MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 436, 5 November 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, November 5. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, R.M.)

Drunk and Disorderly.—Win. Rogers, charged with being drunk at the Railway station, and breaking a pair of handcuffs, was fined 20s, and ordered to pay 8s damages and Is 6d cab-hire; Wm. Henry i Johns, for drunkenness, was fined ss; and John Smith, charged with drunkenness and breaking a pane of glass in the window of the Q. C. E. hotel, was fined ss, and ordered to pay 30s, value of the glass. Larceny of Gingerbeer Bottles. George Franks, William Franks, George Faust, Harry Faust, John Toomer, Henry Toomer, and Wm. Lee, seven respectable looking little boys, the eldest of whom could not have been more than nine years old, were charged with stealing gingerbeer bottles, the property of Messrs Saunders and Henderson. Detective Thomson stated he had made enquiries about the boys, and he learnt they had been selling new gingerbeer bottles at O'Neill's, second-hand shop, in high-street. Obtained the bottles produced from O'Neill. Mr Buchanan, salesman to Messrs Saunders and Henderson, said a great number of bottles similar to those produced had been missed for some time past from crates in their yard. About three gross had been stolen altogether. The bottles were new and had not been used. Wm. O'Neill, who said he kept a shop in High street, stated that he had lately bought three or four dozen new gingerbeer bottles from some boys. He could only identify one of the boys in Court who had sold him the bottles. The lads told him they got the bottles out of an empty house. His Worship told this witness that he was simply a receiver of stolen property, and by buying the bottles from the boys had only encouraged them to steal. His Worship also instructed the police to keep an eye on O'Neill's shop for the future. A severe lecture was administered to the lads, and giter advising their parents, who were present, to give them a whipping, and threatening what he would do to the boys if they appeared before him again, he discharged them. Larceny of a Watch.—Rasman Jorgenson, charged with stealing a watch afc

Dunsandel belonging to Marian Dawson, was remanded until to-morrow. Larceny of a Parasol. —James C'arke was charged with this offence. Dr Foster appeared for the accused. Annie Nugent stated that she was in the City hotel the previous day. Accused was there at the time. She had occasion to take out her purse, and accused took it up. When she threatened to give him into custody, he returned it, and afterwards took the parasol produced off the table and went away with it. A witness named Charles Hitchings said he was in company with the prosecutrix the previous day. After he had been there some little time she complained of accused taking her parasol, and when he (witness) challenged the man with the theft, he took it out of the leg of his trousers. Dr Foster called a witness, who stated that he had been with accused the previous day. He (accused) had been drinking, and he was certain he only took the parasol out of a lark. John Austin, partner m the firm of Austin and Kirk, stated that accused had been in his employ for eight months, and he had always found him a steady, honest, and industrious young man. The accused could not have taken the parasol for its value, as he (witness) had £4O in his hands belonging to him. His Worship said it was one more instance of the evils resulting from drunkenness. Drunkenness was, however, no excuse for committing crime. Accused would be sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment with hard labour.