MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 719, 9 October 1876, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTOHUKCH. SJonday, October 9. fßefore G. L. .Mellish, Esq, R.M., Colonel Packe, Percy Oox, W. Learner, and G. L. Lee, Esqs., J.P'*J Drunk and Usin& Obscene Language. —James Stewart, arrested for being drunk and using obscene language in High street, was fined 20s. Stealing from A Shop.—William Hawthorn was charged with stealing a number of articles from the shop of Messrs Mason, Struthers and Go. Mr Joynt appeared for the accused. Detective Kirby had gone to accused's residence on Saturday, accompanied bv Mr Mason and Mr Struthers, and found there one double-barrelled gun, two vases, one dozen knives, half-dozen metal forks, half-dozen spoons, three pocket knives, one wire gauge, one skein of cord, and an aluminum pencil. Accused told him that he had taken them from the shop, and intended to make a present of the knives and forks to a lady. Both Mr Mason and Mr Struthers identified the articles produced as their property. In reply to Mr Joynt, the witness said the accused made no other remark than that he had taken the things from the shop, some of which he intended to make a present of. Eobert Struthers, called, stated that accused had been in the employ of the firm for about eighteen months. Had followed the detective to accused's lodgings on Saturday night, and saw the officer take possession of the articles produced. Witness heard acsused admit that he had taken the goodß from the shop, and that they all belonged to the n;m,

with the exception of the knives and forks, which were the property of a young lady. The gun produced had the name of the firm branded on it. Would swear that the firm had similar goods in stock to those produced. Had missed the articles out of the stock that morning. Valued the property before the Court at about £l2. In reply to Mr Joynt, the witness said that the articles in Court would cost the firm between £8 and £9. Was not aware that accused had at any time taken articles away from the shop and afterwards paid for them. Mr Mason, called gave similar evidence to last witness, and stated that he had never sold these goods to accused, nor had he authorised him to take them away. In cross-examination the witness said there was a debit account in the books against accused from goods he had from time taken from the shop. The present goods had not been debited to him. James Forsyth, salesman to Mason, Struthers and Co, stated that accused had spoken to him of buying the gun. It was then in the shop. Afterwards he said the gun was a very good one, and at this time it was at accused's lodgings. Accused gave witness to understand that he had purchased the gun, but nothing was Baid about the price that had been paid for it. Identified some of the articles produced as similar to those at present in stock, Had never sold the vases to accused. In cross-examination witness said that he had a gun for two days from the ehop during the shooting season. It was during that time accused took away the gun in Court. Witness did not think he said accused led him to understand he had purchased the gun, but he led him to believe he was going to purchase it. It was a usual practice for emplyees to take things from the store and have them charged to their account. Witness returned the gun he had from the store. Could not say whether the gun had been used before. Hawthorn had it. Witness first saw accused looking at the gun in the shop. Afterwards, when he was looking at the gun and speaking about it, it was at his lodgings. Robert Gulliver called, stated—That some months ago accused gave him a parcel to carry home. After witness had examined the parcel he found it contained the two vases produced. Accused told him at the time that he had purchased them at auction, and after examining the parcel witness recognised the articles as belonging to the firm. He spoke to accused of this, when he said he was only trying to see if he,would know them, and that he had purchased them from the firm. Recognised the gun produced as having been in the store. Accused told witness that he had purchased it from the firm ; that he did not know what he was to pay for it, as the amount was to be debited to his account, and was to be left to Mr Maeon. In crossexamination, witness said that he knew accused had the gun in his possession, and he gave him to understand he had purchased it. The employees were in the habit of taking away the goods, and having them debited to them, but not without first receiving permission to do so. Mr Mason recalled, stated that when he spoke to accused on Saturday evening about having taken the gun from the store, he positively denied having done so. He afterwards said he had taken a gun, but that it had been returned. Mr Struthers at the time asked accused where the gun now was, and he said he did not kDow, and supposed it must have been sold. Henry Wilkin called, stated that the firm had similar goods in stock to those produced. Did not know of himself that accused had taken away any goods from the shop. In cross-examination witness said that he did not remember accused's telling him on Friday evening that he had taken away some knives and forks and would pay for them on Monday. Knew that goods were taken away and booked to them, but they should first have been booked by some other employee before being taken. After Mr Joynt had addressed the Bench, his Worship in reply to him, said the Bench considered the element of guilt was sufficiently apparent as to send the case for trial unless on confession, when it could be dealt with summarily. After conferring with his counsel, accused pleady " GHilty," and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard I labor. i Larceny by a Servant.—Arabella Williams, a young girl, was charged on remand with stealing a pound note and one shilling from her employer, G. Collier, White Swan Hotel. Mr Collier had suspected the accused, and marked the shilling and note, taking the number of the latter. He placed the money«n his vest pocket on separate occasions, and left it on the bed. On returning to his room on Saturday last the money was gone, and afterwards found in the Dossession of accused, who had access to the "room, but had no right to take the money. In reply to the Bench, Inspector Feast said he did not know anything about the girl. Mr Collier said the girl had been a very good servant, and bore an excellent character hitherto. He did not believe she had any friends here. His Worship told accused the Bench were exceedingly sorry to see her in her present position, and taking all the circumstances into consideration would inflict a very lenient sentence, for which he was prepared to take the responsibility. She would be sentenced to one | week's imprisonment with hard labor. Stealing from the Person. —Thomas Henderson was charged on remand with stealing a watch from C. McCarthy. From the evidence it appeared that the prosecutor, who waß under the influence of liquor, drove in cabs with two men up the Springfield road on last Thursday afternoon.. Accused was one of the men, and after the cabs had left the men went into a paddock and lay down. Accused and the other men were afterwards seen by a lad named Ardmore to be feeling the outside of prosecutor's pockets. The two then left in the direction of town, and the prosecutor went towards the back of a house in which a Mr Wright lives. Evidence was also given of the prosecutor and accused and another man drinking that morning at the City Hotel and at Barrett's Hotel, where the prosecutor had followed the two men into the bar. At the latter place McCarthy was heard to accuse :he men of having stolen his watch, and offered them 10s to return it and save him f*om further trouble. The men, from their i! conversation, seemed to know where 1 the watch was, and asked the prosecutor to come with them. Samuel Wright called, stated that on last Thursday . evening his wife found tha watch produced on the window cill of the kitchen. She saw a drunken man that afternoon go round towards the back of the house and lean against the kitchen window. After some remarks from Mr Joynt his Worship cau_ I tioned the accused against the practice o£ s loafing about publichouses and drinking with strangers, and dismissed the charge.

Manslaughter.—Charles Creese, cabdriver, was brought np charged with having caused the death oS Ellen Sullivan, by driving over her with his cab on last Saturday afternoon. Mr Joynt appeared for the accused. On the application of the police aocused was remanded until the 10th, pending the result of the coroner's inquiry to be held at 2 o'clock.

LYTTELTON. Monday, October 9. (Before W. Donald, Esq, R.M.) Drunkennjss.— William Connors, arrested by Constable Johnston, charged with this offence, was dismissed with a caution.