MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 806, 22 January 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, January 22, (Before G. L. Melliah, Esq., R.M., and his Worship the Mayor.) Drunk and Disorderly. —Four inebriates, who appeared for the first time, and had been admitted to bail, were each fined 10s and cabhire. H. J. Burrows, arrested for being drunk and assaulting the arresting constable, was fined 40s. Another first offender was fined 20s. E. J, Wakefield was fined 40s. Horses and Cattle at Large. —For permitting horses and cattle to wander at large the following persons were each fined 3s Thomas Pearl, George Beattie, S. Woods, P. Kenealey, S. Lindsay, J. Brown, and W. Goodwin. Transferring a Railway Ticket.— Isaac Burt, sen., was summoned with having transferred a railway ticket, for the Heathcote and Lyttelton line of railway, to his son, Isaac Burt, jun. Mr Thomas appeared for the defendant. The station-master at the Heathcote Valley stated that on the 11th December he issued a return ticket, from Heathcote to Lyttelton, to defendant, who went down and returned at six o’clock the same day. On that date defendant’s son took a half-single ticket, went down to Lyttelton with it, and when he returned gave up a full return ticket. This ticket could not have been collected from Burt, sen., when he returned. Witness was quite certain that defendant came back on that day. In cross-examination, witness said that the difference in amount would be twopence if the boy had taken a return instead of a single ticket. Witness had issued all the tickets that day. The number of the ticket issued to Burt, sen., was 8516, and to the boy 8520. Would not like to swear that it was to Burt, jun., that the number mentioned had been issued. Defendant, called by Mr Thomas, stated that he took two return tickets that day from the Valley to Port. He returned with one to the Valley, and when he went down the second time he gave the boy his ticket to get back, as it was raining heavily, and walked back over the hill himself. He did not think he was doing any harm in giving the boy his ticket, and had committed the offence in ignorance, Case dismissed. Breach op Public House Ordinance.— Roger Kett was summoned for keeping open his licensed house, the Albion Hotel, and selling drink during prohibited hours. Mr Thomas appeared for defendant. Sergeant Hughes called, s tated that about half-past ten on Sunday, January 7th, he went into defendant’s place, and saw two persona there having a drink whom he knew were not lodgers. He had been told that the persons had been called in, and were invited to take a drink, as there had been a birth recently in the house. The evidence of the two persons who were In the house at the time, went to show that they had been invited in to take a drink as there had been a birth in the family that day. His Worship said that under the circumstances, and as defendant was a stranger here he would dismiss the case. A case against same defendant for allowing hia lamp to go out on above date, was proved and a fine of 10s imposed. J, M. Fitzgerald holder of a wine and beer license at Newtown was summoned for supplying drink without other refreshment. Mounted-con-stable Cartmill stated that he went to defendant’s place on the 7th January, at 8.45 p.m. and saw a glass containing some beer, in front of one of the men who was in one of the rooms. There was no food on any of the tables, and there were several glasses and pewters on the tables. Witness was aware that two of the men at least were not lodgers, P. Thorpe called, stated that he had dined by invitation that day at defendant’s “house ' with some of hia shipmates. He had a glass of beer to dinner at one o’clock, and nothing afterwards ; was quite certain of that. Inspector Buckley pointed out to the Bench that it was strange that a number of glasses and pewters should be allowed to remain on the table from one o’clock until after eight, without being refilled. His Worship thought so too, and would advise defendant not to keep his house in such a disorderly state in future, or it might result in his license being cancelled. Charge dismissed. A similar charge against J. W. Smith, of the east belt, was withdrawn. W. P. Warner was summoned for keeping open and selling drink in his licensed house, the Commercial Hotel, on January 14th, during prohibited hours. Defendant admitted that a drink had been supplied in hia house on that date, but he denied that the premises were open. Fined £5. Miscellaneous. —A case against Charles Mansfield and Thomas Batchelor, for driving a cow through the streets during prohibited hours, was dismissed. Robert Lunday and Alexander Beattie, summoned for being absent from their horse and vehicle, were each fined 10s. E. W, Millett and A. G. Saunders, charged with plying for hire on Christmas Day with a stage carriage off the licensed route, were fined 10s. J. E. Bashford, summoned for allowing his lamp to go out, was fined 10s. James Serimshaw, Charles Hallam, Henry Winnie, and Henry Trotman were charged with having bathed at Sumner in the middle of the day on Monday, 7th January. The evidence showed that accused had bathed on that date in a state of nudity and in view of the public. His Worship fined Trotman 10s, the eldest of the defendants, and cautioned the others not to bathe there again without having some dress on. A charge against J. McCallum, for using threatening language to George Addington, was adjourned until the 29th inst. Henry Wigzell, Frederick Wigzell, W. H. Cummins, and Edward Ashby, four boys, were charged with having killed two ducks, and maimed others, the property of Alexander Cowan. The complainant stated that on the 10th January he allowed six ducks out into a paddock, and afterwards found two of them dead, two lame, and the other two missing. He afterwards learnt that the lads in Court had committed the offence. One of the birds had its beak cut off, and had been most cruelly used. The value of the ducks was 4s 6d per pair. Sergeant Wilson stated that the boy Cummins had admitted to him tnat he had cut one of the ducks. There was no evidence that either of the Wigzell's had injured any of the birds, and the charge against them was dismissed. Cummins and Ashby were ordered to pay 4s 6d and 11s 6d costs, and his Worship said it would serve each of them right if they also got a good thrashing for their conduct. A case of insulting language, Clara Lee against Mary Tetley, was dismissed. A similar case, btough| by Martha BfAgt

against Oasini Pennenhonse, was also dismissed. Thomas Stothers, summoned for neglecting to maintain his illegitimate child, was ordered to pay 7s 6d per week. Assault.—M atthew Buckley was charged with assaulting Louisa Bryan. Complainant stated that defendant came to her house on the night of the 9th instant, and tried to force his way in. When she went to see who it was, she saw defendant and a number of other men. He used moat disgusting language to her, and pushed her in the breast. She picked up a small axe and struck him on the right hand, cutting his fingers. Did not know anything of defendant. At the request of defendant his Worship said he would adjourn the cast until the following day, to allow of him producing evidence that he was not present as stated by prosecutrix. LYTTELTON. (Before J. T. Rouse, Esq, J.P,) Monday, January 22. Drunk and Indecency. —John McGregor, charged by Constable Mclntosh, was fined 20s or 96 hours. VAGRANCY. —Thomas Carrol was charged by Constable McKay with being illegally on the railway premises. Robert Connal, night watchman, stated that the accused had been sleeping about the railway premises for several nights. The Bench, after administering a severe caution, dismissed the accused.