MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 438, 8 November 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, November 8.

(Before G. L. Hellish, Esq, R.H., and G. L.

Lee, Esq, J.P.) Drunkenness.— The following inebriates were dealt with :—George McEwan, fined 5s ; Alfred Gibson, 5s ; Patrick Butler, an old offender, fined 60s ; Edward Brown, 5s ; Benjamin Saunders, 10s.

Illegally on Premises.— Peter McDonald, charged with being illegally on the premises attached to the Devonshire Arms, was discharged with a caution. Larceny, —John Henry Ford was charged with having, on the 30th of July, 1874, stolen a watch and chain from the person of Benjamin Tinfold. The prosecutor, who i* a carpenter at Alford Forest, was in Christchurch on the 29th of July, 1874, and was drinking that evening. Next morning missed the watch and chain produced, which

are witness’s p'operty. Reported the loss to the police. Did not know the prisoner. James Swindle, sold the watch produced. Did not know whether the watch produced was the one a woman named Catherine Ford pledged with witness two years ago. Repaired the watch produced for prosecutor. Prisoner—“ The watch was stolen from me,” Inspector Feast deposed that he arrested the prisoner on the sth of August last, with the watch in his possession. Knew prisoner to have been loafing about the hotel in 1874, where prosecutor was staying. Prisoner called Samuel Stewart pawnbroker, who deposed that a Mrs Ford had pawned several articles at his shop, but he did not find from his books that she had pawned a watch. Prisoner—“ She did, Mr Stewart, and Sergeant Kennedy went and demanded the watch from Swindle, the last witness.” By Inspector Feast—lf a watch had been pawned, it would have been entered in his books. Sergeant Kennedy deposed that he certainly did go with the prisoner to Mr Stewart’s about a watch ; prisoner said the woman who pawned the watch was his wife, and so witness handed the watch back to the pawnbroker. Prisoner said he pawned the watch himself with Mr Stewart in June, 1874, and the number ought to appear in Mr Stewart’s books. He would ask for a remand until to-morrow, so that Mr Stewart might have time to search his books. The Bench remanded prisoner until 10 a.m. to-morrow. Burglary. —Elizabeth Lea was charged with burglary, inspector Feast deposed on the 30th October he went to the Eastern Hotel, and found a window open, and a chair standing outside with a spade. The window had been forced open ; there were stains of blood on the window frame, also on the counter in the hotel and on the floor ; traced footmarks from the window, and blood stains in the direction of where prisoner lived ; prisoner was in bed, her legs were cut and bleeding, she had two bottles of brandy, a bottle of porter, and some coppers in bed with her. Witness also received some coppers from Mr Hall, which he had picked up from the bar floor. Jesse Hall, landlord of the Eastern Hotel, deposed that on coming down at 6 a.m. on 30th October, he found three windows broken and the bar door open ; the counter, floor, and windows were smeared with blood, a chair and broken spade were outside the window ; missed two bottles of brandy, some stout, and some coppers from the bar. Charlotte Lea, the prisoner’s daughter, identified the chair and spade produced as her mother’s property The prisoner, who said nothing in her defence, was fully committed.

Reckless Driving.—John Aitken appeared on remand, charged with reck lees driving, so as to inflict grievous bedily harm on John McWilliam. Mr Thomas appeared for defendant. John McWilliam deposed that he was coming down Colombo street, from Victoria Bridge, in the evening, when he was knocked down by a trap which was being driven furiously. Did not see the vehicle until it was within three or four yards of him ; it was the turn of the corner where witness was knocked down ; witness had been under medical treatment with a broken collar bone and ribs ; the vehicle was going very fast at the time. Joseph Allen deposed that he saw the accident happen, the horse was being furiously driven at the time ; as soon as the accident happened witness called to the parties in the cart, who commenced whipping the horse ; subsequently, the horse was stopped by a policeman. Joseph Gould gave corroborative evidence, and stated that the parties (two) in the trap drove at a very swift pace after the accident occurred. William Packard stated that the trap was going at too fast a pace to be safe at the time the accident occurred. It was rather dark when the accident occurred. Considered the pace to be dangerous to drive through the town on a Saturday night. Constable Paget deposed to seeing the horse and cart driving away on the night of the accident; witness and others called out to the parties in the cart to stop, but they did not do so. For the defence, Wm, Watson Gray was called, who deposed that he was in the cart, which was being driven by defendant at the time the accident occurred. The horse was going at a slow pace, but witness was no judge of pace ; had McWilliam gone straight across the road at the time instead of hesitating, did not think the accident would have happened ; did not consider that the accident was any person’s fault in particular ; believed it was pure accident. James Rosser said that he knew defendant’s mare; she was hard-mouthed and lame, and could not go at the rate of eight or nine miles an hour, J. Dollan, who was in the cart at the time, stated that the horse was going at a trot at the time; Aitken pulled the horse aside to try and clear McWilliam, and would have done so had not McWilliam stepped back. Mr Thomas addressed the Bench for defendant, and contended that the information must be dismissed, as the unfortunate affair was the result of pure accident. The Bench fined defendant 10s and witnesses’ expenses. Lunacy from Drink.—Herman Lester, who had been remanded to Lyttelton for medical treatment for lunacy from drink, was now brought upland discharged.

Horsestealing. William Grant was brought up on remand charged with horsestealing. Mr Jameson, who appeared to prosecute, applied for a remand for the production of evidence, Mr Wynn Williams, who appeared for the prisoner, objected to the remand, and said that the horses had been paid for by a cheque which had been dishonored. The Bench decided to hear what witnesses were in attendance. Robert Campbell deposed that his firm had had business transactions with prisoner, but not since his insolvency ; since then prisoner had been acting for a man named James Wilson ; the horses had been always purchased in the name of Wilson, and were paid for by him ; the payments were generally made by Grant; on 23rd October two horses, viz, a draught mare and a grey gelding, were knocked down to prisoner for James Wilson; witness believed that the two horses were now in the hands of the police at Timara. By Mr Wynn Williams—“ We were paid a cheque for £2O and a £5 note on the Monday morning, on account of the horses.” Mr Jameson again applied for a remand. The Bench said that the case would be remanded until 10 a.m. to-morrow. In the meantime prisoner would be released on his own recognizance. Assault, —Alexander Cowan was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Swindle. Mr Wynn Williams appeared in support of the information, and Mr O’Neill for the defence. The alleged dispute arose out of the right to the possession of some land. Defendant’s cattle were on the land, and were being driven away by com pis l 'nan t, and it was then that the alleged assault took place. Mr W. WUbo» deposed that be bad let

the paddock in question to defendant as agent for Mr John Stace. Was not aware at the time that Mr Staee had let the paddock to Mr Swindle. Mr Wynn William's said that he was authorised by Mr Stace to state that he still recognised Swindle as his tenant. The Bench fined defendant 10s and costs.