MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 828, 16 February 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHUROH. Friday, February 16.

(Before G. |L. Mellish, Esq., R.M., and W. H. Pilliett, Esq, J.P.) Drunk and Disorderly. Robert Smeaton was fined 10s; John Heard, 5s ; and Daniel Keogh, 10s. Two inebriates who appeared for the first time were each fined ss. Assault and Threatenino to Burn. — Walter Holman was charged with having committed an assault on J. McCann, farmer, Riccarton, and also with having threatened to burn the premises down. Accused had been brought to the police depot at four in the morning tied in a cart. Accused had been working for the prosecutor and left the previous morning. He returned at night time, the worse for drink, and was told to leave, when he refused to do so, assaulted McCann, and threatened to burn the house down. He then became very violent, and was tied down in a cart by three men in the employ of prosecutor, and brought into town. It was shown that accused's language had been exceedingly bad, and he had incited some of the other labourers to leave McCann's employ. Fined 60s, or, in default, one week's imprisonment with hard labour. Harassing a Horse.—Christopher Dalwood was charged on summons with having hurt and harassed two horses. This case had been heard the previous day, but subsequently at defendant's request (who was absent when the case was first called on), his Worship consented to its being reheard. Sergeant Wilson called stated that on February Ist defendant was driving three horses in a 'bus, one was lame, and on looking at it he observed a sore on the shoulder; one of the other horses had two sores on the shoulder, which were bleeding. The sores were evidently rubbed with the collar. For the defence it was shown that the collars had been chambered out over these sores. The horses did not seem to suffer from these galls, and the sores were now nearly well. Defendant remarked to the Bench that it was impossible to prevent horses breaking out at times. No one could be more careful with horses than he was, and the charge on the summons "hurting and harassing a horse" Avas liable to do him harm. His Worship said that as it was shown that the horses shoulders were sore on this particular day, the fine imposed would be confirmed, and he was also glad that the police looked into these matters so closely.

Stealing a Horse, Saddle, and Bridle. —Nathan Powell, a Maori halfcaste, was charged with the above offence. Detective Smith, who had arrested accused at the Maori pah, Eaupaka, stated that when he taxed accused with having stolen a horse in Christchurch he first denied the offence. Afterwards he admitted it, and accompanied witness about eight miles in the hills to where a mob of horses were running. Witness caught and took possession of a black gelding, branded D on the near shoulder. Afterwards accused accompanied him to some tussocks about a mile from the pah, and pointed out a saddle and bridle. Both of these and the horse corresponded with those stolen from John Diepheim, of Papanui, on the 10th of February. Accused, when taken into custody, said he would not have taken the horse, but he had lost his own. The horse, saddle, and bridle were now outside the Court. Prosecutor called, stated than on Saturday afternoon last he came into Chriatchurch ; between two and three o'clock he tied his horse up with a halter in Mr Ick's saleyard. There was a saddle and bridle on the horse at the time. When he returned in about ten minutes the horse was gone. The horse, saddle, and bridle outside the Court were his property ; valued the lot at about £l6. James Gatherer, horsedealer, deposed to having sold the horse in question to last witness. Saw accused riding the horse on Saturday lest in Cashel street, and told prosecutor of the circumstance. In reply to the Bench, accused said he brought a bay gelding into the saleyards on Saturday last about ten o'clock. He got a ticket from the clerk, and put it on the horse. He then went about the town, and having some drink with fiiends got pretty well on. He afterwards returned, went to sleep on some boxes in the saleyards, and didn't know when he awoke whether the sale was over or not. Ho then went to the clerk, and aßked if the horse was sold, and he said not, that it was in the yard. He went into the yard, and could not find the horse, and a man told him it had been taken away. He (accused) then took the black gelding to look for his own horse, and as he couldn't find it, he took the one he was riding over the hill to the pah. He didn't mean to stick to the horse, but the grog had served him that trick. Accused was fully committed to take his trial at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court. Stealing a Cash Box.—Daniel Hamer was charged on remand with having stolen a cash box containing about £2B from the Clarendon Hotel. When accosted on the 16th instant in Colombo street by Detective Neill, accused said he had just got £250 from home, that he had purchased some clothes, and thought of banking his money and going home. He had new clothes on (produced) this day, and when seen by the detective the day previous had old ones on. When searched a purse was found on him containing £4 in gold. In other pockets there were six shillings, four sixpences, one fourpenny bit, two threepenny pieces. The detective afterwards went to the West Coast Boarding House and took possession of the vest produced, which was hanging in the room accused slept in. In one pocket found a bank slip, produced. Accused had been seen wearing this vest some days before. Jacob S. Wagner, landlord of the Clarendon, called, stated that he saw accused in the bar of the hotel on the 14th inst. A very few minutes afterwards missed the cash box, which was in the office at the back of the box placed on the floor. The box was 10.-ked and contained a £5 note, three £1 notes, four sovereigns, and eight or ten half sovereigns, and as near as witness c uld tell about £7 of silver in half crowns, and about <£i in sixpences and threepences, jet's worth of sixpences was rolled up in a strip of paper, which witness got from the Union Bauk. In the box was also a cheque for £1 lis 6d drawn in favor of witness by John Evans, on the Bauk of New Zealand, Timaru. There were also a of papers in the box and a bill book. Witness had marked some of the half sovereigns the day previous with a file. [Witness here identified five half sovereigns which he had marked with a file, and also identified two half sovereigns marked in the presence of dcteotive Walker. J The half

sovereigns had been returned to the cash box, which was examined between one and two o'clock the previous morning in the presence of a witness. Witness also saw the half sovereigns again in the box ten minutes before he missed it. Was sure he had not paid them away. No one was in the room belonging to the house from the time the witness had last seen the box until it was missed. When witness went to the box to change a note he found the window of the room up and the box gone' It had been locked by witness, who had the key in his pocket. The one pound's worth of sixpences was rolled up in the Union Bank deposit slip shown to witness. The actual money in the box was from £27 to £3O, but the whole value, including the papers, would be about £ICO Detective Walker, called, identified two half sovereigns produced, which he had received from Mr Hunter at the West Coast Dining Rooms. They had been given to him with six others by accused. Witness had seen the coins marked by Mr Wagner on the night of the 13 th instant, and had taken a note of the years on the coins and the marks made. Inspector Feast gave evidence of being at the Clarendon Hotel that morning, and seeing seven of the marked half sovereigns produced, which were returned to the cash box by Mr Wagner in his presence. A, Walker, clothier, Colombo street, gave evidence of accused having purchased the clothes and articles produced at his shop on the 15th instant, for which he paid £2 4s 6d. The two pounds were in gold, which witness afterwards gave up to the police. The sovereigns produced were those accused had paid him. Mr Wagner recalled, identified one of these sovereigns as one ha had marked and placed in the cash box. James Hunter, proprietor of the West Coast Boarding House, deposed to accused coming to stay at his place on last Saturday. On the 14th instant he owed witnees his board up to that date, and about two o'clock same day gave witness half a sovereign, and the next morning two half sovereigns for a weeks' board in advance. Witness handed the two half sovereigns over to Detective Walker, who pointed out to witness the marks on the coin. Witness could not identify the vest produced. Accused had paid him half a crown on the Sunday previous. George McCutcheon, foreman for Mr Hale, deposed to accused purchasing a pair of boots from him on the morning of the 16th inst, for which he paid him a £1 note and a 2s piece. The evidence having been read over to accused, he reserved his defence, and was fully committed for trial. Labceny.—Wm Stacey, an old man, was charged with the larceny of an overcoat and six handkerchiefs from Feather's Hotel, at Addington, belonging to Wm G. Powell. Detective Neill, who arrested accused, had previously got possession of the coat produced from A. Jenress, a fishhawker, and the handkerchief from a man named Dutton at the AL Hotel. The prosecutor stated that ou Monday last he was at Feather's Hotel at Addington, somewhat the worse for liquor. Accused went to sleep in the bar, having the coat and handkerchief produced with him. The coat was on his arm, and the handkerchief in the pocket. Valued the property at a little under £5. Evidence was given that accused had sold the coat for 12s and kandkerchief for 5s on Tuesday evening. In reply to the Bench I accused said the property had been given to him by a gentleman. Sentenced to one months' imprisonment with hard labor.