MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 551, 24 March 1876, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, March 24. (Befere G. L Mellish, Esq, R.M.) Drunkenness. —The following inebriates were dealt with : —William Prideaux was lined 10s; Herbert Stewart, was fined ss; John Hope was fined os. Wilful Destruction of Property.— Charles Hooper was charged with wilfully destroying private property. It appeared that the defendant smashed in a door at the Q.0.E., being the worse for liquor at the time. The Bench fined defendant 10s, and ordered him to pay the amount of damage, 10s.

Highway Boards Empowering Act. — The case of Horner v Wilson was called on but complainant did not appear: Mr Cowlishaw appeared for the defendant, Mr J. L. Wilson, and stated that he had received notice from the complainants’ solicitor of discontinuance. He therefore applied for costs. The Bench allowed Court costs, the expenses of three witnesses, and professional fee, £5 ss. Arson. —John Deipenheim, a lad, was brought up on remand charged with wiß

fully and maliciously setting fire to a stack of hay at Papanui, the property of James Jackson. Mr Wynn Williams appeared for the prisoner. Sergeant Beck deposed that yesterday morning the prisoner was given into custody by James Jackson on a charge of arson. "Witness told the prisoner the charge. He said, “I did not do it wilfully. ” Cross-examined —The fire took place in a paddock between an accommodation road and the Harewood road. A post and rail fence had been on fire. Jackson sent for the police. James Jackson deposed that he was a butcher at Papanui. Prisoner had been in his employ for two years, and nine months. On the morning of the 22nd witness threatened to discharge the prisoner for being uncivil. Prisoner made no reply. He did not seem annoyed, but went about his work as usual. Wdtness had a paddock and slaughter-yard at the back of an accommodation road, near the Harewood road. The entrance to the paddock was off the accommodation road. There was a stack of hay in the paddock about six feet from the gorse fence. The gateway was close to the stack. Would have to pass the end of the stack in getting to the slaughter yard. _ That morning witness went to the Addington Yards, and returned at 4.30 p.m. Witness was informed that the haystack was on fire, and went to the spot. Saw the prisoner dipping water. Witness said—“ How did it catch tire 7” Prisoner replied—“ I was lighting a match and threw it down.” Witness said—“ Did you set it on fire purposely?” prisoner made no reply. Witness believed the boy was frightened. There was a little loose litter round the stack which was dry, about two o’clock ; witness believed that the boy was smoking, and wentto light his pipe, and threw it down ; believed that the boy had no intention of setting the stack on fire. Did not know that the boy smoked, and sent for the police and gave him into custody because he refused to say whether he smoked or not, and why he did it. Mr Wynn Williams said that the boy admitted that it was the gorse near the fence which caught fire. He hoped his Worship would give an expression of opinion that there was nothing wilful in the boy’s act. Mr Mellish said that there could be but little doubt as to that; The prosecutor had taken a very lenient view of the matter, and it would be hard to suppose that so young a boy had been guilty of such an act. The lad would be discharged, and he trusted that this would be a warning to him. Unregistered Dog. Henry Rutson, charged with being the owner of an unregistered dog, was fined 10s,

LYTTELTON. Thursday, March 23. Drunkenness Richard Day, an old offender, arrested by constable Devine, was sent to gaol for fourteen days. James Lockiar, also an old offender, arrested by constable Devine, was sentenced to one week's imprisonment. Larceny Under Five Pounds—Benjamin Joseph was accused of appropriating a pair of earrings and a brooch, the property of Elizabeth Fairlie. From evidence given it appeared that the girl, who was a servant at Hardeckc’s boarding house, had given the goods in question to a man named Jacob Leachkie, to get repaired. He had placed them in his chest, and prisoner had abstracted them during the absence of Leachkie in Newcastle. Accused denied having stolen the goods, saying they had been sold to him by a man named Charlie for half a pound of tobacco. The Bench sentenced accused to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labor.

Larceny. —William Allan, on remand, was charged with stealing sixteen sovereigns from the person of George Frederick Pimm, at the Lyttelton Hotel, on 2nd April, 1875. Several witnesses were examined, and the Bench considering the evidence conclusive, committed accused for trial. Civil Cases. —Mrs Buchanan v George Graham ; claim £3 Is ; judgment for plaintiff. D’Authreau v Stanley : claim £8 7s lOd ; judgment for full amount and costs 14s. Same v F. Simpson ; claim £5 3s ; judgment for plaintiff, costs 17s 6d. Cuff and Graham v Hicks ; claim 24s ; judgment for plaintiff, costa 10s. Peter Lehrs v John Isherwood ; claim £3 10s; adjourned for a week. Education Rate—Superintendent of Canterbury per Educational Rate Collector v Lewis Ferdinand ; claim £1 ; judgment for plaintiff, Same v Mrs Lewis ; claim £1; adjourned. Same v James Crafor ; claim £2; adjourned to April 13th. Same Jv J. Buchanan ; claim £2 ; judgment for plain* tiff. Same v John Hcmpstalk ; claim £I ; judgment by confession. Same v Sheppard Giles ; claim £2; judgment for plaintiff. Same v Henry Fisher ; claim £2 ; judgment by default.