MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 889, 1 May 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, May 1. [Before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M.] Drunk and Disorderly.—Charles Boyle, charged with drunkenness, was fined ss, and Is cabhire. George Ashbolt, for being drunk and using obscene language at the Christchurch Railway Station, was fined 40s ; Walter Armstrong was fined 10s. Two inebriates, who appeared for the first time, were each fined ss. John Latimer, who was still suffering from the effects of drink, was remanded for forty-eight hours. J. D. Moore and James Clark were charged witli being drunk and assaulting the police, near Barrett's Hotel, and James Fnllan and W. Teague with inciting the above prisoners to escape. It was shown that the arresting constables had been very fevei'ely handled before assistance arrived. They had been struck by Moore and Clark, and the former had also damaged one of the constable's uniform. Moore was fined £3 for the assault, £1 10s 6d damage to clothes, and 2s cabhire ; Clarke, £3 ; in default,each fourteen days' imprisonment, with hard labour. Pullan and Teague, whom it was shown had not struck the constables, were each fined 40s, or one week's imprisonment, with hard labour.

Illegally on Premises. —Richard Hicks, arrested for being found illegally on the Christchurch Railway Station, was sentenced to forty-eight hours' imprisonment. Vagrancy.—Michael Bourke, charged with having no lawful visible means of support, begged to have a chance, as he wished to leave town and look for work, and was dismissed and cautioned.

Larceny.—William Lee, a little boy of respectable appearance, was charged with stealing two rabbits, belonging to TJiomas Yates, Lichfield street. The rabbits had been found, penned in a box, on the premises of the boy's father, in High street. The prosecutor stated that he missed the rabbits out of a hutch, which had been broken open on Saturday night last. He subsequently hoard that the boy Lee had them, and, on going to Mr Lee's house, identified the rabbits as those stolen from him. Mr Lee, avlio was in Court, stated to the Pencil that he had only seen the rabbits for the first time in Court. He had permitted his son to keep rabbits at one time, but had refused io allow him to do so for some time past. His son had told him that morning he caught the rabbits on a piece of ground known as the Chinaman's. He had thrashed his sou severely on many occasions when he found him keeping company with boys likely io lead him astray. In reply to his Worship, the boy repeated 'what be Had told his father as to where he had caught

them. Inspectors Buckley and Feast bore testimony to Mr Lee's respectability and also as to the chastisement he had administered to his son on two or three occasions. His Worship said he did not wish to send so young a boy to prison, but the evidence showed without a doubt that he had taken the rabbits. He woidd remand the case until Friday, and if he were satisfied the lad had received a good thrashing in the interim, he would dismiss the charge with a caution. Mr Lee said he would carry out his Worship's directions.