MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 936, 25 June 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, June 25. (Before Q. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.) Drunk and Disordebly.—Charles Evans, was fined 20s and cautioned to keep his promise of abstaining for the next twelve months. John M'Kenzie, charged with being drunk, using obscene language, and resisting the police, was fined 40s. Margaret Ellison, an old offender was given a chance to keep her promise to join the Good Templars, and discharged. Josiah Watson was fined 10s, and four first offenders, 5s each. Embezzlement.—Hiram Walter Patterson alias Thomas Henry Fielding, was brought up on warrant charged with having, on sth November, 1873, embezzled £3B from the President, councillors, and ratepayers of the shire of Darebin, in of Victoria, where he was employed as clerk to said Shire Council. Inspector Feast called, stated that he arrested accused that morning on the warrant produced. Told him of the charge, and showed him some papers -and a photograph. Accused admitted that he was the man. Inspector Buckley asked the Bench for a remand for one month to [allow of the Victorian police being communicated with. Accused asked to be admitted to bail. He acknowledged he -was the person but had not committed the offenee. Inspector Feast said the total deficiency in the shire accounts was £O5l 19s 3d. Accused had a wife and two children and told witness that lie had been struggling here in the hope that lie would be able to put matters right. Inspector Buckley told his Worship that the sum of £3B only was mentioned in the warrant. His Worship told accused he would admit him to bail in one surety of £3OO, or two of £l5O each, himself in £3OO. Uttering Counterfeit Coin. Wm. Henry Capons was charged on remand with this offence. Inspector Buckley told his Worship that Mrs Collins, who had received the coin from the lad, was not in attendance, and in her absence he would have to ask for a xemauML Mr Garrick said he appeared for (the Ibwy iHeese. He (Mr G-arrick) had made very mirwXe inquiries about the case, and the lad's character. He found that Eeese bore am excellent one, and that the offence had toeear committed merely as an act of devilment. The next morning he went down of his own accord to where he had got the money, with the intention ofjgiving a genuine half-sovereign for the coin he had changed. He (Mr G-arrick) really felt that the persons who sold these .coins should change place with the lads. His Worship said he had spoken very strongly on 'this matter when the case was last before the 'Court, and he was glad to have received a letter'from Mr J. W. Smith, of Glasgow House, saying that after reviewing the whole of the circumstances connected with the case, he had determined to send the balance of his stock of these buttons back to Mr Clark, from whom he had purchased them, and had also resolved upon repaying back the money to any person who had bought any at his shop. Addressing Mr G-arrick his Worship said he was loath to send such young lads to gaol, more especially as their parents were most respectable. Could he give the accused a good thrashing each he would prefer to do so, and then let them go. Mr Garrick said if his Worship were to adjourn the case, possibly the Minister of Justice might be moved in the 'matter. Perhaps his Worship would hear the evidence in Reese's case. His Worship said he would do so, and Capon coidd stand one side. James Reese was then char-god with a similar offence committed at the shop of il. Roberts, hairdresser, Whatcly road. Mr Garrick appeared for the lad. Sergeant Beck called, stated that he arrested the lad in Durham street North on Saturday morning last, who admitted the offence, and said lie was exceedingly sorry for what he had done. W. 11. Burdett, a lad in the employ of Mr Roberts, stated that about six o'clock on Friday evening accused came to the shop and bought sixpennvworth of cigarettes. Witness guve him the change, and put the half-sove-reign-as witness supposed it was—into the till. The next morning Mr Roberts showed him the coin, and asked him where he got it. Witness was certain that the coin produced was the one he got from accused, i«i it had some scratches on it. In rcplv to Mr Garrick witness said that accused came to the shop next morning, and told him the supposed half-sovereign was only a button, and that if he could get it from Mr Roberts he would give the money back ■again. Mr Roberts was out at the tune ' William Hinton stated that on Friday

I evening last accused came to his store on the Whately road, and purchased a bag of oali, which came to 16s 3d. Accused said he had only 12s in change, and then put a coin similar to the one produced into witness's hand. It was dark at the time, and after feeling the coin witness said he would have a look at it, and struck a match for that purpose. Accused then laughed, and told witness it was only a button. Witness handed the coin back to the lad. Mr Garrick told his Worship that having heard the evidence he was afraid the usual course would have to be taken. His Worship said he regretted to have to do so, and was afraid he could not deal summarily with the lad. After the evidence had been read over accused was committed for trial, to be admitted to bail in two sureties of £IOO each, his father to be taken as one. The case against the bey Capons was again called on. Sergeant Beck deposed to getting the counterfeit coin produced from Mrs Collins on Saturday morning last. Mr Collins, greengrocer, Whately road, stated that about half-past nine on Friday evening last, accused came to his shop and bought a shilling's worth of pears, and tendered a coin which witness thought was half a sovereign. Witness was busy, and threw the coin into the till, giving the lad 9s change. The coin produced was similar to the one in every respect to that which witness had received from accused. Witness gave the coin to his wife the same evening. Mrs Collins called, stated that she gave Sergeant Beck a coin which her husband had given her. It was similar to the one produced. After consideration his Worship said that perhaps ho was straining the point on the side of leniency in dealing with the case summarily, but he did not like to send the boy to the Supreme Court to stand his trial. He would send him to the Industrial School until he was fifteen years of age, which woidd be for one year and two months, to he brought up in the teaching of the Church of England. Laecent. —Anthony Ferrick, brought up on the charge of stealing a cheque for £65 15s, was remanded for three days on the application of Inspector Buckley. Dischaeging- FIEEAEMS. —Claude Arthur Befetington, charged with having discharged a pistol at the rear of Dr. Townend's premises, in Colombo street, contrary to the city by-laws, was fined 10s. Horses and Cattle at Laege.—For permitting horses and cattle to wander at large, the following persons were each fined 5s :—A. O'Donoghue, T. Brooks, P. Hill, A. Mole, F. T. Haskins, H. J. Josling, Thos. Williams, A. Cowan, G. Steel, E. Sheppard, G. Guthrie, J. Harper, F. Halgood, H. Clarke, J. Calvert. G. W. Ell, for allowing twenty-eight sheep to stray, was also fined ss.

Miscellaneous. —Joseph Gay, for not being in attendance on his horse and cab, ■was fined 10s. James Peacock, for obstructing Tuam street with some shingle, was fined 10s. For driving an unbroken horse in Caslicl street, E. Millett was fined 10s. A charge against defendant of whipping the horse was dismissed. Thomas Wheeler, for driving an unlicensed cab, was fined 10s. Win. Holland, summoned for furious driving, was lined 10s. George Patterson and Saml. Lacey, charged with not being in sufficient attendance on their horse and cab, were each fined 10s. James Savage, for having no light on his cab, was fined 10s. James Mathers, for driving a cab without being licensed, was fined 10s.

Unregistered Dogs. The following persons were each fined 20s for being the owners of unregistered dogs for the current year: —Jacob Mync, Thps, Wheeler, E. Cook, S. Dowe, T. Townson, J. Stephens, James Nancarrow, and Bessie Graham. Similar informations against W. Baynes and Rosa Cora were dismissed. Breach of Public-House Ordinance. — Jacob S. Wagner was summoned for keeping the door of his licensed house open on May 27th. It was shown this was a private door, called the hall door, which leads down the drive into Worcester street, and is a long distance from the bar. Constable Hamill went in through this door along the hall, and down the passage into the bar. The bar was open, and the barman in it, but no one else was there, and witness saw no drinks served. Mr Wagner called, stated that this door was merely used by lodgers, who objected to a spring being placed on it, as it was a very heavy one and made a great noise when slamming. Witness had never known any person go in through this door to be served with drink. Fined 40s. Edward Hiorns, charged with keeping open his licensed house, the Central Hotel, and selling drink during prohibited hours, on the 27th May, was fined £5. An information against R. P. Hill, of the British Hotel, for selling drink in his licensed house on 10th June, was dismissed, as the man who told the constable he got the drink stated in Court that he knew nothing about it. A charge of obstructing the police preferred against defendant was also dismissed. Joseph Dann was summoned for obstructing Constable Hannon in the execution of his duty on Sunday, 10th June. MiThomas appeared for defendant, and asked that the evidence might be taken down, with a view to future proceedings. The constable stated that on the afternoon of that day he saw three men go into the back of the hotel; and in a few moments afterwards he knocked at the door, and in reply to an inquiry said who he was. A boy named Cressy, who was sitting on a chair near a window, spoke to witness and said he had instructions to allow no one in, constable or otherwise, and afterwards told him that Mr Dann was out and had the key. Witness waited for seven minutes, but could not gain admittance, and did not see the boy leave the chair during that time. Witness then went round to the front door and rang the bell twice, and Mr Dann came down almost immediately and let him in, remarking at the same time that he had a good deal of cheek to awake him out of his sleep. Witness then went through the house with Mr Dann, but saw no one there. Could not say that the three men who went into the back yard did go into the hotel, but was certain they went into the back premises of the house. In crossexamination witness said he would not be positive that the boy Cressy said he was told not to allow a constable or any one else in, but the boy saw who he was through the window. His Worship said there was no use going on further with the case. Mr Thomas said he desired to go on with the case, as the constable had deliberately lied in the information he had laid. His Worship said he was by no means satisfied with the manner in which the constable had tried to deceive the Bench in qualifying what the lad had said to him. He would warn him to he more careful in future, and would not forget this case against him. The information wou'd be dismissed. A case against Elizabeth Fuchs j for allowing a door to be open leading to the I tap in her licensed house ; the Wellington

Hotel, on Sunday, 10th June was dismissed as it was shown to have been accidentally left open by a lodger, and no one was in the house when the constable went in.

BiiEACH of Public Works Act.—Thos. Thornley, for allowing three cows to wander on the railway line was fined 20*, and Morice Roskrudge for allowing a flock of sheep to wander on the south line was fined in a similar amount.

Abusive Language.—A case of this nature against Kate Egan brought by Elizabeth Marley was dismissed. George Nicholls, summoned for using abusive language to Louisa Wood, was fined 10s and 6s 6d costs. Harriet Smith, summoned for using abusive language to Helen Matthews was fined 20s. Assaults. —Henry Franklin was charged with assaulting Clias. Burmeister. The case had arisen out of some money transaction between the parties. Complainant spoke to defendant about the money, and struck the man on the nose, when defendant lifted a whip he had in liig hand, and struck Burmeister on the head inflicting a wound from which the blood flowed freely. His Worship said he was afraid the whole affair had arisen out of some gambling transaction, and dismissed the ense

Assault.—A charge against W. J. Falloon for assaulting his wife was withdrawn at the the request of complainant.

LYTTELTON. (Before J. T. Rouse, Esq., J.P.) Drunkenness.—John E. Taylor alias Thompson, arrested by Constable Johnson, was sentenced to forty-eight hours' imprisonment.

Drunkenness and Vagrancy. John Durham, arrested by Constable Devine, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.