MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 942, 2 July 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, July 2.

(Before GT. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M., and Dr Deamer, J.P.)

Drunkenness. Collin McKay, Henry Reeves, and Andrew Smith were each fined 10s ; Wm. Warner, 20s and cautioned ; and three first offenders 5s each ; Thomas Wilson, arrested for being drunk, and who failed to appear after he had been admitted to bail was fined 40s.

Forgery and Uttering-. — G-. B. Hall was charged on remand with this offence. Mr Joyut appeared for accused. Detective Neill arrested accused at Oamaru. He had not the warrant with him when he arrested him, and did not read it to accused at any time. A. J. Adams stated that on Saturday, March 3rd, sold some goods to a gentleman to the amount of £1 4s dd. Could not say

whether accused was the person or not. The cheque produced was tendered in payment. Saw accused get the change from Mr May. The address of the parcel, “Mr Hardwicke, Warner’s Hotel,” was written by the gentlemanat witness’s request, and the parcel taken there by a hoy named Robinson. Richard Robinson remembered taking a parcel to the Commercial on that night ; but could not say what name was on it. J. Bowers, waiter at the Clarendon, remembered giving accused some blank cheques on Friday, March 2nd. Mr Wagner, landlord of the Clarendon, gave evidence of seeing a book pointed out, out of which it was stated that two blank cheques had been given to the accused by the waiter. Could not find the block out of which they were said to be taken. Believed they were on the National Bank. Inspector Feast gave evidence some tune ago of having fitted in the cheques in the book shown him, by the aid of a powerful glass, and the perforations fitted exactly. J. A. Grammack stated he was residing at the Clarendon on the 2nd March last. Saw accused there. Witness did not sign his name to the cheque produced, nor authorise anyone to do so. G. P. Woods, clerk in the Bank of New Zealand, Temuka, stated that the cheque produced had been presented for payment and returned no account. Mr Gammack had no account there, but had one at the bank in Christchurch. A second charge of a similar nature was then heard. Evidence was given of some goods having been purchased at Mr G. L. Heath’s shop, on 2nd March, by accused, and paid for with a cheque for. £7 10s, signed by J.A.Gammack, and with the word “National” struck out before Bank of New Zealand. Mr Gammack stated that he did not sign the cheque produced, nor had he authorised any one to do so. The evidence having been read over, accused, by advice of counsel, reserved his defence, and was committed for trial on both charges. Affiliation. —John Hickelson was summoned for the support of an illegitimate child, of which Mary Ford was the mother. Mr Joynt appeared for the defendant' The defendant applied for an adjournment, as he wished to summons some witnesses. His Worship granted the request, defendant to find a surety to the amount of £SO for his appearance* on Thursday next. Inspector Feast here intimated that intelligence had been received from Mr March of the child’s death, and Mr March requested an adjournment of the case, in order that the question of expenses might be brought forward. The -child died on Saturday, and an inquest was to be held this day, at 2 p.m. Mr Joynt said the defendant could not be called upon to pay any expenses heretofore incurred. He was summoned for the maintenance of the child and the case could have no retrospective application. His Worship agreed with Mr Joynt, and dismissed the case. Cattle at Large.—Joseph Perkins, fined 5s ; Alexander Close, 5s ; Wm. Cradock, 5s ; Wm. Greig, ss. Defacing a Railway Ticket.—Richard Day was charged with defacing a railway ticket. From the evidence of the guard on the Lyttelton and Christchurch line, it appeared that when asked for his ticket, defendant produced one which was illegible. The guard said he could not pass him on such a ticket, and then asked for the fare, which defendant declined to give. He also gave the name of Robert Johnson. Defendant stated that he had let the ticket fall and it got wet. He put it in his pocket. The defacing of the ticket was not wilful but accidental. A fine of 20s was imposed.

Furious Driving.—Joseph Parron was fined 10s for furious driving. . Arsent from Cabs. —H. M. Goodyear and George Patterson were each fined 10s for being absent from their licensed cabs. Unregistered Dog.—A defaulter was fined £1 for being the owner of an unregistered dog. Affiliation. —William Stephenson was summoned by Jane Agnes Evans for the support of her illegitimate child. There was no appearance of either parties, and the case was adjourned until the 9th instant. Assault. —Mary Ann Brightmore was summoned for having committed a violent assault on Elizabeth Wright and Mary Ann Wright. Mr Slater appeared for the complainants. Mrs Wright stated that she sent her son to take her cow off the defendant’s section and defendant declined to allow the cow to be taken. Complainant then went to get the cow; asked defendant for the cow, when she threw a tub at her, which struck her violently on the face, cutting it over the eye. She called her a wretch, struck her a second time, and threw a brick at her. Complainant’s son and daughter gave corroborative evidence. There was a cross case, in which Elizabeth Wright and Mary Ann Wright were charged with using abusive and threatening language towards Mary Ann Brightmore. After hearing the latter’s evidence, the Bench dismissed the cross action, and in the first case ordered Mary Ann Brightmore to pay a fine of 20s and costs. Mr Slater applied to have defendant bound over to keep the peace. His Worship thought this would be a warning to her, but if Mrs Wright was annoyed in future he would bind Mrs Brightmore over to keep the peace in heavy sureties, Mr Slater’s application for a professional fee was declined.

Abusive Language.—Louisa Wood was charged with using abusive language towards Caroline Nichols. The charged was proved, and a fine of 10s and costs (6s 6d) was imposed. Maintenance. —J. J. Donaldson was summoned by Mary Donaldson for neglecting to support three children, in accordance with an order of the Court. Defendant stated that he was doing his best to earn money by working for the auctioneers and for commission agents, but times were very bad. In reply to the Bench, Inspector Feast stated that Donaldson had been working, but he feared that he had also been drinking. Defendant said he was unable to pay anything just now. His Worship adjourned the case for a week, and told defendant he must do his best to pay up the arrears owing. Assault. —Joseph Hannan was charged with assaulting Rebecca Hannan, his wife. Defendant said that if his Worship let him off this time, lie would sign the pledge. In reply to the Bench, the complainant stated that if the defendant took the pledge for twelve months she would give him another chance. His Worship said that, under the circumstances, he would allow the case to stand over for a week, defendant then to produce a certificate that lie had taken the pledge.

LYTTELTON. Monday, July 2. (Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness. —John McDcrnold, arrested by Constable Bullen, was fined 10s. W. Wvlie, arrested by Constable Johnson, was fined 10s.