MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 819, 6 February 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, February 6. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq, K.M.J Drunk and Disorderly,—An inebriate who appeared for the first time, was fined ss. Lunacy from Drink.—Andrew Heron, who had been discharged the previous day, and afterwards went round to several public houses threatening to do some damage with a brick he was carrying, was remanded to Lyttelton for eight days for medical treatment. Affiliation.—James Taylor was charged on summons with having refused to concontribute towards the support of his illegitimate child, of which Anne Elizabeth Knapp is the mother. Mr Joynt appeared for the complainant, and Mr Loughnan for defendant. Complainant stated that defendant was the father of her child, and it was eleven months old. He (defendant) had bribed her to say that another man was the father, and had promised that if she did he would supply her with clothes and see she did not want for anything. Witness did as he wished her, but would positively swear that she had never known the person whom she accused. Defendant had told her that if she mentioned him he would leave the place, and she would get nothing. Defendant had never offered to give her anything towards the child's support. He had never deo.ied to her that he, was the father. When

she was ill defendant brought her a bottle of wine and some biscuits. He used often to come to the house when her mother was away. Evidence was given by several witnesses that the parties had often been seen together, but that complainant had told one of the winesses that defendant was not the father of the child. Complainant re-called stated that why she told this person so was that Taylor asked her to do so. Defendant called, stated that he had walked with complainant about the middle of 1875, but would swear that he had never had auy intimacy with her. He had never bribed her to say anything about the child, ;-nd did not know she was about to become a mother until her father told him. Witness had never bought the girl wine or biscuits, and used only to take his washing for her mother to do. He did go into the room after the child was born, and saw both the baby and its mother, as he was asked to go into the room. Complainant, recalled by his Worship, said defendant had told her to put the case on the other man a little before the child was born, and also that if she summoned him he would leave the place. After some remarks from counsel, his Worship allowed the case to stand adjourned until the 6th of March, for the production of complainant's mother, who is at present ill. Keeping a House of 111-fame.—Sarah Schmidt was charged, under the Vagrant Act, with keeping a house of ill-fame in Phillips' street, off Ferry road. Mr Joynfc appeared in support of the information. Evidence was given by neighbors of the annoyance oaueed by this house. One who had laid the complaint had had five squares of glass in his windows broken by stones, and had also been assaulted by some of the frequenters of this place, who were in the babit of standing in front of the houses using most disgusting language, which could be heard by the children inside. Cabs coming backwards and forwards were also & nuisance to the neighborhood. A sergeant, called, stated gthat defendant's house had been used as a brothel for the last two years. Mr Joynt intimated to the Bench this place was so much a nuisance that he was instructed to take similar action once a week until defendant cleared out from the neighborhood. He did not wish to press for imprisonment so long as the nuieance was abated. His Worship told defendant he would give her an opportunity of leaving the place, and would adjourn the case for a week. Falsb Pbetences.—John Cleary and Hamilton Cooper, stonebreakers, were charged on warrant with having obtained £1 Ids from the City Council by false pretences. Charles Hastings called, stated that he had recently been breaking stoaes from the City Council. About January he had a heap measured by the surveyor, which contained 10yds 18ft. Witness waß paid for the heap. After thejheap waß measured it, was marked with lime. Both the accused were breaking stones near there. Witness did not see accused subsequently breaking atones on this heap, nor did he report this to Mr Mr O'Malley, the foreman. Would not swear that the heap he had broken was there still. It was sot in the same position at all. Now that witness thought of it the heap was not in the same state as when he left it. Could not say what size it was now. The witness had shown signs of intoxication while giving his evidence, amusing himself wf.th nodding and winking at intervals at his Worship, who eventually ordered him to be locked up for twenty-four hours for contempt of Court. Accusad were remanded until the 7th inst. Larceny of Post Letters,—Frank Messiter was charged on warrant with having stolen post office letters. Accused had been arrested at Wellington. The warwant had been issued at Timaru and the offence committed at South Rakaia. On the application of the police accused was remanded for eight days to be brought up at Ashburton for the convenience of witnesses at Timaru. LYTTELTON. Tuesday, February 6. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.] Larceny from a Dwelling-house.— Ann Ralph was charged with this offence by Janet Lucas. Constable Moutray, sworn, said that accused was given into his custody at a quarter to 11 this morning. When arrested prisoner admitted taking a shilling, and offered to return it to the prosecutor. Janet Lucas said she resided in Salt's Gully, near the house where accused lived. Yesterday morning she missed some money from her purse, which was in a drawer in her bedroom. She determined to try and find out who had taken it, and having marked some money she placed the purse in the same place this morning, and concealed himself under the sofa, Accused came into the house, and seeing no one went direct to the drawer where the purse was, opened it, and then went out. When she had gone, the prosecutrix went to the drawer, and on examining the purse found that one shilling was missing. She then gave accused into Constable Moutray's charge. Accused said in defence that she went into Mrs Lucas's house and called her, but not being able to find her, she took a shilling out of the purse for a lark, intending to return it. The Bench said there could be no doubt the offence had been committed, and sentenced accused to fourteen days' imprisonment with hard labor. Breach of Public House Ordinance. —Thomas Bailey, licensee of the Canterbury Hotel, was charged with having supplied liquors to other than travellers on Sunday morning last. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared for the defence. Constable Bullen stated that on the day named he saw a lad leave the Canterbury Hotel with a bag. He followed the boy, and found it contained some bottles of beer and wine. For the defence, two witnesses gave evidence to the effect that the goods were ordered on Saturday night, were to be sent for, but, had been forgotten. The Bench dismissed the case.