MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 316, 17 June 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

■ 1 - CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday, June 17. [Before W, H. Pilliett, Esq., and his Worship the Mayor, J.P.] Drunk and Illegally on Premises. —Ellen Anderson was charged with being drunk, and being found illegally in a stable in Cashel street. The defendant, who had been several times previously convicted, and who was living a life of prostitution, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor. Bigamy. Catherine Schmid, who had been apprehended on a warrant from Dunedin on a charge of bigamy, was remanded to Dunedin. No Lights Burning.— Jervis Beard was charged with placing a quantity of material in Colombo street on two occasions without leaving a sufficient light burning. The defendant is a contractor for laying down cement channelling, and left his casks of cement and heaps of stone in a street without a light burning. On one of these occasions Dr Frankish fell over the lump and hurt himself. The defendant said tha material belonged to the City Council ; he was only the contractor for laying down the channelling, The Bench fined defendant 10s on each charge.

Breach of Publichouse Act. —J. S. Wagner, landlord cf the Clarendon Hotel, was charged with having on Ist June, kept the doors of his licensed house open. Mr R. D. Thomas appeared for defendant. Sergt Wilson said that about 1 o’clock in the morning he saw the door of the entrance in Worcester street open and lighted up. The bar was closed. Witness told defendant to close the door, which defendant refused to do, saying that he would keep open the door for his lodgers. Mr Thomas said that the facts were not denied, but certain members of the Provincial Council were lodging in the House, and the Council often sat very late. On cross-examination Sergeant Wilson said that he did not know that the Worcester street entrance led only to the private rooms ; it led into the whole house. Mr Thomas said that it had been held that keeping open a billiardroom having a private entrance was no infringement of the law. Inspector Buckley said that he did not wish to press for a heavy penalty. It was only wished to try the case. Mr Thomas said they claimed the right of keeping the house open for lodgers, and would go to the Supreme Court if necessary in support of that right. Mr Higgins deposed that he was a member of the Provincial Council. On the Ist June the Council rose at midnight, and on going to the Clarendon, where he lodged, witness found the doors closed, so that he could not get in. Witness knocked, and was let in, and remonstrated with the landlord. Mr Thomas submitted that there had been no breach of the law, inasmuch as they claimed the right to keep open all night for the admission of lodgers. He asked the Bench to rule according to this, or to inflict such a penalty as would enable them to appeal to the Supreme Court. Mr Pilliett said that the Bench were of opinion that this was a very proper case to be brought forward and also to defend. The Bench were of opinion that under the 24th section of the Act a conviction should be recorded, and a penalty be inflicted ; but as Mr Wagner appeared to have acted quite fairly under an erroneous impression, the Bench would dismiss the case. Horses and Cattle at Large.— The following cases were dealt with; —Daniel McGuinness, fined 10s ; J. H. Gibbs, 5s ; John Wilson, ss; H. Cook, ss; Edward Campbell, ss; Thomas Hazard, ss; A. Haxworth (two cases), 5s each ; W. Brooker, 5s ; John Percy, 5s ; John Vogel, 5s ; James Triggs, ss; Thomas Bromley, 10s; John Jebson, 10s. No Light Burning. —John Blackmore was charged with having placed a quantity of material in Worcester street on the nights of the 6th and 7th June, without having a sufficient light burnmg. Defendant, who is a contractor for laying down cement channelling, said he had lit the lamp, but the wind had blown it out. He called a witness, who said the lamp was lit every night, but he could not say whether it was on the 6th and 7th June. Did not know whether the lamp was alight all night. R. Pearson deposed that the lamp was generally burning. Could not say that it was burning all night. The Bench fined defendant 10s in each case. Chimney on Fire. —William Bartlett was fined 10s for allowing a chimney in his house to be on fire. Breach of Stage Carriage Bye law. — Alfred Smith, a licensed stage carriage driver, was charged with plying for hire off a road other than that licensed by the City Council, and without advertising such change for twenty-four hours in two newspapers published in Christchurch. It appeared that defendant took up passengers at Sumner, his license only extending to the Ferry road. The Bench fined defendant 10s. James Kearney was charged on two informations with a similar offence. Defendant said that the vehicle was not licenced —it was one he kept for private parties. Constable Morris deposed that the driver showed him a license. The Bench dismissed the case. E. W. Millett, for a similar offence, was fined 10s and costs. John Harper, for a similar offence, was fined 10s, Getting into a Train when in Motion. —David Cartmill was charged with getting on to an engine when in motion. It appeared that the defendant, who is a constable, jumped on to the engine at Rolleston after the train was in motion. The engine was but just started, but defendant had no authority to get on to the engine. The defendant said that he got on to the engine in the discharge of his duty, and if he had not reached Christchurch the consequences would have been serious. The Bench dismissed the case, at the same time cautioning defendant. Unregistered Dogs. —The following cases were dealt with:—Thomas Planet fined 20s; Joseph Stevens fined 20s. Breach of Publichouse Act. —A case against John Crooks, landlord of the Hororata Hotel, for not keeping a light burning at night in front of his licensed house, the Hororata Hotel, was dismissed, the Bench cautioning defendant. Insulting Language. —Johnny Macguirc was charged with using abusive and insulting language to George Johnny. The complainant, who is a man of colour, said that defendant had on more than one occasion called him bad names, and shook his fist at him, Defendant denied the charge in every

particular. The complainant’s employer corroborated his evidence. Defendant called a boy as a witness, who deposed that he lived with defendant, who had not told him what to say. Witness saw the black man hit defendant. The complainant’s employer said that he did not believe the boy was in the neighbourhood. The Bench fined defendant 20s and costs. James Hampton was charged with behaving towards E. W. Trent on 29th May last, at Templeton, in a manner calculated to provoke a breach of the peace There was a similar charge against Margaret Hampton, defendant’s wife, and Hannah Hampton, his daughter, for acting in a similar manner on 6th June. The Bench dismissed the informations, at the same time cautioning defendants as to their future conduct. Creating a Disturbance in a Licensed House. —John Baker was charged with creating a disturbance at the Bush Inn, Eiccarton road. It appeared that defendant, who was drunk at the time, kept up a disturbance for two hours. The Bench fined defendant 20s and costs.