MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 238, 15 March 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, March 15. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.] DRUNK AND INDECENT EXPOSURE. John Jesson, charged with this offence, committed in Durham street, was fined 20s. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. James White, charged with drunkenness, was lined ss; Robert Gibson, 5s ; J ohn Paget, for being drunk and resisting the police, 5s ; Henry Bolton, 5s ; and Thomas Davis, 5s and cab-hire, and to pay for a pane of glass broken by him. ILLEGALLY ON PREMISES. Andrew Magin, arrested for being fonnd illegally on the premises of Mr E. H. Banks, in St Asaph street, early on Sunday morning was fined 10s. FORGERY AND UTTERING. Alexander Lcßas was charged on remand with having forged a cheque for £3O, drawn on the Bank of Isew Zealand, and with having uttered the same on W. F. Warner. W. F. Warner called, stated that he was landlord of the Commercial Hotel. On the 28th February prisoner was at his place, and asked him to change the cheque produced. He said he had received the cheque from Howard Bros, Asked him where they lived, and he said between Caverhill’s and Cheviot Hills. He asked for £lO, and he would take the balance on the Monday morning. Gave the prisoner £9. On the Tuesday morning he (witness) passed the cheque through the Union Bank, whence it was returned, marked “ no account.” By Prisoner —I am sure you told me you got it from Howard Bros, You did not say you were cashing it for two other men. I was ill on the Monday morning, and I heard that you had called twice on Monday morning for the balance. Henry Allen, landlord of the Golden Age Hotel, remembered seeing the prisoner at his house on Monday, 28th February. He asked witness if he would cash a cheque drawn by Howard Brothers. The cheque produced i$ the same, but it has been dated

since. Called prisoner’s attention to this circumstance, and told him if he would get it endorsed he would give him some money on it. Prisoner said he got it from Howard Brothers at the Hurunui, for some fencing. The prisoner took the cheque away to get it endorsed. On Monday he returned, and said he had met Mr Howard at the Clarendon Hotel; that he (Mr Howard) had given him another cheque, which Mr Wagner had cashed. By Prisoner—You told me that you met Mr Howard at the Clarendon ; that he had destroyed the cheque I had seen, and had given you another one, You did not say that another man had had the omission rectified. Fanny Warwick, barmaid at the Mitre Hotel, remembered a man coming to that hotel about Saturday, 27th February, and asking her for a blank cheque. Believed prisoner was the man. Gave the man the cheque out of the book produced. It was numbered 34706, and was a Bank of New Zealand cheque. The prisoner took the cheque to one of the side table, and was writing. There were three or four other men with him at the time. The cheque produced corresponds with the counter part. By Prisoner—l believe you are the man. I saw you with your hat on. Detective Feast asked his Worship to allow the prisoner to put his hat on. Witness—l now swear you are the man to whom I gave the cheque that day. Winslow Woodward, ledger keeper at the Bank of New Zealand—The cheque produced was presented at the bank. It was not paid. Had never seen the signature before. It was not known at the bank. The cheque-book, out of which the cheque had been taken, was issued to J. W. Oram, White Hart Hotel. The book produced is the one the cheque has been taken from. It is not customary for two books to be used from the same bank with similar numbers. Chief-detective Feast recalled, stated that he had presented the cheque produced at all the banks in Christchurch, and it had been returned dishonored at each of them. He had also made enquiries, and could not learn that there was such a firm as Howard Brothers in any part of the province. The prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed to take his trial at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court. LARCENY. Mary Ann Bray, a little girl twelve years old, was charged with the larceny of a shawl. Detective Benjamin stated that he arrested the girl this morning on the charge of stealing a shawl out of a perambulator. She said she did not steal it, as her mother would not allow her to do such a thing. She afterwards told him that a man had given her the shawl at the Godley statue. The shawl was the property of Mrs Bell. Mrs Bell stated that she lost the shawl in February last, out of a perambulator. She gave information to the police at the time. Next saw the shawl with the prisoner in Colombo street. When she asked the girl where she got it, she said that a man had given it to her. It was valued at about £l. Detective Feast stated that the girl was being brought up to steal. Her mother was more to blame than she was, and it was solely for the benefit of the girl that this case had been brought. Both of the girl’s parents had been before the Court at various times. The mother of the girl appeared in Court, and made a long statement as to the manner she brought up her children. His Worship told the woman that he could not believe her statement, and that if she had acted as she ought to have done, she would have sent the shawl to the police station when the girl brought it home. He was convinced that the girl had taken the shawl out of the perambulator. She would be imprisoned for 24 hours, and afterwards be sent to the Industrial school for four years. LYTTELTON. Saturday, March 13. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.] DRUNKENNESS. Thomas Safton, arrested by Constable Beck, charged with this offence, was fined 10s, wnich was paid. REFUSAL OF DUTY. Henry Bonnell, a seaman belonging to the ship Pleiades, was charged by Mr Nicholls, chief officer, with this offence. Mr Nicholls stated that the accused was in the habit of leaving the ship and going on shore, coming back drunk. The Bench ordered the accused on board. KAIAPOI. Saturday, March 13. [Before 0. Whitefoord, Esq, R.M.J LARCENY. Morgan Harper, arrested on Wednesday by by Constable Haldane for being drunk and indecent, was charged with the larceny of a silver watch, value £5, belonging to J. Trounce, and a carving knife, value 7s 6d, the property of J. Oram Sheppard, found in his possession. Inspector Barsham gave evidence of the articles having been identified as stolen property. Accused was remanded to the Christchurch Court on Tuesday next.