MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 663, 4 August 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, August 3. (Before G. L. Mellisb, Esq, R.M.) Assaulting a Sheriff’s Officer. — Thomas Panelt was charged with assaulting a sheriff’s officer, at Springstou, while in the execution of his duty. The evidence snowed that after the officer had got inside the house, made some demand, and was sitting down, accused lifted him chair and all, carried him to the door and threw him outside. Next day when the officer returned with two policemen defendant pointed a gun at him, which it was afterwards found was loaded with powder and shot. In reply to his Worship the sheriff said he would desire that the Bench would deal summarily with the case. His Worship told defendant that it was fortunate for him that he was not sent for trial, as he wmuld certainly receive a long sentence. He would be fined £lO. Miscellaneous Offences. For permitting his chimney to catch fire, Richard Shannon was fined 10s, A charge of neglecting to keep a light on an obstiuction in Cathedral Square was preferred against Messrs Tillman and Ponsford and a fine of 10s imposed. Michael Hamilton, Charles Creasey, James Hunter, Samuel Lacey, and John Miller were each fined 10s for being

absent from their cabs._ A charge against Samuel Thomas was dismissed. Andrew McTaggart for a similar charge was fined 10s. Two charges of causing an obstruction and furious driving, also preferred against McTaggart, were dismissed in the absence of the person at whose instance the information had been laid. Robert Adams, for neglecting to bury a horse that had died belonging to him in the Avon district, was fined 10s. John J. Utting, for being the owner of a dog unregistered for the current year, was fined 20s. For allowing a dog to follow him in the Domain, William Hawkins was fined 10s. William Lee, a young boy, nine years old, charged with setting fire to a gorse fence in Gloucester street, on 19th July. Sergeant Beck stated that he saw the fence that day on fire in four places. He had been told by another boy that Lee had set fire to the fence. A little boy named John De Lacour stated that his brother gave him a penny that day, and he went to Richardson’s shop and bought a box of matches. Willie Lee ran away to have a smoke, and went behind the gorse and afterwards threw a lighted match into the gorse fence, which the Sergeant put out. His Worship called the defendant to him, who made a statement that he had not set fire to the fence. It was shown + bat the witness De Lacour had been playing the truant that day, and his Worship hoped the master would give him a sound caning for it. His Worship said that one of the boys had told a lie, and he thought he knew which of them it was. The case against Lee would be dismissed. Horses and Cattle at Large.—Wm. Brooker and Alfred Smith were each fined 5s for permitting horses and cattle to wander on public thoroughfares. Causing a Crowd to Collect.—Albert Chatband was charged with obstructing Cathedral square by vending goods thereon, thus causing a crowd to collect, on 15th July; Defendant did not appear. The case was proved on the evidence of Constable Reeve, and a fine of 10s was imposed. Breach of Public House Ordinance, —Michael Geoghegan, who has a wine and beer license for his place in St Asaph street, was summoned for selling two half-pints beer without supplying other refreshment. Mr Thomas appeared for defendant. Constable Creighton stated that on that night he saw two men served with a half-pint beer each. No other refreshment in the way of food was supplied to them at the time. It was shown on the evidence of a witness that he had paid for half a pint of beer that night. There were biscuits on the table, bat he did not take any. After Mr Thomas had addressed the Bench, his Worship inflicted a fine of £5. Causing a Disturbance.—Andrew Ray, James Ray, and Edward Wilson were charged with shouting in the streets on Sunday evening, July 16th, and inciting dogs to fight. Sergeant Wilson proved the offence, and stated that the boy Wilson had been before the Court on a previous occasion. His Worship spoke to the mother of the boys Ray, and advised her to look after and keep them out of the streets. He would let them go this time. His Worship also discharged Wilson after cautioning him. ASSAULT. —Branston Unwin was charged with assaulting Mrs Sarah Sutton, on Sunday, 30th July. Mr Izard appeared for complainant. The parties are neighbours living at Addington, and on that day complainant had tethered a calf on some vacant sections near her house. Defendant came up and cut the rope, and struck the woman with a stick. She had not been able to attend to her household work in consequence, and had to call in Dr Townend. Defendant called a witness who stated he saw complainant strike him (defendant.) Pined £3 and costs. ' Permitting a Disorderly House to be KEfT. —John Kennington and Jane Kennington was charged with permitting women of ill-fame to keep a house at the corner of Peterborough and Barbadoes streets belonging to them as a disorderly house. A medical certificate was handed in', saying he was too unwell. As the woman admitted, and was shown to be the owner of this hous p , the case was proceeded with. Mr Joynt appeared to support the information, and said the present action was taken under 27th section of 12 th bye-law. Several witnesses were called who proved that the house had been kept as a disorderly house for over two years, was used as a brothel, and * perfect nuisance to the neighborhood, as cabs were kept constantly going night and day to and from the house. Mr Joynt said he was instructed to prosecute defendant from week to week until the nuisance was removed. It seemed singular that the neighborhood of a cpmetery should be chosen for such a place. Fined £5 and cost of witnesses, Keeping a Disorderly House.—Mary Bowen, Elizabeth Bowen, Harriett Durham, Abigail McDonald, and Eliza Kent were charged with being the occupants of the house referred to in the previous case. The case was proved against defendants. Mr Joynt would again remark that his instructions were to prosecute from week to week until this nuisance was removed. He did not desire to press for a penalty this time, but if he had occasion to bring the defendants before-the Bench again that a heavy fine should be imposed. His Worship said that as the owner of the property had been fined, he would dismiss the case, but it would be advisable for defendants to leave that neighborhood. Abusive Language.— Daniel Stacey was summoned for using abusive language to James Williams. This case had arisen out of a charge of rescuing live cows, which complainant had preferred against John Seaby, It was shown, on the plaintiff’s evidence, that he bad consented to the cows baiog driven back if Stacey would pay him something. The charge against Seaby was dismissed, and Stacey was fined 10s and costs. Friday, August 4. (Before G. L. Hellish, Esq, R.M., and Dr * Deamer, J.JP.) * Larceny op Jewellery. Thomas A. Halswell and G. Williams were brought up on warrant charged with stealing jewellery in Wellington. On the application of inspector Feast the prisoners were remanded to the 10th inst. LYTTELTON. Friday, August 4, (Before W. Donald, Esq, R.M.) Drunkenness. —Walter Bizance, arrested by constable Houtray, and Thomas Elliott and William Campbell, arrested by constable Balien brought up charged with the above offence, were s each fined°los. or in default forty-eight hours’ imprisonment.