MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 298, 27 May 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHEISTCHUECH. Thursday May 27. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, E.M.) Drunk and Disorderly. Margaret Guerin, an old offender, arrested for drunkenness, was sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labor. Patrick Aherne was fined ss. John Baker, for being drunk and resisting the police, was fined 40s. Edward Golding, for being drunk and using obscene language, 20s ; Eobert Winter, 10s ; and George Stevens, for being drunk and resisting the police, was fined 40s. Stone Throwing.—Clara Williams, Anne Williams, and Frederick Williams were summoned for throwing stones at the house of, and annoying Mrs Anne Peterson. Mr Garrick appeared for the complainant. The defendants, who are neighbor’s children, had, according to the evidence of the complainant, annoyed her on several occasions, by throwing stones and sticks at her door. She had been so annoyed by the actions of one of the defendants on Monday that she had struck her lightly on the back. A witness named Hay stated that he had seen two of the defendants throw mud at complainant’s door on one occasion. Defendants denied that they had been in the habit of annoying complainant. When complainant struck one of the girls, the elder one had thrown a little mud at the house. Complainant had also used very shocking language at the time. Mr Garrick told the Bench that he had had to transact some business for complainant in endeavoring to obtain money from the Government of Denmark to which she was entitled, and he must say that from what he knew of her, he believed her to be incapable of using improper language. After hearing a witness for the defence, his Worship said he had no doubt the offence had been committed, and the two girls were old enough to know they were doing wrong. After reading all the defendants a lecture, his Worship dismissed the case.

Breach of Public House Ordinance. — J. Oram Sheppard, of the White Hart Hotel, was summoned for selling drink during prohibited hours on Sunday, the 9th May, keeping open his house during the same, and serving a drunken man with liquor. The last charge was gone into first. Martha Wild stated that between six and seven o’clock on the evening of that Sunday she saw her husband supplied with a pint of beer. He was sober at tlxe time. Inspector Buckley said that when the information was laid Mrs Wild said her husband was intoxicated when he was served with the beer. He would ask to withdraw that charge. His Worship dismissed that case. A second charge of selling drink during prohibited hours was gone into. Sergeant Kennedy stated that on the night of the 9th he went into the White Hart Hotel, the outer door was open and the passage door locked, and saw a Mr Roskruge and Mr Strange in the bar with a drink before each of them. There was another man in the bar at the time, who he saw go in, and who was under the influence of liquor, but he was not drinking. Mr Strange, called, stated that Mr Roskruge, a Melbourne traveller, an old friend of his, had been spending the day with him. He went home with that gentleman, who was staying at the hotel, and had one drink with him. He saw no money pass. Mr Thomas submitted that under the circumstances his Worship would not convict. He had produced the evidence simply to bring the facts before the Bench, so that defendant’s application would not be affected on licensing day. His Worship decided to inflict a fine on two of the changes, or £lO in all. J. W. Oram, of the City Hotel, was summoned for supplying drink on the 24th May to others than bona fide travellers, and keeping his house open on that date during prohibited hours. Sergeant Kennedy stated that on that night he saw two men going into the City Hotel by the back gate. When he went in he found two men in the bar, compositors, with half a pint of ale before each of them. J. Dunlop stated that between three and four o’clock on that morning he went into the City Hotel to get a bed, and had half a pint or beer before doing so. He slept there that night. He didn’t know whether the other man with him slept there or not. His Worship inflicted a fine of £5 on the charge of selling drink, dismissing the second one. Two charges against Wm. Setford, wine and beer licensee, Selwyn

street, for serving liquor to a drunken man, and supplying drink without other refreshment, were, at the request of Inspector Buckley, adjourned for a week. Breach of City Bye-Laws. —For permitting horses and cattle to wander, W. H. Burton was fined ss; Wm. Bellinger, 5s ; Edwin Greaves, ss ; Charles Brake, 5s ; Hugh McCall, ss. Charles Greening was summoned for being absent from his horse and vehicle, thus allowing the horse to run away. It was shown that the runaway was the result of an accident, and his Worship dismissed the case. A charge against Joseph Dearsley for allowing his horse to remain a few moments on the foothpath, was dismissed. Edward King, summoned for wheeling a barrow along the footpath on the Whately road, was fined 10s. Edward Dillon, charged with obstructing the road by driving two drays, was fined 10s. Henry Allen, summoned allowing his chimney to catch on lire, was lined 10s. G. Melue, summoned for burning some gorse without having given the required notice to his neighbors, was fined ss. A charge against Frank Priston, for allowing his horse to run away, was dismissed, as it was shown to have been the result of an accident. Breach of Police Ordinance. —For being the owners of unregistered dogs, the following fines were inflicted:—Johanna Quinlan (two dogs), 40s; Edward Greaves, 20s; James Grey (two dogs), 40s; Geo. Griffiths, 20s; and Bentley Cotton, 20s. Using Obscene Language. Martin Nicholson was charged with using obscene language on the 14th May on the Stamnore road. A witness gave evidence of the defendant being under the influence of liquor on that day, using obscence language, and wanting to fight him. Defendant admitted the offence, and expressed his regret, and was fined 20s.

Neglecting to Support his Children.—Richard Bray was summoned for failing to contribute to the support of his five children, who are in the Industrial School. Mr Cole, master of the school, stated that an order had been made against defendant for 1 5s—there were noweight weeks due. Defendant expressed a desire to pay the money as far as lay in his power. He had been out of regular work, and had only earned £1 since, which he was willing to give, and he would pay another pound at the end of the week. His Worship accepted defendant’s offer, and dismissed the case. Assault. —William Robinson was summoned for assaulting Thos. Dorn, on the 18th May. The complainant, who was waiter at the White Hart Hotel, had requested defendant to leave the bar, where he had intruded. Defendant refused to go, and made use of strong language. Complainant pushed him gently, and subsequently defendant rushed at the other pulling out a quantity of his whiskers. Defendant exhibited a photograph in Court to show what his appearance was before the assault. Complainant called the barman, Mr Schwartz and Mr J. O, Sheppard. Defendant said that he had committed the assault under great provocation received from the complainant, and he regretted having taken the law into his own hands. His Worship said there was no evidence to show that complainant had used provoking language, and he had acted only as he should have done. Defendant would be fined £5 and costs of witnesses. Mr Schwartz whose expenses were allowed, handed the money to the poor box of the Court. The Cab Cases.—Mr Garrick wished to mention the cab cases to the Bench set down that day for hearing. He was not aware until that morning that his services would be sought by the defendants So far as the offences against the Ordinances were concerned he would not be prepared to defend them as the Bench had already decided that the Ordinance was good, but he would ask his Worship to grant him an adjournment for a week to give him time to look into the bye-law and see if there was any real defence before he would consent to appear in Court to contend it. Dr Foster here entered the Court and said he would not object to the adjournment. All the cases set down for hearing were then adjourned for a week. Breach op Stamp Duties Act.—ln the case of J. W. Gray, adjourned from last week his Worship said that the offence seemed to have been the result of an unintentional omission and he would only inflict a fine of 20s.