MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 843, 7 March 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, March 7. (Before G. L, Mellish, Esq., R.M.) Drunk and Disorderly. Patrick Laffey, for drunkenness, was fined 10s and Is cab fare. Two inebriates, who appeared for the first time, were each fined ss. Archibald Galbraith, for being drunk and illegally on the back premises of the Warwick Hotel, was fined 10s. John Williams, charged with drunkenness and being found illegally on the premises of Barrett’s Hotel, was fined 10s. '

Larceny of Rabbits. —The adjourned case against the two boys, Arthur Newman and Charles Newman, for stealing rabbits, was called on. The mother of the lads produced a receipt from the prosecutor for payment of the value of the rabbits, and his Worship discharged them. Forgery and Uttering. George Hawkins was charged, on warrant, with having forged a checque for £ll and uttered the same on J. Major, storekeeper, Springston. On the application of Inspector Buckley, accused was remauded until Saturday for the production of evidence. Breaking into a Dwelling. —James Davis was charged on remand with having broken into a house at Eolleston in July last, and stealing therefrom. Detective Kirby stated that on the sth July last he went to the house of S. Carter, at Eolleston, and found that a bedroom door had been forced open. Took possession of the pair of trousers, pipe, and portions of a concertina produced, which were given to witness by Carter, When prisoner was arrested, found the belt produced on him. Samuel Carter, prosecutor, called, stated that he is an engine driver, employed upon the Canterbury railways, and reside at Eolleston, in a house on the railway premises. The house was the property of the Government. On July Ist, ■witness left his house at half-past eight. Lett the doors locked, and took the key in his pocket. Eeturned at fifty minutes past six in the evening. • Found the bedroom door had been burst open, and the staple on the inside broken. Missed a concertina, five-chain 1 er " revolver, powder flask, and soine bullets, two pairs of trousers, two coats, a pair of boots,' and a cap belonging to the guard who was running the same train as witness; also, a pieerschaum pipe and a leather belt, All the articles were in the room that morning when witness locked the door. Subsequently witness got possession of the -pipe from a man named William Thomas, who was in Mr Clinton’s employ, louud the remains of a concertina on the road. The pieces produced, and also the pipe belonged to witness; the belt produced was also witness’s property. The articles are a portion of those which were in the room when witness locked the door on the Ist of July. Accused had no right whatever to have the property in his posses.aiou. Witness found the trousers produced h the house on returning to it. Reported the robbery to the police at the

time. Valued the articles taken away at A 6. In reply to accused, the witness said that none of the officials from Malvern or Ashburton lived in the house, only witness and the fireman. He (accused) had left his clothes in the place for a monMi, but had taken them all away before this. 'Amid not say that it was accused who had entered the house, as witness was away at the time. T. H. Banger, landlorl of the Rolleston Hotel, called, remembered accused being at his house on or about the Ist July. On that day saw him come out of Carter’s house about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. He had a bundle under his arm. Saw him walk across the paddock and deposit it near therailway line. Accused then came back and met a dray, and spoke to and went away with the driver. Noticed that accused wore a pair of dirty moleskin trousers similar to those produced. In reply to accused the witness said he had supplied the driver of the dray with a bottle of‘braudy, and had refused to let him (accused) have one, as he was under the in* fluence of liquor at the time. Wm Thomas, called, stated that on Ist July he was at Bolleston station driving a dray. Gave accused a lift. There was another man in his company, and witness saw a concertina with this man when he got into the dray. The men broke the concertina, and threw the pieces into the road. The pieces produced are the same. Accused made witness a present of the pipe produced. Accused was wearing a pair of dark trousers at the time. Witness afterwards handed the pipe to prosecutor. Prosecutor, recalled, stated that the trousers he had missed were dark tweed. The evidence having been read over, accused said he was not guilty ; the right man had not been brought down, and the police were only putting the case on to him, His Worship committed him for trial at the next criminal session of the Supremo Court. LYTTELTON. Wednesday, March 7. (Before W. Donald, Esq., E.M.) Drunkenness. James Ross, arrested by Constable Mclntosh, charged with this offence, was fined 10s, or in default fortyeight hours. Robert Dickey, arrested by Constable |Bullen, also charged wkh drunkenness, was lined 10s, or in default fortyeight hours. Lunacy from Drink. —Frederick Rawe, charged with this offence, was lined 10s for drunkenness. Civil. Cases. — Wood and Gerikv Young, £(j; judgment for amount claimed, costs 9s.