MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 810, 26 January 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH.

Fridav, January 26,

[Before Dr Deamer and W. D. Carruthers, Esq, J.P’s.] Breaking Glass. Thomas Holmes, charged with breaking a pane of glass in the window of Toomer and Sons’ boot factory, St Asaph street, and also with committing an act of exposure, was lined 20s, and ordered to pay 2s 6d value of the glass broken.

Drunk and Disorderly.— Win. Foote, for this offence, was lined ss; Charles Ellis, arrestedfor drunkenness, and who was still suffering from the effects of drink, was remanded to Lyttelton for eight days.

Attempting to Commit Suicide.— Richard Brown Harris was charged with having attempted to commit suicide by taking poison on the 23rd inst. Constable Cooper, who had accompanied the accused to the Hospital on 23rd instant, produced a packet containing some salts of sorrel, which had been given to him by the doctor at the Hospital. Mr Plummer, landlord of the Carlton Hotel, stated that on the afternoon of that date accused came to the hotel and asked for brandy and sodawater, which was a very unusual drink for him to take. Gave him the liquor, and he asked for another, which witness refused to supply, as the man seemed to be very much depressed. Accused then asked for sodawater, and witness gave it to him, and turned round to attend to his business. In a moment afterwards he observed him drinking a white mixture, and rushed over to him and snatched it away. Accused drank some of it, and the rest was spilled on the ground. Mr Wright, of Messrs Gould and Co., chemists, called, stated that accused came to the shop on the 23rd instant and asked for some salts of sorrel to take out iron mould. °avc him sixpence Avorth, the packet produced, and cautioned him to be careful in using it, as it was poison. Labelled the packet “poison,” Accused returned to the shop two or three moments afterwards and said he had been told by a washerwoman that it was not poison. Witness told him it was, and again cautioned him to be very careful Avhen using it. Dr Guthrie, acting house-surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital, gave evidence of the man having been taken to that institution on the 23rd instant. He appeared to be depressed, and seemed to be suffering from the effects of poison. The Avitness described the symptoms and the means that Avero taken to relieve him. The man Avaa uoav perfectly recovered. Mrs Harris, Avho was in Court, and called by the Bench, said she felt she would be able to take care of her husband if permitted to do so, and accused, Avho expressed sorrow at having committed the act, was cautioned and dischax-ged. Larceny from a Till.—John Moloney was brought up charged Avith having stolen some silver from the till of the HalfAvay House, Courtenay. Accused had been left in the bar by himself the previous day, and having afterwards asked the landlady for some bread and cheese, he tendered a halfcrown in payment, marked N, which Avas identified as having been received at an earlier portion of the day. When the till was examined about 10s Avere found to be missing, and 7s 3d Avas found on accused, a portion of Avbich Avas identified by the Avitness and her son. Sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment, with hard labor.

LYTTELTON. Friday, January 26. [Before W. Donald, Esq., K.M.] Absent Without Leave. —James Ross, a seaman belonging to the ship Valparaiso, was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. Damage to Property. —D. Cathro was charged with having thrown a stone from the Bmnnerroad on the top of the gasholder. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared in support of lire prosecution, on behalf of the Gas Company. From the evidence of Mr Ashton, an employe of the Company, it appeared that boys wer • continually in the habit of throwing stones at the Gas Works, and that it was an exceedingly dangerous practice, as stones were likely to go through the gasholder, and serious damage, or even an explosion might ensue. For the defence it was stated that Cathro, a lad of sixteen, had not intended to throw the stone on the gasholder. The Bene : fined accused 20j, commenting severely on the offence. Using Threatening and Abusive Language. —Honora Davies was charged by Mary Barker with this offence. This wa a neighbour’s quarrel, in which some very bad language was used, personal epithethaving been bandied about, and crockery thrown. Accused was bound over to keep the peace for thice months.