MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 636, 3 July 1876, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, July 3. [Before G-. L, Mellish, Esq, R M., and G. L. Lee and W. H. Pilliett, Esq’s, J.P.’sl Drunkenness. —For this offence and resisting the police an inebriate was fined 20s; two other offenders were fined each ss, and one 10s. For being drunk and disorderly, Lucy Tracy was lined 20s; Margaret Gearey, 40s; and James Jones, 20s. For being drunk, J. S. Riddell was fined 10s, and D. Lalor 6s. Breach of the Peace. —Joseph Garrett and J. Anderson were each fined 10s for this offence. Profane Lancsuage. —W. Cody, for being drunk and disorderly and using profane language) was fined 40s. Larceny as a Bailee.— Joseph Cawthine, charged with disposing of a horse and cart, not his property, was remanded to Palmerston, Otago. LYTTELTON. Monday, July 3rd, 1876. (Before F.D. Gibson, Melville, Walker, and H. Allwright, Esqs, J.Ps.) Drunk.— Wm. Nichol arrested by Constable Mclntogh for this offence, was dismissed with a caution. Larceny.— William Murray, Christian Larsen, John Donovan, Wm. Morquay, Geo, Taylor, John McFarlane, James King, and Wm. Fletcher, on remand from Saturday, were charge with committing this offence aboard the ship Desdemona. Margaret Smith Cole, sworn, said —I am the wife of Robert Cole, proprietor of the Lyttelton Hotel. I saw King, Taylor, and Murray on Friday night in the front bar of the Lyttelton Hotel. The barmaid came and called me, and said one of them had a writing desk for sale. The desk produced I identify as the one purchased by the barmaid from King. I objected to the barmaid buying the desk as I heard cargo had been stolen from the Desdemona. The barmaid told me that the men belonged to the Desdemona, The desk was left in the bar by King. I saw the bottles of oil produced inside the desk when it was left in the bar. I put the three halfcrowns down on the bar for the barmaid, and King took them up. I have seen the desk and workbox produced, on the bar counter at the Lyttelton Hotel, on Tuesday night. About three-quarters of a hour after I °hod te-n the first desk Taylor and McFarlane brought them for sale ; there were bottles of oil in the desk and workbox. I asked them wher#ffhey got them, and one of them said he brought the desk from China twelve months ago. They wanted ten shil-

lings for the desk, but did not name, a price for the workbox. I told them they looked very like cargo ; they said it was all right. The desk and workbox were left in the bar ; they were put behind the counter, and remained there till the police took charge of them on Saturday morning. Mr Cole told the captain of the ship immediately after. There were bottles ofjoil left in the hotel also; they were given to the barmaid ; they were of the description produced. They left nothing else I know of. I said the desk was worth more than 7s 6d. I heard it generally reported that the captain had detectives on board immediately the ship came alongside the wharf. Thomas Sutcliffe sworn, said—l am shipping clerk at Wilson, Sawtell and Go’s, Christchurch. The firm had a consignment of hair' oil by the Desdemona ; part has been landed. I produce a bottle marked D, which is part of the consignment landed. The oil is J. T. Morton’s brand. The bottle marked B is by a similar maker and same description of bottle. There are 6 dozen bottles in a case, worth about £2 11s per case. The whole consignment is not yet landed. George Green Campbell, chief officer, recalled, said—Since I gave my evidence on Saturday last, I found in Wm Fletcher’s berth one tin of sardines, same brands as those in Court, cut open. Jt was not there when I searched bn Saturday. I also found a packet of candles in his berth. I found the desk produced marked E in the lower forecastle; it had three bottles of oil and a packet of envelopes in it. I found the tin of confectionery produced cut open ; it was in the forecastle by the heel of the bowsprit ; the tin contained lollies smillar to those taker) by the seamen to Coles’ Hotel. I have opened one case of cargo marked HL in a diamond, C No 11 underneath, and found that the tin lining of the case had been cut, and * large space was left empty. The resfi of the case contained desks and workboxes similar to those now in Court. The four boxes in Court would about fill the empty space left in the case. The tin, where cut, was marked with blood, as if the person opening it had cut his finger. The workbox marked 0 found at Cole’s Hotel has blood on it, and there is also blood on one of the desks. The candies produced I identify as similar to cargo on board the ship. At least thirty cases of candles have been pillaged on board. There were many cases of sardines amongst the cargo, some of which have been pillaged. There is a case of brandy missing. The value of the goods pillaged, as far as yet ascertained, is quite £2O. Accused have had access to the cargo that has been broached. They have been continually under the influence of liquor lately. By King—You yourself were found drunk in the hold. I believe you could pillage cargo in spite of the watch kept by the second mate and myself. By Donovan—T never saw you drunk; you arc the night watchman, and do not work in the hold. I do not think it possible cargo could have been pillaged from the hold at night without your knowing it. By Bench—The oil-pro-duced was found in Donovan’s chest covered with clothes. Several other questions were asked by the prisoners of this witness, but they did not affect the case. Mr H. N. Nalder said this concluded the evidence, and as the value of the goods was more than £lO, he hoped the Bench would send accused for trial, as in this case there was not the usual excuse that sailors could not resist the temptation of taking drink ; and as the Supreme Court was sitting, thccaptain had resoled not to bring the case under the Merchant Shipping Act, bat to press the charge, so much valuable propertyhaving been destroyed and stolen. The prisoners, on being asked what they had to say, stated they were innocent of the offence they were charged with, but made no statement rebutting the evidence given. The Bench, after retiring for a few minutes, fullycommitted accused for trial at the Supreme Court, now sitting.