MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 612, 5 June 1876, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, June 5. * [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R.M.] Drunkenness. —Charles Smith was fined ss, Thomas Johnson, for being drunk and disorderly and creating a disturbance in the Golden Age Hotel, was fined 20s; James Tavrick, for being drunk and indecently exposing himself, was fined 20s ; William Phillips was fined 10s ; and John Buchanan was mulct in a like amount; John Kelly, for using obscene language, was ordered to pay 10s ; Wm Chisnell, for being drunk and resisting the police, was fined 20s; and an inebriate, who appeared for the first time, was ordered to pay ss, Illegally on Premises. —Joseph Basket was charged with being illegally on the premises of Mr Buggy, in High street, and wilfully damaging the property of the prosecutor, by forcibly entering his stable. He was sentenced to 48 hours’ imprisonment with hard labour. Neglecting to Obey an Order of the Court —Noah Sjraonds brought up in custody charged with having neglected to obey an order of the Court for the payment of 15s a week towards the support of his wife. Defendant consented to give an order on his employers for the payment of the sum as well as of the arrears. Vagrancy. —William Binney was brought up charged with having no lawful visible means of support. He had only just come out of prison, where he had served a terra of imprisonment on a similar charge. He was in the habit of following young females and assaulting them. He had on a former occasion received twelve months’ imprisonment and fifteen lashes for indecent assault, and had only just come out of prison after having served two months for insulting females in the public streets. The prisoner now received a very bad character from the police, who stated that there had been a large number of complaints from different women of the prisoner’s conduct. The Bench remarked that prisoner was one of those nuisances who would have either to be kept in gaol or in a lunatic asylum for the rest of his life. Prisoner asked the Court to give him a chance. The Bench said that as this offence had occurred before the prisoner had undergone his last term of imprisonment the Court would now dismiss the case, but if became up again he would receive a most severe sentence.

Larceny from the Person. John Koaliog and John Davis were chaVged with an offence of this character, were remanded for eight days. Bigamy.—Thomas Moore, a colored man, was charged with having committed bigamy, having married one Lilian Worrel, his first wife, Emma Moore, being alive. The first wife was married on the West Coast, and the second in Canterbury. Remanded for eight days. Wife Desertion —Jean Baufill was charged with deserting his wife, Catherine Baufill, and leaving her without any means of support. I’he complainant deposed that the defendant had deserted her at Ross, in Hokitika, twelve months ago, and that she had only received £7 from him during that time. Defendant said he was badly treated by the complainant before he had left her. The Bench ordered him to contribute 15s a week towards his wife’s support, A Lodging house Thief.— Flora Mary Chandy was charged with stealing a number of articles, including a fowl. She had been

in the habit of going to different places to lodge and walking off with sheets, blankets, aid other things. Her last feat was stealing a ben, which she put under her shawl, and when spoken to by the owner about it she said she ouiy wanted to take out a feather to “ plug out her ear.” The owner thought this could be be done by the police!, and handed her over to them for that purpose. Prijonor said all the hings were hers, and made a very plausibk defence, but the Bench informed her that the c were three previous convictions against her, and sentenced her to two months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Stealing Oysters, Samuel Taylor was charged with stealing a quantity of oysters, the property of Charles Burmeister, of Gloucester street. Prosesecutor deposed that the prisoner aud another man had got into his back yard on Sunday night and stole a quantity of oysters, value ss. They had then gone into the next street, sat down, and commenced eating the oysters AVhen prosecutor came up they asked him to join them, hut he declined to do so, and gave the prisoner in charge. The other man succeeded in getting away. Prisoner denied the theft, and said ho was only talking with the other man who had the oysters. Sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. One of the witnesses who was examined gave it as his opinion that it would be a very good thing if some kind of lodging, and a night’s food were occasionally provided for the tramps who were constantly passing through the city. If this wi.ro done there would be fever alarms of (ire, aud much assistance would be rendered to the detective force. The Bench remarked that the detective force was quite able to take care of itself. A? for des'itution, ev«.ry man could get work if ho were sober, aud took the trouble to look for it. Illegally on Premises —Francis Cayne, Joseph Gairett, and Robert Newport, alias Henry Luke, were charged with being illegally on the premises of Mr Garland, by sleeping in his stable, Manchester street. The witness in the case did not appear, and the prisoners were therefore discharged. LYTTELTON, (Before W. Donald, Esq, R.M.) Monday, June 5. Committing a Breach of the Peace inthe Presence of a Constable.— Harry Dickenson, arrested by Constable Devine, was charged with ’this offe ice. Accused, who had nothing to say, was fined 20s. Drunkenness —Peter Antonio, arrested by Constable Devine, was fined 10s. A seaman belonging to the dredge Erskine, arrested by Constable Daly, was charged with this offence ; case dismissed. Edward Lightburn, arrested by Constable Devine, was for a similar offence, fined 10s. Assaulting Chief Officer of Dredge Erskine. —George Cook, steward, and Fredeiick Harlow, A. 8., belonging to the dredge Erskine, were charged with this offence. Constable Daly had arrested prisoners. Mr H N. Nalder appeared for thecaptain. Thomas Ford ,staff first officer, sworn, said —The prisoners are steward and able seaman on board the Erskine. Yesterday evening at 7.30 the steward went into the captain’s cabin. I heard him ask him for some money. I then heard him call the captain a liar and a thief. The captain ordered him oat of the room, and Gallaphan, another seaman, came and tried to get him out. The steward then went into the forecastle. Frederick Harlow was with the steward. At 10 o’clock myself and captain were in the berth working, when deceased came down and again asked for money, called the captain a thief aud liar, and threatened to strike him. I tried to dissuade the steward, when he up fist aud struck me. He then turned round and struck the carpenter, who was behind him, and knocked him down. Accused was the worse for liquor, but knew what he was about. By accused — You asked the captain for money before you struck me. Cook here made a statement against the captain. Angus McCartney, carpenter, said—l was called on Sunday night to assist the captain. The steward shoved me down with his hands. By Cook — I did not sec you strike the mate. I took the shove jou gave me as sport. You saidt “ What have you to do with this; it is not your business.” Mr H. N. Nalder applied for a remand, as the captain was unavoidably absent in Christchurch. The Bench adjourned the case till to-morrcw (Tuesday). Accused applied for bail, which was refused.

Civil Case —Trustees of J. McDonald’s estate v John Hills ; H. N. Nalder for plaintiff-!; claim £3 10s; judgment by default for amount claimed and 10s costs.