MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 724, 14 October 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday, October 11. [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq, R.M., and Percy Cox, Esq, J.P.) Disobeying ak Order. —Edward Spray was brought up, arrested at Ashburton on warrant from Dunedin, for having failed to comply with an order of that Court to contribute towards his wife’s support. Accused said he was willing to work if he could get it, and was going to a job when he was arrested. He desired to support his wife and family, and intended to go back to Dunedin. His Worship said he would let the matter stand over for a fortnight to see what efforts accused would make in the meantime to send money to his wife through the Court. He would be admitted to bail until that date in his own recognizances in the sum of £lO. Fifteen shillings out of the sum of £1 2s found on him when arrested would be sent to his wise. Drunk and Disorderly. —An inebriate who appeared for the first time was fined ss. Flora Martin, an old offender, against whom there was a long list of convictions, was fined 20s, and cautioned not to appear in Court again. Illegally on Premises. —William Mohr, Samuel Taylor, and Thomas Elliott, were charged with having been found sleeping in an outhouse attached to Mr Langdown’s lime kiln at Waltham at one o’clock that morning. Taylor and Elliott were sentenced to forty-eight hours’ imprisonment with hard labour, and Mohr, against whom there was no previous conviction, was discharged. Assault. —Neil Cuningham was charged on summons with having assaulted his wife, Maria Cuningham, on the 9th October. Dr Patrick called, stated he had been sent for by Mrs Cuningham on that date, and found her in bed in a very nervous state. She had several bruises on her body, and one on the left jaw. Mr Jones, a near neighbour of defendant, stated that he saw defendant strike his wife on that day, and knock her down ; he also struck her when she was down W itness remonstrated with him, and he (defendant) promised that he would not strike her again. His (witness’s) belief was that plaintiff was a patient, long-suffering wife, and the only provocation defendant received was being upbraided for having wasted his earnings instead of paying his way. Defendant asked that the case might be adjourned until Monday, to enable him to produce witnesses, as he had only been served with the summous that morning, His Worship granted the adjournment as naked.

Deserting his Children. George Long was charged, on summons, with having deserted his three children, at Heatbcote, on the 1 Oth instant. Defendant said he had to leave them to look after his wife, whom he had to take to the Asylum. He would arrange with his mother to look after the children during his wife’s illness. His Worship adjourned the case until Monday, to see what arrangements would be made by the defendant in the meantime, LYTTELTON. Saturday, October U. (before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness. —Thomas Hall, arrested by Constable Johnstone, charged with the above offence, was fined 10s, or forty-eight hours’ imprisonment,