MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 599, 20 May 1876, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday, May 20. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, R.M.) Drunk and Disorderly. Two inebriates, for a first offence, were fined ss. George Brown, for a similar offence, aggravated by very violent conduct, was ordered to pay 60s ; and James McKenzie and Duncan Stuart were each fined 10s for being drunk while in charge of a dray. Passing a Valueless Cheque.—Patrick Gordon, who had been apprehended at Malvern on the previous day, was charged with uttering a valueless cheque to MrG. Webley. The apprehension of the prisoner having been proved, Inspector Feast asked for a remand, and the prisoner was remanded until Tuesday. Obtaining Money under False Pretences.—Thomas Beaumont Booth, a young man of gentlemanly appearance, who was apprehended at Ashburton, was charged with obtaining the sum of £4 10s, the property of John Jameson, by false pretences. John Jameson, a shopman in the employ of Mr Friend, bootmaker, of High street, de posed that the prisoner had been staying for the past fortnight at the White Hart, next door. He had several times been in Mr Friend's shop, and had led witness to believe that he had an account at the Bank*of New South Wales. Had shown him a chequebook, and also a signature. On the 17th he went into the shop and showed witness a cheque, saying it was for £SO, and that it was very provoking that the bank was not open. He then asked for the loan of £5 until ten o'clock, saying he would return and repay it. Witness upon the faith of the cheque being a good one, and believing what prisoner had said, lent him £4 Bs. Prisoner did not return. He lent the money solely on the faith of the trttth of his statement. Mr O'Neill, who appeared for the prisoner, cross-examined the witness, who said he had not seen the cheque in question, so as to tell what bank it was drawn upon. Prisoner did not mention the name of the bank, but he had previously said that he had an account at the Bank of New South Wales, and the colour of the cheque shown to witness was the same as that of cheques drawn upon that bank. A. H. N. Campbell deposed that he was acting ledger-keeper at the Bank of New South Wales. JjThere was|nothing on the books in the name of Thomas Beaumont Booth, nor bad there ever been so far as he was aware. J. H. Sheppard deposed that be was proprietor of the White Hart Hot«»l. The prisoner had been staying at his house. He left on the 17th. He did not pay his account, nor did he ask witness to cash a cheque for £SO. He said he was going to Ashburton to get some money. Mr O'Neil contended that no false pretence had been made out, and that his client must be discharged. No jury would ever convict the prisoner in such a case. The Court did not see that it was necessary to send him before a jury at all, because the amount was under £5. He was quite content to take the case under the Vagrant Act instead of fending it for trial. Prisoner said that he had never stated that had an account at the Bank of New South Wales. What he had said was that he had an account at the Bank of New Zealand in Dunedin, from which it had never been removed. The Bench had no doubt that false pretences had been made use of with the view of obtaining the money in question. Detective Feast stated that prisoner had been living on his wits for the last three months, and this was not the first case of the kind. When found at Ashburton he was gambling—no doubt to raise the money to pay his board at the White Hart. The Bench sentenced him to three month's imprisonment with hard labour, and observed that he might think himself lucky he was not sent before a jury. The money found on the prisoner (£3 10s 6cl) Avas ordered to be given up to the prosecutor. The Court then adjourned. LYTTELTON. Saturday, May 20. Vagrancy.— Francis Ryan, arrested by Sergeant-Major O'Qrady, was charged with this offence. It appeared that accused had been sleeping on Peacock's wharf and begging from vessels. la defence accused stated he was trying to get a chance of working a passage home in a ship. The Bench dismissed prisoner on his promising to leave the town at once. Larceny over £s.—Luie Scott, alias Wright, alias Parma, was charged with this offence. Sergeant-Major O'Qrady, sworn, said —Yesterday morning I went in search of prironer, of whom I had been given a description. I found him lying on a bed upstairs in the Crown Hotel. I asked his name and found he was asleep, his left side coat pockpt was open, and I saw there was a lot of silver in it—l9s 6d. I took it out, counted it, and then put it back again, and then woke prisoner up and asked him his name. He said it was Luie Parma. I told him Mr Parsons, of the Royal Hotel, had been robbed of a lot of silver coin, and that I suspected him of taking it. He said, "Oh, you are very smart." I then asked if he had auy money on him, and he said no. Constable Watt was with me at the time I isked prisoner if he had any silver, and he said no. I then searched him, and in the left, trousers pocket I found four half-crowns, three florin?, fifty-five shillings, eleven sixpences, three fouipenccF, two threepences, The outside left coat pocket contained one half crown, two florins, twelve shillings, two sixpences, one threepenny piece. In outside breast coat pocket, four shillings, two sixpences, and one threepence. In outside right flap pocket I found 2Ad in coppers, making a total of £5 3s 2id, all but the 2£d being in r.ilver. I locked up prisoner; he has since given his name as Luie Scott, and he has also been known by the police as Luie Wright. Prisoner said this morning he had £7 in change. I produce the money, and nlso a pewter half-pint measure given to constable Daley. T. A. W. Parsons, sworn, I said—l am licensee of the Royal Hotel, Lyttelton. I had the pewter produced full of silver on the night of the

18 th. It was full of half-crowns, florins, shillings, and smaller coins. 1 had it under the counter. I think the pot contained about £lO worth of silver ; there was no gold in it. I saw it last on Thursday night at 11 p.m.; the barmaid was the only person who hid access to the bar on Friday morning. He had not access to the bar on Thursday night, as I locked up the bar myself on that night. About a quarter to 8 a.m. on Friday I missed the money when a gentleman tendered me half-a-soverign as payment for two beds. The bar door and counter doors were open. I did not authorise any one to take the pewter. I do not recognise prisoner. Fanny Hardecke, sworn, said —I am wife of Henry Hardecke, proprietor of the Victoria Dining Rooms. I know prisoner. He was employed by my husband as cook. He said his name was Luie Wright. I discharged accused on the night of the 18th. o trowed small sums both from me and boarders before he was discharged. He told me he had no money When he came to work for ma he was laid up. During the lime he was with me I paid him £1 2i 6d, that was all the money he had to the best of my belief By prisoner : I never heard you say you put £7 away to buy a silk coat. I never heard you say you had broken into the coat money. Edward Inwood bworn siid—l am a greengrocer, living in London street, Lyttelton. I know prisoner. Yesterday morning at 7.20 a.m. I was coming up London street near Captain Keddy's I saw prisoner near my shop in London street, and looked into Mr Austin's shop, and when I looked round again he was gone. When nearly at my own shop I saw prisoner behind a board used »s a watercloset. I went into the shop and saw him come along towards Oxford Btreet. When I saw him he was coming from Mr Parson's Hotel in Canterbury street. About ten minutes after I saw prisoner I went to the watercloset and found a pewter pot there, which I afterwards gave to Constable Daley —I saw no one go into the water closet from the time I saw prisonej go in till I went myself. By prisoner—A person could have gone into the closet without my seeing them. Wm, Gawne, sworn, said —I am a butcher in the employ of Mr Smith, of London street, I know prisoner I was passing the Royal Hotel yesterday morning, when I saw prisoner turn round the corner from Norwich Quay into Canterbury street, just by the Royal Hotel. He was walking quickly, and was holding something under his coat, he appeared to be aob;-r. This was between ten and twenty minutes past seven a ro. Mary Moyniban, licensee of the Crown Hotel, sworn, said—l know prisoner, he was at my house at 10 a.m. yesterday. He asked me how much 1 owed him, as he had been in my debt 9s 3d ; he came back in fifteen minutes and paid ma in silver ; he then had a bottle of soda water and a nobbier of brandy, for which he paid a shilling. He then said he had had a letter from his mother last mail, and on the strength of the' good news would shout champagme ; he had; three bottles, for which he paid 18s in silver ;' he said his mother had sent him the money.' I believe he Baid he had a cheque to be cashed. Peter Couch sworn, said—l am in the employ of Mr Parsons, of the Royal Hotel. About five minutes to seven yesterday morning I opened the doors of the bar, and went away for about one and a half minutes. Mr Parsons keeps the silver in a pot in the bar; the pot produced is the one. A little before seven yesterday I saw prisoner walking in the direction of the Royal from Mr;Cole's. I saw him pass the bar door, and look in. I then went to the back to fetch a broom. When I came back the door was closed. Accused was in the bar several timt s before on other mornings within vhe last eight or nine days. By prisoner—l do not recollect ever changing a £1 note for you. The Bench committed accused for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court.