MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 775, 14 December 1876, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, December 14, (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, R.M., and W. Deamer, Esq, J.P.) Drunk and Disoderly. Wm Millen, charged with drunkenness, was fined ss. Accused was remanded until the following day on a charge of wilful exposure, which had been preferred against him on entering the Court. Bridget Ferrick, arrested for drunkenness and using obscene language in Manchester street, was fined 20s. An inebriate, who appeared for the first time, was fined ss. Violent Assault.— James McGill was charged on remand with assaulting Ellen Jordan, causing grevious bodily harm. Mr Izard appeared for the accused. Inspector Buckley handed in a medical certificate, saying that although the woman was now out of danger, she was not in a fit state to leave the ward at the hospital. He (Inspector Buckley) would ask for a further remand. His Worship granted the remand for a week, and on the application of Mr Izard, said he would grant bail, in two sureties of £SO each, accused in the sum of £IOO. * Larceny. —George Trimble was charged with this offence. Accused had been arrested by Detective Kirby, at his lodgings in Armagh street. When the detective saw him he was in bed, and on the pockets of his coat being searched, in them were found three ladies’ rings, a jet chain and locket, and a pocket-handkerchief. In a pocket of accused’s trousers there were two coppers. Mary Ann Amy, laundress, residing at Waltham, stated that she slept at Mr Jones’s house, Armagh street, on last Tuesday night. She went out to work on the following morning, and on returning that night missed a purse which she had left in her dress hanging up in a front room. It contained three rings, a jet chain and locket, pocket-handkerchief, half-sovereign, one shilling, and a copper. The rings, chain, locket, and handkerchief produced were her property, and had been taken out of her purse. The landlord of the boarding-house and his wife gave evidence of accused being seen in this room, lying upon a sofa. The coat in which the articles had been found belonged to accused. In reply to the Bench accused said he had been on the spree for some days past. Had he stolen the property it was not very likely that he would have returned to and remained in the house. He did not deny that the articles had been found in his pocket, but he would solemnly say he did not place them there. In reply to his Worship, the police stated that accused had hitherto borne a good character for honesty. Accused asked that the case might be sent before a jury, but his Worship said there was not the slightest chance of his doing so. As accused had received a good character, he would be leniently dealt with. Sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, with hard labor. Keeping a House of 111 fame.— Patrick Gallagher was charged with keeping a house of ill-fame in Colombo street south, Mr Izard appeared for defendant. Evidence was given that cn the night of 9th instant there was a row at defendant’s place, and a large crowd had collected there. When visited by Sergeant Wilson and Constable Hilliard, a number of prostitutes and other disreputable characters were in the house, and the row had been caused through defendant’s wife being drunk. Further evidence confirmed the character of defendant’s house. Defendant called a witness as to character, who stated that the house kept by him (defendant) was nothing more or less than a brothel, and one of the girls living at the place had told him (witness) that the wages of her infamy were all handed to defendant, who kept her in clothes. Mr Izard said his client was unable to work through an infirmity in his feet. His Worship said he would give accused who had been previously sentenced for a similar offence, an opportunity of learning how to break stones, and sentenced him to six months' imprisonment with hard labor. Assault, —Charles Fraser was summoned for assaulting a little boy named Frederick Denham on the 9th instant. Mr Joynt appeared for the complainant. The parties are neighbors, and the father of complainant had impounded some of defendant’s cattle a little while ago. Hie doing so caused a bad feeling between the adult portion of the families, and defendant having been told some days afterwards that complainant had been throwing stones at bis cows, he went to him and shook him violently, knocking his head against the fence. The assault was seen by some other neighbors, who deposed to the fact, Subsequently he used very violent and improper language to the mother of the boy when spoken to by her about his striking the lad. A witness called by defendant stated that when he (defendant) had told of the boy he thought he heard the latter exclaim that he would never do it again. Did not know what the boy referred to. His Worship told defendant that he appeared to have acted somewhat injudiciously in the matter. The charge of assault did not appear to be a serious one, and be (defendant) would have to pay the costs of that case. The language used to Mrs U’raser was a more serious offence, for which a fine of 20s would be imposed, Thomas Barlow was summoned for assaulting James Francis on the previous Saturday, The parties are fish hawkers, and the assault-, which was not a very serious one, had arisen about 10?, which complaisant owed defendant for fish. It was also shown that complainant had struck defendant. Fined Is, and 3a cost of witness. Joseph Rumble was < barged with assaulting Frederick Tobin, on 9th December. The parties arc neighbours, find some words occurring about a fowl which had been killed, belonging to complainant. Defendant then took up a bottle, and struck first complainant between the eyes with a bottle, cutting him severely. The assault was shown to be an aggravated one, and his Worship imposed a fine of 20s, and __ cautioned against him a repetition of his con- * duct. Damaging Private Property.—Robert JStokes, Herbert Phillis, and Richard Nun -

week were summoned for damaging a gate, the property of Daniel Maydwell, Harewood road Mr Wynn Williams appeared for defendants, and said he was prepared to prove by the evidence of two of the defendants that Mr Nun week was not present at the time. On behalf of the other defendants, he was prepared to apologise for the damage done, and expressed regret for what had occurred. Mr Maydwell told the Bench that he was willing to accept the apology offered. The case was dismissed, on the understanding that the damage done would be made good. Horse at Large.—For permitting a horse to wander John Bdgmaa was fined ss. Abusive Language —Annie Nugent was summoned for using abusive language to Emma Martin on the sth inst. Mr Izard appeared for the defendanl, and admitted that bad language had been used by his client, but said very great provocation had been received. Fined 10s. Leonard Stacc was charged w : th using abusive and insulting language to J. T Daby at Halswell on 2nd November and 2nd December. Mr Joynt appeared for the complainant. It was proved that the language complained of had been used by defendant on both occasions, and his Worship fined him 10s in one case, and ordered that defendant be bound over in his own recognizances in the sum of £2O to keep the peace for twelve months, and also pay costs 27s fid. Breach op Naval Training School Act. —Charles James, summoned for ncgecting to pay 3s per week for fourteen weeks towards the support of his son at the Naval Training School, was ordered to pay arrears within seven days, or in default fourteen days’ imprisonment, Emma Goodall, summoned for neglecting to pay 2s per week for fourteen weeks under same Act, was ordered to pay arrears within seven days, in default fourteen days' imprisonment.

Disobbying an Order —A case against Joseph Lloyd, for disobeying an order of the Court to contribute towards the support of his wife, was adjourned until the 21st inst, LYTTELTON, Thursday. December 14. (Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.) Larceny op Ship’s Cargo.— Three able seamen belonging to the ship Langstone, named respectively John Byrne, Thomas Nash, and John Roach were charged with above offence. Sergeant-Major O’Grady stated that- he had proceeded on board the ship Langstoue in consequence of having received certain information, and that after investigation he had arrested prisoners on charge of stealing some brandy. Prisoners stated they had been at King’s boarding house on Monday night, and had carried some brandy up there which they had purchased in Lyttelton. Detective Smith said that, in company with Sergeant-Major O’Qrady, he searched King’s boarding house in London street; on Monday, He observed King try to get at a box in the house, and upon searching it found the bottle produced. He subsequently compared the bottle with others in a case that had been partly pillaged on board the Langstone, and found that it corresponded exactly. John Patterson, chief officer of the Langstone, said that the ship was discharging brandy incases from the after-hold on Monday last. About 4.30 p.m. he examined the cases, and found all were untouched, and at the usual hour the hatches were secured by padlock by the Custom House officer. The following morning it was discovered that the padlock securing the fere hold had been broken, probably by a marlinspike, which was found close by, and during the day a case was hauled up from the hold with thirty-three half-pint flasks missing. Prisoners were working in the hold. John Thomas Gifford, the tide waiter aboard, gave similar evidence. Frederick King said he was a boardinghouse-keeper in London street, and that about 6 p.m. on Monday prisoners came to his house and asked him to lend them a tumbler. The police, at this stage, asked for a remand, which was granted till Monday next.