MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 668, 10 August 1876, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

■ «> CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, August Q. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, EM,, and Dr Deamer, J. P.) Drunk and Disorderly.— An inebriate, who appeared for the first time, was fined ss; Johanna Connor, charged with drunkenness and against whom there was a long list of convictions, was sentenced to three month’s imprisonment with hard labor. Larceny. —Thomas Alfred Hassall and William Cassidy were brought up, charged on remand with stealing a quantity of jewellery from Mr A. J. Durham, at Wellington. On the application of the police, accused were further remanded for eight days, to be brought up before if required. Horses and Cattle at Large. —For per mitting horses and. cattle to Avander, the folloAving persons Avcre each fined 5s A. Simpson, John Wright, and John Parish ; G. W, Ell, for a similar offence, Avas fined 5s and 5s cost of livery incurred. Miscellaneous Offences, —Arthur Storey, charged with negligently driving and running over a boy in Colombo street, on the night of 24th July, Avas fined 20s; T. H. Green, for allowing his chimney to catch on lire, was lined 10s and 5s cost of witness; Walter Hartnell, summoned for driving two tAvo-horse vehicles in a public thoroughfare, Avas fined 10s ; Patrick King, charged Avith driving on the Avrong side of the road, avas lined 10s. John Brown, summoned for neglecting to keep proper lights on his hackney carriage, Avas fined 10s. A cla'ge of not being in attendance on his cab

was preferred against the same defendant, and a fine of 10s imposed. George Smith, charged with allowing his horse to bolt, was fined 10s. James Reid, summoned for driving a licensed cab without being licensed as a driver, was fined 10s. James Hunter, charged with being absent from his licensed cab for a quarter of an hour on the 25th instant, was fined 10s. Breach of Public-house Ordinance.— Peter S. Pryde was charged with keeping open and selling drink in his licensed house, the Riccarton Hotel, on Sunday, 13bh July. G. H. Jones, called, stated that on that day he and his brother were admitted into a private apartment in the defendant’s hotel during a heavy shower of rain, and had a little mild gin and water. They might have had another drink before they left the house. In reply to defendant, witness said that a cup of tea had been given him, and he had been treated as a friend. He believed a policeman did come in while he was there, but he was not sure whether the tea was given him before or after the constable was there. Fined £5 Ringing the Firebell. —William Burnside, Philip De Lacour, Cyrus Ashby, and Geo. Lemon, four lads, were summoned for ringing a false alarm on the night of the 26 th July. It was shown that through the action of defendants the Fire Brigade had turned out with the whole of the plant, and had given the brigade a great deal of trouble. Burnside and De Lacour had told the engine-keeper that Mr South’s chimney was on fire in Gloucester street, and had stated their intention of claiming the reward of 10s for giving the first alarm. Mrs Fuller, wife of the engine-keeper at the brigade station, stated that on that night she saw several boys ringing the bell, and when she spoke to them they told her to mind her own business, and that there was no fire. Could not recognise defendants as the boys who rang the bell. His Worship dismissed the case against Lemon and Ashby, as it was not shown that they were present. De Lacour called George Lemon, who stated that on that night he was with Da Lacour and Burnside, saw something like flames issuing from the back of Mr South’s premises, and a cabman who was driving past quickly at the time told them that Mr month’s house was on fire. They then rang the bell. His Worship told the boys that they should have been more careful. As they had been misled by the cabman, he would not impose a penalty this time, but they would have to pay 5s each expenses of witness. At the request of Mr Superintendent Harris, who was in court, his Worship told the boys that hearing of a fire was not sufficient to occasion them to ring the bell and unnecessarily alarm the citizens. Abusive Language. —lsabella Gordon, a young girl, was summoned for using abusive language to Emma Stanford on 28th July. The case was a very trivial one, and his Worslrp dismissed it. Throwing Stones, —Frank Forward and George Hinds, two little boys, were charged with throwing stones at Waltham on the 29th July. It was shown that the boy who had really committed the offence had left the district, and removed to Timaru, and bis Worship dismissed the case. Trespassing on a Railway Line.— Walter Baker, charged with trespassing on the line of railway near the Racecourse station whilst in a state of intoxication, was fined 20s. Assault. —ErneatOppeuheim, was charged with assaulting Charles Burmeister on the night of the 4th August. Complainant stated that on that night he returned home and saw defendant sitting in the house with his hat slouched over his face. He (witness) asked his wife for his dinner, after which they had a few words, and she threatened to get her brother (defendant) to give him a good thrashing. Witness then took defendant by the shoulder, when he struck him violently in the face, got him down, and kicked him between the eyes. Peter Pasche, called, stated that on that night he heard defendant tell Burmeister to let him go, or he would give him a good punching, Burmeister would not, and defendant gave him a good thrashing. Burmeister had asked witness to go for a policeman. Defendant, in reply to the Bench, stated that ho was at his sister’s place that night, when defendant came home in a state of semi-intoxication. He asked for his tea in an abrupt manner, and when told it was in the oven, and that it was a late hour to ask for tea, insisted upon its being set on the table at once. Some words followed between defendant and his wife, and she said that if he (defendant) ill-used her, her brother would protect her. He (witness) stated that he would certainly do so, and turned round to avoid a quarrel. Burmeister then ordered him out, and he refused to go, as he did not think he was in a fit state to leave his sister alone with, more especially as several times previously he had threatened to shoot her with a loaded revolver which he had in his pocket; and had also threatened to stick a knife into any of her friends as far as it would go if they interfered wiih him. After he (defendant) refused to go out Burmeister clawed him in the face, and by a violent wrench tore his overcoat, throwing him to the floor, and nearly choking him. Ho begged of him to let him go, or he would be compelled to strike him ; but he would not, and his sister, having at his request taken off his gloves, ho was obliged in self-defence to strike him. His Worship told defendant that he should have left the house when told to do so. A fine of 40s, with 9s qoits, would be imposed. Slaughter House Licenses. —The following applications for licenses to slaughter were granted; Joseph Culliford, Springs, farm, Kowai ; William Oartnell, section 3205, Lincoln; J. Stanley Monk, section 158, Sumner; J. B. Hanson, section 1858, Springston ; Samuel Nutt, section 103, Tai Tapu ; William Hellewell, section 1030, Halswell ; F. Hopkins and Co, section 11-18, Heathcote ; J. Hornel), section 7671, Avon ; O. Redfern, section 8250, Kowai Pass ; H. Tiache, section 598, Avon ; J. F. Townsend, section 45 '6, Lincoln ; Samuel Ward, section 5322, Lincoln ; Richard Wright, section 7476, Springston. H. Knight, whose application for a license for section 17) at Riccarton was also granted, but the applicant was advised to be ca r eful that no offal was thrown into the creek by his employes, LYTTELTON. Thursday, August 10. [Before W, Donald, Esq., 11.M.] Illegally on Premises —Three men, named John Jansen, John Brown, and John Black, were charged with being found sleeping in a shed on Peacock’s Wharf. Constable Moutray proved their arrest, and that they had stolen property in their possession. Krom the evidence of Mr Kiddy, of the Empire Hotel, it appeared that prisoner

Brown went into the hotel on Wednesday night with another man, and had a drink. They played a game of cards, and after they were gone Mr Kiddy missed the pack of cards produced, which he identified as his property. Constable Moutray proved finding the pack of cards in Jansen’s swag. Brown made a statement to the effect that they had been down to Pigeon Bay to look for work. Several other articles were found in their swags that seemed unlikely to be their property. The Bench sentenced Black to twenty-four hours’ imprisonment with hard labour, and at the request of Sergeant Major O’Grady, the other two prisoners were remanded until to morrow, to let the police make further enquiries. Civil Cases Borough Council v W. Carson, claim 12s, for rate ; same r P. Guarnid, claim 18s; same v H. Jackson, claim 15s ; same v A. Williams, claim 10s ; judgment for plaintiffs for amount claimed and costs in each case. G. Buist v J. Galbraith, claim 18s ; case ordered to stand over for a week.