MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 731, 23 October 1876, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

C H,R ISTCHURCH. Monday, October 23. (Before G. L. Hellish, Esq, R.M.J Drunk and Disorderly.—Two inebriates who appeared for the first time, were fined 5s each; another, first offender, was fined 10s. Thomas Howe, charged with being drunk, annoying the passengers in a train between Christchurch and Addington, and also with striking a man named Higgins on the railway platform at Addington, was fined 40s and 20s expense of witness. John Ellis, for drunkenness, was fined ss. Illegally on Premises.— Charles Evans and Frederick Goulding were charged with being found sleeping the previous night in Mr Langdown’s lime kilns, at Waltham. Evans, who had not been convicted before, was discharged. Goulding was sentenced to forty-eight hours’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Neglected Children: Three young children, ranging in ages from four years to twelve months, named Long, were brought up as neglected children. It was stated that the children had been taken out of a house of ill fame. Their mother was at present an inmate of the asylum, and the father had neglected the children. The two eldest were ordered to be sent to the Industrial School for seven years each. His Worship said he would allow the case of the youngest child to stand adjourned until the 30th instant, to enable the father to make some arrangement for its maintenance with Mr Callender, of the Charitable Aid department. Vagrancy .—Henry Danby was charged on warrant, under the Vagrant Act, with having no lawful visible means of support. Detective Kirby, who had arrested accused, stated that he had known him since December, 1875 ; since that time he had been the constant associate of convicted thieves. He sometimes went out of town for a few days to work, and was in the habit of following drunken men. He had been convicted on several occasions, and lived generally in houses of ill-fame in Lyttelton and Colombo road. In reply to the Bench, accused said that the morning he was arrested he had been working for Mr Feathers, Lincoln read, and came into town that afternoon to get a few things before going to shear at Cashmere. Detective Neill and Sergeant Hughes gave evidence of accused following drunken men and living in houses of illfame. The man had had no lawful visible means of support. Accused made a statement to the Bench of the work at which he had been employed during the last seven months, since he was discharged by his Worship. At every occasion Detective Kirby took the opportunity of insulting him, and told him he would either drive him out of Canterbury or into a gaol. If he went to Otago to look for work the detectives would dog him there, and he wished his Worship would give him a chance to earn some money by shearing, to enable him to clear out of Canterbury. His Worship said he would remand, the case until Thursday to give accused an opportunity of clearing out of town, and he would advise him to clear away to work as quickly as possible. Henry Clifford was charged with a similar offence. Detective Bettington stated that he had known accused for the last six months, since the time he had come up from Dunedin. He was the proprietor of several brothels, and was in the habit of changing the residences. During this time he had been employed for two months at the Music Hall. He was in the habit of taking lodgings at hotels merely as a blind, as he seldom or ever slept at them and visited these brothels night after night; some of the inmates of these places had told witness that accused was the proprietor. About two months ago a man was robbed of £BO at one of these places, and during the time he was employed at the Music Hall he was merely acting as procurer for the women. Detictive Neill gave similar evidence. Mr T. Fleece gave evidence of accused having rented a house from him, for which he is agent; witness afterwards learnt that the place was being used as an improper house. Mr Jones gave evidence of a similar nature. Accused said that as this was the first time he had been before the Bench he hoped his Worship would give him an opportunity of going away from Canterbury. His Worship said he would do so after an interval of three months. Sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor. James Kelly was similarly charged under the Vagrant Act. Evidence was given that accused constantly frequented houses of illfame. Accused said he was a shearer, and pleaded hard to be allowed to leave town and go to work. His Worship remanded the case until the 23rd inst, to give him an opportunity of doing so. Stealing* prom a Shop.— Wm. Mohr was charged with stealing two pipes from Samuel Stewart’s pawnshop. When arrested two gold rings and a purse were found on him. He had sold one of the pipes to C. Burmeester, and pawned the other at Mr Cohen’s shop. The pipes were identified by a young man in Stewart’s employ. Mr Cohen recognised the purse and rings as belonging to him; sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with bard labor,

Embezzlement. —H. S. Saunders was charged with embezzling moneys belonging to his late employer, F. Innes. Inspector Feast asked for a remand until Tuesday, as he had not had time to procure evidence. Remand granted as asked. LYTTELTON. Monday, October 23. {Before W. Donald, Esq, R.M.) Committing a Breach of the Peace in View of a Constable.— Frank Morfit and Joseph Deagon, arrested by Constable Moutray for fighting in London street, were accused of this offence. Accused, who were both seamen belonging to the brig Pennine, were dismissed with a caution, having been locked up since Saturday. Civil Case —Anderson v Hauck ; Mr H. Ntdder for plaintiff. This was a claim for £2B, for storage of furniture, belonging to defendant, in a skittle alley attached to the Albion Hotel. . Judgment was deferred till Thursday next.