MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 403, 27 September 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

* CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, September 27. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M., and W. H. Pilliett, Esq., J.P.) Drunk and Disorderly.— S. T. Long, charged with being drunk at the Railway Station, was fined 5s and cab hire. Bernard O’Reilly, fined 5s ; and Hector Beton, ss: Illegally on Premises —Bernard O’Reilly was charged with being illegally on the premises of Mr Matson, in Tuam street. A second charge of escaping from legal custody was also preferred against the accused. Fined f 1 15s.

Lunacy from Drink. —John Cameron, who had been arrested at an early hour on Sunday morning, was remanded to Lyttelton for eight days for medical treatment. Yacrancy. —Alic.o Beatrice Grey, who had been remanded on the above charge to allow of information being obtained from Akaroa as to her age, was again brought up. Inspector Buckley handed a telegram to the Bench, which he had received stating the girl was fifteen years old in August last. The Inspector added that the girl’s mother was a prostitute in Christchurch. Further remanded for a week for more inquiries to be made.

Larceny.— Rehvyn Davies was charged with the larceny of some coal from the back yard of Mr Tetley, High street. Mr Joynt appeared for the accused. Constable Coles deposed to accused being given into custody on Saturday evening by Mr Tetley, on the above charge. When arrested accused said he had purchased coals from the yard often before, and was taking the coals home, and intended paying for them. The accused was standing on th e footpath in Lich field street, and was under the influence of drink at the time. John Tetley stated he had given accused into custody on the charge of stealing coals. When he saw him he had the coals in a bag on his back. Valued the coals at from 2s to 2s fid. Accused bought a quarter of a ton from him (witness) on Thursday last. The bag was not his. In cross-examination witness said he believed the coal belonged to him. Davies was the worse for liquor. Had known the man for twelve years, and did not think he was a person who would steal coal. Knew that the accused was a carrier, and had a store at Ashburton. W. A. Wright, storekeeper in High street, had a stable at the rear of last witness’ house. When in the stable yard on Saturday evening saw the accused put down j a sack at the heap of coals and fill it. The man passed his (witness’s) stable gate to get to the heap of coals. After accused lifted up the bag to carry it away, he gave information to Mr Tetley. In cross-examination, said he had known the accused for years, and when he (accused) was carrying the bag out he saw a dray belonging to him at the corner of the street. Afterwards Mr Joynt addressed the Bench, submitting that it would be nearly incredible to believe that a man in the position of the accused would have stooped so low as to have stolen half a bag of coal. He was in liquor at the time, and though that could not be urged as any extenuation, he would submit that his story was very probable that he intended returning and pacing for the coal. It would be a warning to his client, and under all the circumstances he would ask the Bench not to convict him of larceny. In reply to his Worship, Inspector Buckley said there had never been anything against accused before. Inspector Feast said he had known the man for years, and believed he would be the last to commit such an act. Mr Tetley said he did not wish to press the charge. His Worship told the accused he hoped it would be a lesson to him to abstain from drink in the future. The Bench were loath under all the circumstances to record a conviction. He would be discharged, and he hoped it would be a warning to him.

Stealing Post Letters. —George Graham Eyes, who had been wait'ng trial at Timara on a charge of forgery, was brought up on a writ of habeas corpus , to answer three charges of having stolen letters from the General Post-office, Christchurch. Mr Thomas appeared for the accused. Inspector Feast stated that on the 27th August last he went to the store room of the Commercial Hotel with Mr Warner. Took charge of a box given him by Mr Warner. Took the box to his office, and searched it in the presence of Detective Betting ton. Found a quantity of clothes which prisoner used to wear, and also a number of letters addressed to him, and some signed by h’mself. Produced a letter and papers which he ‘‘ound in the leather pouch produced at the bottom of the box. The letter is a Danish letter. By the impression on the letter would think that an Australian halfsovereign had been enclosed in it. The impression is noticeable on one of the papers which were enclosed in the letter. W. F. Warner called, stated that he is licensee of the Commercial Hotel. Remembered the police taking possession of a box at his place about the latter end of last month. The box belonged to accused. He (accused) had been staying for some t’me at his (witness) house, and was living there in December last. The box was kept ; n his bedroom at that time. After accused left, the box remained in his bedroom for about a week or more, when w itness had it packed up and placed in the store under lock and key. No one but witness and the barman had access to the store. The key is kept in the bar. Accused went to the box once while it was in the store. This was in his (witness) presence. Mary Ann Appeldoiff, wife of Carl Appeldorff, labourer, li \ ing in Christchurch, recognised the handwriting on the letter produced and the envelope as that of her husband’s brother. One of the enclosures (a card) was written on by her husband’s brother’s child. There were two half sovereigns on the card produced, which had been enclosed in the envelope. The envelope was gummed up, and she (witness) took it to the General Post office at Christchurch, and posted it. This was between last Christmas Day and the new year. By Mr Thomas —Saw her husband’s brother write the letter. She put it in the letter-box herself. J. J. Fitzgibbon, chief postmaster at Christchurch, deposed to the accased being employed at the post office in December last. It would be his duty to sort letters. The letter produced, judging by the post marks, was posted at the General Post office on the Blst December last, and it has not passed through any other post office. Accused was employed in the office on that date, and in the course of his duties the letter must almost of necessity have passed through his hands. In reply to his Worship, Inspector Feast said the box belonging to accused was not locked when given to him, but was tied round with a cord. After the evidence had been read over, the accused, by advice of his counsel, reserved his defence, and was fully committed to take his trial on the charge at the next criminal sitting of the Supreme Court. Two other charges of a similar character were also preferred against the accused. In one case the letter, which it was proved had been WTitten by Mr John Griffiths, blacksmith,of Timaru, posted by him on the 26th of January last, and contained a £1 note and half a sovereign, and was found among a bundle of letters, behind accused’s box in Mr Warner’s store. In the third charge, a letter, proved to have been written and posted by Miss Rachael Stewart at Heathcote, about the 10th February last, and containing two photographs and halfsovereign when posted, was found in the same bundle as in the previous case, behind a box in Mr Warner’s store, belonging to accused The letter had been received into the General Post-office on 12lh February, and accused was shown to have been on duty that day, and would most likely have been engaged in sotting letters. A receipt for money paid by accused to Mr J. B. Stausell, Christchurch, was also found in the same bundle. The accused also reserved his defence on these two last charges, and was committed to take his trial on each, at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court.