MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 332, 6 July 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, July 6. [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq, R.M.] Drunk and Disorderly. —David Fitzpatrick, charged with drunkenness, was fined ss. LYTTELTON. Monday, July 5. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.] Drunkenness. —John Bampton, arrested by Constable Watt, was fined 10s, or in default, forty-eijrht hours. Larceny from a Dwelling.— Mary Durham and Lucy Ashley were charged by Mary Ann Gillman, with stealing from her dwelling one muff, one mantle, two nightdresses, one pique dress, one piqud skirt, two pairs gloves, one pair bracelets, one morocco bag, one bottle bloom of roses. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared for the accused. Austin Kirby, sworn, said—l am a detective. At 3.45 on Saturday I proceeded with Detective McGorman on board the s.s. Albion. We found the prisoners in the lower forecabin. It was in the men’s division, and the hatchway was covered over with boards. We charged them with stealing articles of wearing apparel and other property belonging to Mrs Gillman, of Christchurch. I charged the prisoner Ashley, and McGormau charged Durham. They both denied having taken anything. We brought them on shore and got them searched. Mrs Gillman identified the muff produced that was in the possession of the prisoner Ashley as her property. After questioning they admitted they had in a box some goods of Mrs Gillman’s, consisting of one mantle, one piqud dress, one piqud skirt, a pair of bracelets, two pairs of gloves, a bottle of bloom of roses, and two nightdresses. All these things were in the box, and as they were taken out they were identified by Mrs Gillman as her property. At first they denied havinganything of Mis Gillman’s. Afterwards they admitted it. They stated they were going to Dunedin. By Bench—Prisoner Ashley was wearing the muff when arrested. Crossexamined by Mr Nalder—l do not know Mrs Gillman personally. Prisoner did not say how the property came into her possession. John McGorman sworn, said —I am a detective in Lyttelton. I accompanied Detective Kirby on board the Albion at 3.45 p.m. on Saturday last, in search of the prisoners. We found them in the lower steerage cabin. It is an unusual pare of the vessel to find women in. I arrested the prisoner Durham, and charged her with stealing some of Mrs Gillman’s property. They both said they had nothing belonging to her. They called Mrs Gillman, Mary Ann Smith. I asked them to come up on deck. They were cautioned. They at first refused to come on deck, but I told them they must come up, as I wanted to search their boxes. They said they had a lot of under clothing in the box, and did not want it opened before the passengers. A box they both claimed was taken to the station. Mary Durham said that the small leather bag produced was her’s. She was wearing the hat produced. I was present when the property was taken out of the box and identified by Mrs Gillman. Mrs Gillman sworn, said—l keep a boarding house in the Perry road, Christchurch. I am slightly acquainted with prisoners. They slept two nights at my place. They came on Thursday night last (July Ist), at 7 p.m. I never saw them before ; they asked me if I would give them a bed to stay two or three nights. I consented, and they remained in ray house two nights. During this time they went all over the house. They slept in the two front rooms. On the 3rd Durham came to me at 9 a.m., and said they were going for a walk, but would be back by noon. Shortly after they went, about 10 a.m., I missed some night gowns I bad lent them to sleep in, and also some clothes I had lent them on Friday night to go to the theatre. They had borrowed these clothes as they said theirs were not good enough to go in. lam sure I only lent them the things for that purpose. I identify the articles in couit as those I lent them ; they brought them back from the theatre. I value the b»t at £2 ss, on account of the ostrich fearers, the muff at 10s, the night dresses at 15s, the pique dress at £2, aud the sh l ' fc at 30s - the velvet mantle at £5, the es the bracelets at 2s 6d, the ]p' <aer 10s, the bloom of

roses at 2s 6d ;in all, £l2 19s 6d. They are all my property, and I never authorised anyone to take them. When I missed the things I came to Lyttelton and gave information to the police. Cross-examine! by Mr Nalder—The girls came to my house on Friday night. I lent them the things to go to the theatre. One was going to a situation, When they came home they took some things off and left them in the room—the dresses they wore that night. They gave me back the hat and muff on Friday night. There was nothing said as to their keeping the things. I lent them all these things on Friday, but not on Saturday. By police—The hat and muff were only returned. They must have taken them out of the boxes where they are kept, as they occupied the front room on Friday night where all my things were kept. In reply to the Bench, both prisoners stated they were only seventeen years of age. Mr Nalder_ asked that the prosecutrix Mary Ann Gillman should be re-called. When in the box she said—They came in a cab alone. I don’t know if they had any one with them on Friday night. I think they came home alone on Friday night. They had two sepa rate rooms. I think they had some one with them on Friday night. I bought the house about eight months ago. By Bench—Were not these things lent for the purpose of soliciting prostitution ? Witness —“ No ; they merely went out to enjoy themselves ; they said their own clothes were too shabby to go in. Mr Nalder called Constable Maguire, who said—l know the prosecutrix. Mary Ann Smith was the name I knew her by, not Mrs Gillman. 1 knew her at Greymouth. 1 have known her six or seven years. She kept an hotel there ; it was a reputed bad house; the Resident Magistrate there complained of the police frequenting the house. The girls made a long statement, but their solicitor reserved their defence, and they were fully committed for trial.