MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 619, 13 June 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

w OHRISTOHUBCH. Tuesday, June 13. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, 8.M., and W. H. Pilliett, Esq, J.P.) Drunk and Disorderly.—An inebriate was fined 5s (his first offence). W. Garrett, charged with being drunk and creating a disturbance in the Warwick Hotel, was fined 20s. Archibald McCallum, for drunkenness and using profane language in Colombo street, was fined 20s. Using Obscene Language. Martha Brown, who had been arrested for using obscene language the previous night in Peterborough-street, was fined 10s and cautioned. Alice O'Neill, charged with using obscene language within hearing of persons passing along a public thoroughfare, was fined 20b.

Larceny.—James Johnson was brought up on warrant, charged with the larceny of some wearing apparel. The evidence showed that accused had stolen the clothes out of a box in a house adjoining the Borough Hotel. They belonged to P. Helkessel. When prosecutor returned to the house on Monday last, he found the box had been broken open and several articles abstracted, those in Court being portion of them. The prisoner had been seen about the premises on Sunday night, and pawned some of the clothes at Stewart's pawnshop on Monday morning, receiving 12s on them. Sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Bigamy.—Thomas Moore, who had been arrested on the above charge, was remanded until Thursday, on the application of Inspector Buckley. Indecent Assault.—Thomas Weir, an elderly man, was charged with indecently assaulting a girl nine yearß of age. The case was heard with closed doors. The evidence showed that though an assault, had! not been actually committed on the child, still the conduct of the prisoner had been highly improper and aggravated by being repeated. The prisoner elected to be dealt with summarily, and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. Unregistered Dogs.—A, case against F. Vesey, in which a fine of 40s had been inflicted the previous day, in the absence of defendant, for being the owner of two unregistered dogs was re-heard on the appli* cation of Mr Thomas, and the receipt for one dog and a registered collar for the other having been produced, the fine was remitted.

LVTTELTON. Tuesday, June 13. f Before W. Donald, Esq, R.M.] Breach of Public House Ordinance. —Patrick Barry of the Royal Oak Hotel, was charged with supplying liquors to persons other than travellers at unlawful hours. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared for the defendant. On evidence being called to prove the offence, Mr Nalder stated that before the charge was gone into he must take an objection to the case being proceeded with on the ground that a copy of the complaint had not been sent to the defendant within twenty-four hours' after it had been made as provided by the 32nd section of the Public House Ordinance, no notice whatever having been sent, and argued that the Oidinance imposing the penalties must be construed strictly that the Legislature had wisely provided that the notice should be given, so that the licensee should not be taken by surprise by receiving a summons some weeks after an alleged offence had been committed, when he might be unable to bring forward any evidence to disprove it; and that as the course of procedure laid down by the Ordinance had not been complied with, he submitted that the case could not be proceeded with. The Bench considered the objection fatal,' and the case was dismißEed. Dbunicenness —John Harmer, arrested by ConstabiejMoutray, was fined 10s, or in default forty-eight hours'. The fine was not paid,