunk and using obscene language in the street, was given one more chance, and lined 40s or ninety-six hours, and cautioned. DRUNK AND RESISTING THE POLICE. Peter Romulus, arrested for this offence, was fined £3 and cab hire, in default one week’s imprisonment. ASSAULTING HIS WIFE. George Peters was charged on warrant with assaulting his wife. Mrs Peters stated that her husband was constantly in tj*e babit of ifbueing ber? apd

on the previous day had assaulted her. She had had one charge withdrawn some short time since. The accused asked for one more chance, when he would join the Good Templars. His Worship adjourned the case until Friday week, to see what course the accused had adopted in the meantime. LARCENY FROM A DWELLING. Peter Stenhouse was charged with stealing some clothes from a dwelling-house. Chief Detective Feast stated that he saw the prisoner in Port the previous day. He told him he suspected him of stealing some clothes, and asked him to come with him to Christchurch. After taking him to the Mechanics’ Boarding-house, he told him he was charged with stealing clothes from there. Prisoner said he had been drinking. Annie Brown stated that she and her husband kept the Mechanics’ Boarding-house. The prisoner had been staying at her house up to Thursday last. After he left a coat and vest were missed. They belonged to one of her boarders. The clothes produced are those that were stolen. By prisoner—When you came to the house you were tipsy, and were drinking very hard for two or three days after you came. Samuel Stewart, pawnbroker, Lichfield street, remembered the prisoner coming into his shop on Thursday last. He brought a coat and vest, and wanted to sell them. He said he had plenty of clothes, and could spare those he had with him. He (witness) thought he was sober at the time. The prisoner said that about six years ago he had a sunstroke, and when he took a little drink he did not know what he was doing. He had refrained from drinking for about five years, and only commenced again on last Christmas Day. Sentenced to one months’ imprisonment with hard labor. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. Augustus Doyle was charged on remand with disorderly conduct in a public street. Dr Turnbull stated that he had examined the accused. He considered him to be quite sane and able to take care of himself. He thought his present manner only assumed hysterical and perfect nonsense. What the man wanted was a good talking to. Dr Powell agreed entirely with what Dr Turnbull had said. His (prisoner’s) manner was no doubt put on, and not unlike an hysterical woman, who only wanted to attract notoriety. Fined 20s, in default one week’s imprisonment with hard labor. LYTTELTON. Tuesday, March 9. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.] LARCENY. Peter Stenhouse, on remand, was charged with this offence. H. Feast, chief detective, stated that no warrant had been issued in this case or information laid, and the Bench, therefore, dismissed the prisoner, who was re-arrested by Detective Feast on leaving the Court. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. George Baker, a seaman, arrested by Constable McGorman, was charged with this offence and resisting the police, and also with damaging Government property. The Bench sentenced him to pay 20s for assault and 20s for damage to Government property. Locked up in default. OBTAINING MONEY ON FALSE PRETENCES. Patrick Carey was charged with obtaining £2l by using false dice from George Fierce, of the Canterbury Billiard Room. The police stated that they intended to apply for a remand for further evidence. Sergeant Maguire, duly sworn, said—On Monday afternoon he heard there was a row in Mr Burnip’s yard. He went in by the front door, and found the back door locked. On going into the yard saw prisoner. George Pierce and several others were in the yard. George Pierce said, “ I give this man in charge (pointing to prisoner) for swindling me out of some money.” I took the prisoner into the billiard-room and searched him, and found a great deal of money on him—notes, gold, and silver. In handing them back to him to put in his pocket, George Pierce said, “ He has something in his hand. Search the pocket again.” I did so, and found the die produced. The peculiarity about the die is that there are two 4’s, two s’s, and two 6's on it, instead of 1,2, 3,4, 5,6, as there should be. The other die produced I got from Geo. Brown, the waterman, it is similar to the one I took from prisoner’s pocket. Brown was in the yard when I went in first, and handed me the die before I went in the billiard-room. George Pierce said they had been throwing dice at a £1 a throw, and that he (the prisoner) had done him. Accused then replied that George Pierce put the die into his pocket, but this could not have been done, as he was at the other end of the room. Prisoner was sober at the time. The police stated they would call the prosecutor to prove the offence. George Pierce, sworn, said I am a billiard marker at the Canterbury Billiard room. On Monday last, two men came in at 11.30 a.m. to the billiard-room at the Canterbury. Some one proposed that we should put a shilling in and the winner shout, and a party present, I suppose his mate, proposed we should throw for a pound. We were throwing with three dice. Prisoner bet the other man that I should beat him, and I did the first throw, but afterwards lost several times. I then went out to get more money, and returning found the two men throwing each other for a pound a time. I joined in, and prisoner bet his throw against mine for £l, and so also did the other man, the stakes being thus £3 with £2 side bets, I won the first time, but lost afterwards. I lost £l4. Both the prisoner and the other man were engaged in throwing. I then knocked off, and the prisoner and other man both said they were going in the steamer whose whistle was blowing He then went away. Prisoner returned in the afternoon to the billiard-room. He said “ Are you going to have a drink,” I said “ Lemonade and sherry.” He said “ I will have a cigar.” I changed my mind and had a cigar too. After this he said “Come on are you on for a throw.” I said “ Yes,” and we again threw with dice for a £1 a throw. The dice produced are those those we threw with. They are fair dice. I lost £2 that time. The dice were taken from the bar. When I I threw 16. prisoner threw 17. When I threw 17, prisoner threw 18. [Laughter.] I borrowed £5 more and lost it. I again borrowed and still continued playing. The £5 was in for both stakes this last time, the last two throws were for £2. I watched prisoner minutely, and will swear I saw him distinctly substitute another dice for one of these we were playing with, and pick it up

again before I had time to throw, substituting another. , . . , Prisoner asked for bail but the magistrate would not grant it, and Sergeant major O'Grady having stated that the police were anxious for a week’s adjournment to make inquiries as to the prisoner, the Bench remanded the case until Tuesday next. CATTLE TRESPASS. Matthew Brown was fined 5s and 4s costs for this offence. NEGLECTING TO KEEP A LIGHT BURNING. James Greig for this offence was fined 10s, and costa, 4s. OBSTRUCTION OF FOOTPATH. R. G. Scott was charged with obstructing the footpath in front of the school in Oxford street. Fined 10s and costs.