MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 854, 20 March 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH.

Tuesday, March 20 (Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R. M.)

Drunk and Disorderly. - John Wilson, charged with this offence, was fined 10s, An inebriate who appeared for the first time was fined ss. Patrick Callahan, arrested for drunkenness, and who had also broken a pane of glass in a house in George street, was fined 5s only in the absence of the prosecutor.

Lunacy from Drink. —Benjamin Clark, arrested for above offence, and who was suffering very much from the effect of drink, was ordered to Lyttelton gaol for medical treatment until 28th March. Stealing from the Person. James Johnson, was charged on remand, with having stolen £6 10s from the person of Maurice Power. The robbery had been committed in Lichfield street on the night of the Ist March, and after a portion of the evidence had been heard, the case was remanded for the production of an important witness. Charles Bodger called by the police, stated that he is a carter residing at Waltham. About six o’clock on the night in question, witness was at the Prince of Wales Hotel and saw accused in front of the bar in company with prosecutor. Accused asked the latter whether he was going to shout. Power refused to do so and accused then told him he

had been shouting for him all clay. At this time prosecutor was nearly helplessly drunk, and his clothes were disarranged. Witness, with the barman of the hotel, arranged his trowers, and prosecutor then put his hands into his trowsers pockets and drew a lob of notes from each. The man afterwards put the greater portion of them back again with one hand, and wanted to shout, but was not served with drink. Prosecutor at this time asked accused fo go out and have a lie down. They went to the stable. When witness and the stableman followed them they saw both men lying down in one of the stalls of the stable. The stableman told

them to go out, but they would not at first. Accused got up and told witness the prosecutor had money on him, and wanted him to join in taking it. Witness replied that he’d see him d—- first. Both men then went away along Tuan street up Manchester, to Lichfield street, as far as Bates’ factory. [The witness then detailed what had occurred afterwards, which has already been stated by the other witnesses examined.] Accused seemed to look as if he was recovering from the effects of drink, but appeared to be sober and to know perfectly well what he was doing. In reply to his Worship, accused asked that the case might be sent to the Supreme Court as he was not guilty. His Worship declined to do this. There existed a loophole which he would take advantage of, as he had not a shadow of doubt but that he (accused) was guilty. He (his Worship) would deal with the case as one of £s> and accused would be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor.