MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 868, 6 April 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH,

Friday, April 6. (Before G. L. Mcllish, Esq, R.M.)

Drunk and Disorderly. —Edward Savage, arrested for drunkenness, and who had been admitted to bail, appeared in Court in a state of intoxication, and was ordered to be locked up for twenty-four hours for contempt of Court. Four inebriates, who appeared for the first time, were each fined ss. Mary Cunningham, charged with being drunk and using obscene language, was given until Monday to clear out of town.

Drunk and Committing a Breach of THE PEACE. —Bobe}*t. Cameron and Thomas Murphy were charged with being drunk and fighting in the street. Murphy, who was proved to have been the aggressor, was fined 40s : Cameron was discharged. Drunk and Assaulting the Police. — John Picket was charged with being drunk and knocking two of Constable Hammil’s teeth out. The constable stated that accused was drunk, and an hen he arrested him became very violent. lie got him opposite the depot, and while stooping down accused “hit him a kick” in the mouth, knocking two of his teeth out. Produced one tooth, but could not find the other. In reply to the Bench accused said he had been taking a little drink, and was trying to get into the Empire Hotel where he was slaving, when the constable came up and arrested him. He (accused) had been in the Timuru Hospital suffering from bronchitis, and the constable knocked him very much about his chest, yiiich was ©till very weak.

He did not mean to kick the constable in the mouth. Sergeant Pratt asked that the Bench would impose a heavy fine, as these cases of assaults on constables were becoming very frequent. Fined £5. Vagrancy. — E. Bowers Scott was charged on warrant, under the above Act, with endeavouring to obtain value from William Collins by means of a valueless cheque. On the application of Inspector Feast, accused was remanded until the 14th instant, to procure the attendance of a necessary witness from Wellington. Stealing from a Dwelling. —William Brown was charged with stealing a letter containing a cheque of the value of £3 from the dwelling-house of George Ray, George street. Prosecutor, called, stated that a few days ago he received a letter, from the Bcalcy, containing a cheque which he was to hand to a man in the Hospital. Placed the letter in a small box in the front room of his house, accused being in the room at the time. On Thursday witness missed the letter, and went to the Borough Hotel to look for accused. Found him in the back yard, and taxed him with having taken the letter, and told him he woidd give it up if nothing more would be said about it. Subsequently to this witness found the letter (produced) hidden in a closet immmcdiatcly after accused had come out. Accused had gone there after being taxed with the theft. The cheque was missing out of the letter. It was drawn on the Bank of New Zealand. Stopped payment of the cheque at the bank. Other evidence was given of accused having gone into the compartment immediately one of the men went for a constable, and also of his desire to get away from the public house. Sergeant Pratt told the Bench that accused had purchased a coat the previous day at Stewart’s pawnshop, but had paid cash for it. It was known before that he had no money before this time. His Worship told accused that his conduct throughout had been that of a guilty man. There was no doubt but that he liad examined the box at prosecutor’s house with a view of seeing what lie could steal. Ho woidd be sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. Housebreaking. Samuel Dann, alias Robert Knight, was charged on remand with breaking into a house at Papanui. Inspector Feast told his Worship he had no more evidence to produce in this case; a number of houses had been broken open, both at Rangiora and Oxford, and a charge of vagrancy at least could be proved against him at the former place. He would ask for a remand to there. His Worship said if the police had any evidence to prove such a case they could easily re-arrest the accused. The present charge woidd be dismissed. Embezzlement. Thomas Holt was charged, on three informations, with having embezzled moneys belonging to his employer, J. Rosewarne. When arrested, by Detective Walker, accused said the amount ho was short would only be about £ll, and that he was about to sell his furniture to square up with Mr Rosewarne. The prosecutor stated that it was the duty of accused to receive money from customers, and pay it in the same night, to witness or Ids wife. Evidence was given to show that, on January 10th, £1 Os 7kl, and, on March 9th, £1 6s 8 id, had been paid by Mrs Cottercll, Clare road, and, in January, 10s 6d from Mr Plummer, Carlton Hotel. The bills bore accused’s receipts, and the amounts had not been paid to the prosecutor. Accused called several witnesses, who gave him an excellent character for honesty. Mr Feast said he had known Holt for years, and he had always borne an excellent character. He was afraid that drink had alone been the cause of his present position. The prosecutor also begged that his Worship would deal as leniently with accused as possible. He (Mr Rosewarne) was sure that accused would not have committed the offence but for drink. His Worship said the worst feature was that accused had been receiving these moneys for over three months. Ho would be sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor on the first information, and two month’s on the second, or three months in all. He would allow the third information to be withdrawn.

LYTTELTON

Friday, April 6. (Before W. Donald, Esq, 8.M.)

Desertion. —Charles Maguire, a seaman belonging to the barque Warwickshire, was charged with this offence. Accused was sentenced to one months’ imprisonment with hard labor.

Vagrancy.— Owen Jones was charged with hanging about the railway station in a drunken state. It appeared from evidence given that accused committed a nuisance within view of the passers by, close by the railway station. The police said accused was a thorough loafer who frequented public houses and sponged on sailors. The Bench remarked accused was a nuisance in the town and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Assault. —Captain Travers, master of the brigantine Elizabeth Curie, was charged with assaulting James Johnson, mate on board the same vessel on March 20th. Mr H. N. Haider appeared for the complainant, who stated that, !on the day in question, he had been employed catching fish off Guard’s Bank. Defendant told complainant to clean the fish, on which complainant said he did not care to catch fish if he had to clean them in Ins watch below. Defendant then assaulted him, hitting him violently on the head and face, and calling him a son of a b—h ; using other equally elegant language. Defendant then ordered him to take his clothes out of the cabin; so he took them into the forecastle. The captain came into the forecastle next morning, pulled complainant out of his bunk, and hit him nn-ain. He was so much bruised about the face that he had to lay up for two days from pains in the head. 'Wm. Jones, a seaman belonging to the vessel: Did not see captain strike the mate, or hear him use bad language towards him. Defendant said, in defence: Complainant had a sheath knife in his hand at the time of the assault. He had ordered him to drop the knife, and a struggle took place, during which complainant struck him. George Smith, the cook, said complainant went aft and apoligised to the captain for what had taken place. Complainant said to witness he intended to give the defendant a hammering if they had not been separated. The mate was cleaning fish at the t ime of the assault, and the captain rushed at him; they struggled and fell. The Bench indicted a fine of 20s; Court costs, 10s; solicitor’s fee, 21s.

Civil Case.— Johnson v Captain Travers; claim, £2l 5s : for two months nineteen days wages, at £7 10s per month. Mr H. X. Xalder for plaintiff. Judgment for plaintiff for £l2 10s, and costs 25s ; solicitor’s fee, 21s.