MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 641, 8 July 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

C H lriS T CfH U R 0 #. Saturday, July S ( . ! ' (Before G.L. Mellish, Esq, 8.M.) Drunk and Disorderly.—An inebriate who appeared for the first time was iined 5s and cab hire. G. E. Phillips, for being drunk and resisting the police, was fined 20s; Win. Lambert, for drunkenness, was fund 10s. Travelling without a .Railway Ticket.—J. McKenzie was brought up on this charge. Mr Longdon, guard, stated that accused had a ticket at Ashburton by the 3.JJB traju, but would not produce it or pay ' lijb fare when asked at Addingtou station, Acgusett here. produced the' ticket iu court, saying that when the guard asked him for it liis hands were so cold that he could not find it. He had since found it inside the lining of his coat pocket. Case dismissed. Wive Desertion.—Hugh Henry, brought up on this charge, was discharged on his Qwr reqognisancejs to appear at Oxford on Wednesday*feg£. Larceny.—G.M. Maunders was brought up iu custody charged with having stolen a small leather sheep skin from the Christchurch railway sheds. The accused had been arrested U»der instructions, from the

traffic manager, the akin having previously been taken possession of by the goods manager. [Detective Kirby here produced a paper model of the bale, showing in red tape the manner in which it had been tied.] E. W. Tippetts, goods manager, stated that the accused was employed as storeman in B shed at the Christchurch railway station. Yesterday he saw him pull the skin produced out of a bale in that shed. Asked him what he was doing, and he said he was going to put it back into the bale again. Told him it didn't look much like it, and reported the matter to Mr Lawson, who sent for Detective Kirby. Accused appeared to be usiug exertion when removing the skin, and he seemed to be taking it from the upper portion of the bale. In cross-exami-nation, the witness said he didn't know the value of the skin—it might be worth 2s or 6d. He had seen bales which had been in bad. order, and small skins like the one in court working out of them. If the bale had been in bad order and the skin working out, accused should have reported it to the tally clerk, who might have pushed it into its place again. He (accused) would have exceeded his duty if he put the skin back into the bale himself. He was using a great deal of exertion when he (witness) saw him taking it out. The bale was wet at tho Accused had been a long time working in the sheds, for some time at one shilling an hour, and it was through his honesty and exceptional conduct that he was placed on the permanent staff* His Worship here interrupted Mr Joynt in his questions, and said there was really no case at all against the accused, as on the evidence alonehe appeared to have been engaged in replacing the skin which had become forced out of the bale. Mr Joynt was exceedingly glad to hear his Worship's remarks, as he had evidence to produce of his client's character for exceptional honesty. Charge dismissed. LYTTELTON. Saturday, July 8. (Before W. Donald, Esq, R.M.) Drunkenness—George Watts, arrested by constable Devine, was fined ss. Larcenyof A Watch.—John Kearns, alias Hunter, was charged with this offence. Ac* cused was arrested in Christchurch by detective Neil, and Inspector Feast appeared to prosecute, John Neil, sworn, said—l am a detective. I receiyed the watch produced from Mr Stewart, licensed pawnbroker, Christchurch. I afterwards arrested prisoner, who admitted having pawned the watched produced at Samuel Stewart's pawnshop. George Walker, said I am manager for S. Stewart, pawnbroker. The watoh produced was brought to our shop on the 29th, at 830 am. I do not identify prisoner in his present clothes. Thomas Kelly said—l am a laborer, living in Lyttelton. About June 21st I entrusted the prisoner with the watch produced. I told prisoner to take it to the watchmakers to get it repaired. He had no authority to dispose of the watch. It is worth £3. Prisoner pleaded guilty to this charge. Prisoner was further charged with the larceny of a watch, the property of John Moore. Detective Neil said he received the watch produced from Mr Ball, at Nathan's pawnshop, on Friday last; he subsequently arrested prisoner. R. Ball said—l am in Mr Nathan's employ. On the 2.9 th prisoner brought a silver watch and pawned it; the watch produced is the one; prisoner gave the name of John Hunter. John Moore said—l am a laborer, living in Lyttelton. Prisoner was recently living with me. He left on the 27th of June. After he was gone I missed my silver watch; the watch produced is the one. Prisoner had no authority from me to take the watch. I value the watch at £6. Prisoner also pleaded " Guilty'' to the charge. Accused waß further charged vjith the larceny of a coaj; Detective Neil stated, when he crested prisoner, he (prisoner) told him the coat produced was the property of John Lace. John Lace sworn, said coat was his property, and prisoner took it without his consent,' The Bench sentenced accused to three months imprisonment with hard labor on each charge, to run consecutively, or nine months in all.