MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 688, 2 September 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday, September 2. I Before G, L. Hellish, Esq, 8.M., G. L. Lee, W. H. Pilliett, and W. Deamer, Esqs, J.P’s.J Drunk and Disorderly.—An inebriate, who appeared for the first time, was fined ss. Illegally on Premises.—John Parker, charged with being found illegally on the premises of Messrs Ward and Co, was sentenced to forty-eight hours’ imprisonment wih hard labor. Escaping from Legal Custody.—Edwin Turner was brought up charged with escaping from Addington Gaol. George Reston, gaoler in charge there, stated that accused was in his custody on the previous Saturday (March 26th) by virtue of the warrant produced. Saw him in the gaol about ten minutes past eleven that morning, and he was missed at fifteen minutes past eleven. Saw him afterwards about a mile and a half from the gaol, going in the direction of Halswell. Witness gave chase, but lost eight of him. Did not see him again until this morning Accused had no permission from him to leave the gaol. Richard Haldane, constable, stationed at Kaiapoi, stated that, from information received the previous morning, he went in search of accused, and came upon him in a bye-road off the Ohoka road, about two miles from Kaiapoi. Accused was half running at the time. Witness was on horseback when first he saw accused, who at once rushed into a hedge. Accused, addressing the Bench, said the officer had made a mistake in saying he was running at the time. He was walking leisurely along the road, looking for a fresh hiding-place, and when the officer spoke to him he stopped at once, as he recognised his authority to arrest him. He admitted having escaped from the gaol, but would desire to make an explanation. Inspector Feast told the Bench that there was another charge pending against him, and he (the inspector) had received a telegram from Mr Cowell, who would leave Auckland during the day. In reply to his Worship whether he had anything to say, accused said he begged the gentlemen on the Bench would dismiss from their minds any feeling of prejudice with regard to statements that had been made concerning him as being another person than what he had represented himself to be. He solemnly denied the charge of stealing the coat, for which he had suffered imprisonment for a month. There had been no breakage connected with the escape from the gaol; ha had committed no damage, but had merely bolted, and when called upon to surrender the previous day by the officer, he had stopped at once. When be escaped from Addington, he did not hear the gaoler call out as stated by him, and he (accused) had remained concealed in a paddock near until late that night. He would call upon God to witness that he had suffered the month’s imprisonment innocently. He knew of the feeling of prejudice that had been raised against him. He was surrounded by a host of enemies, and was like a man brought to bay by a pack of wolves, and if he did not receive justice at the hands of the gentlemen composing the Bench, he knew he would not get it at all. He had made his escape for the one only reason, to see his child, and had come to town on last Monday night for that purpose, but had found that the house wfyere she is living surrounded by a number of police. He had only gong up to Jifaiapoi so that the police might heat of his being in that district, and their attention being drawn thither, he might haye been able to reach town and spend a few hours with his child, and then it was hie intention to give himself up to the inspector. He would again solemnly assert that he had suffered innocently for the coat, as he had purchased it and other articles at the same time, and this he could prove. As he had been accused of being a person he knew nothing of, and saw a letter in the hands of the Bench to which a portrait was attached, be would ask to be made acquainted with the contents of that letter. His Worship told accused that it was sot very likely ba

would be told what its contents were, and perhaps it would be better for him to leave things as they were, as he might only make his case worse. Accused said he thought be ought to be told what the letter said about him, as he had observed by the papers that an alias had been attached to his name, the motive for this being very apparent. He had never gone by the name of any other person, and why was he charged with having an alias. After consultation by the Bench, accused was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor, on the charge of escaping. His Worship told Inspector Feast that, if at the expiration of that time the prosecutor in the other charge were not in Christchurch, he would discharge the man. Bmbbzzlbmbnt.- Charles Laurence, a lad in the employ of Edward Sheppard, was charged with embezzling 10s, in various email sums. Accused had been employed by the prosecutor to carry milk about to customers. The evidence did not fix the embezzlement of any sum on any particular day, and the Bench gave accused the benefit Of the doubt, and dismissed him. Larobnt. Margaret McKenzie, alias Ellison, was charged with this offence. Accused had been seen the previous day in High street enter the shop of Mr Loney, bootmaker, and from her appearance, when she came out, he went inside, and learnt that a pair of boots was missing. He afterwards followed and arrested the woman with the boots in her possession. Mrs Annie Loney, called, identified the boots produced as belonging to her‘husband. They were hanging up in the shop the previous day, Valued them at 18s. In reply to the Bench, accused said she was in a state of intoxication at the time. There were several previous convictions against accused, and she was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor.

LYTTELTON. Saturday, September 2, [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M. - ] Using Threatening and Abusive Language.-— Captain Urquhart, of the b. 9. Matan, was accused by Captain Hugh MoLellan, deputy harbour-master, with this offence. Mr Nalder appeared for the defence. Complainant stated that on Friday, when he was moving the ship Woosung from the Gladstone Pier, outside the Halcione, accused was moving his vessel from the Screw-pile Jetty to go alongside the barque Wanlock, to discharge into her. There was a warp leading from the Woosung to the wharf, and he called out to the accused not to cross it but to go round outside the ship. Accused said he might slack the line to let him go over. On Captain MoLellan again refusing, he said he would cut the line, and steamed over it, cutting two of the strands of the warp of a new Manilla one belonging to the ship. Accused used the most abusive language when told to go round the ship, and also when Captain McLellan refused to ■lack the line. The offence was committed in the presence of a number of people. Cross-examined by Mr Nalder —I used no abusive language against accused. A number of witnesses were examined in reference to the language used by Captain Urquhart. Captain Urquhart having given evidence for the defence, Mr Naldrr pointed out that the information was incorrectly laid, there being no clause in the Harbor Regulation Act bearing out the information. The Bench advised the complainant to withdraw the information, and lay it in a new form,|the case to be heard at 2 p.m. to day. This was agreed to. Mr Nalder made an application for costs, which was refused by the Bench, which referred at length to the great necessity of upholding public officers in the execution of their duty,