MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 965, 30 July 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, July 30. (Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R.M.) Drunk and Disorderly —Wm. Ogier was fined 10s. Isabella Decide, who had been convicted ten times since October last, was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Helen Anderson was fined 60s and Is 6d cab fare. Mary Cunningham, charged with drunkenness and soliciting prostitution, was lined 60s. False Pretences. Woolfrcy Middleditch, arrested on warrant from Ashburton, on the charge of obtaining money by false pretences from Mr Mitchell, storekeeper, there, was remanded until Friday to be brought up at Ashburton. On the application of accused, his Worship said ho would grant bail in two sureties of £SO each, accused in £IOO.

Larceny.—John E. Taylor was charged with stealing a pair of trousers from the shopdoor of S. Cohen, pawnbroker, Colombo street. When arrested accused said ho knew nothing about the trousers, but on the way to the lock-up told detective Benjamin if he would give him a glass of beer he would tell him all about the trousers. H. A. Davis called identified accused as the man who offered the trousers produced in pledge at his place on Saturday last. S. Cohen, called, identified the trousers produced as his property. They were among other goods hanging at the shop door. Witness did not miss them until they were brought by the police ; valued them at 16s. There was a long list of convictions against accused, and he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Breach oe Weights and Measures Act. —Mary O’Connell was summoned for having one half-pound weight two drachms light, a seven-pound weight., a four-pound weight, and one pair of scales unstamped in her possession. Mr Walsh, inspector of weights and measures, proved the offence. It was pleaded, on behalf of defendant, that she had not been long in Christchurch, and did not know that it was necessary to have the weights and scales stamped. His Worship said this was no excuse for having a light weight. Fined 60s and weights and scales unstamped to be forfeited. John Roundtree and J. W. Roundtree were summoned for having on their premises one spring balance unstamped and incorrect and a seven-pound weight three drachms light. The inspector proved the offence, and said when fourteen pounds were put on the scales they showed fifteen pounds. Defendant said he purchased the balance under the impression that it was stamped. Fined 40s and property to be forfeited. Francis Primmer was summoned for having in his possession one seven-pound weight a quarter of an ounce light, a four-pound weight two drachms light, a one-pound weight three drachms light, and a quarter-pound weight half a drachm light, also steelyards unstamped and incorrect. The inspector stated that the steelyards were fearfully wrong, and bore his condemned brand evidently placed on it by him years ago. Defendant told his Worship that the steelyards did not belong to him. He had only recently purchased the business, and the yards had been left on the premises by the late proprietor. His Worship said he would give him the benefit of the doubt, but he should have had the weights tested before buying them. Fined 40s, property to be forfeited, _ William Roundtree was summoned for having on his

premises a 11b weight 3 drachms light, and scales and steelyards unstamped and incorrect. The offence was proved by the inspector, who said the steelyards were, if anything, in a worse state than the pair in the previous case. Defendant told the Bench he understood the scales and yards had been stamped when ho purchased them. Fined 40s, property to be forfeited. Driving without Reins. —Frederick Hill, summoned for driving without reins, was fined 10s. Abusive Language. —John Mason, summoned for using abusive language to William Hinton on 21st instant, was fined 40s and 5s cost of witness. LYTTELTON. Monday, July 30. (Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.) Creating a Disturbance.— G-eorge Allison, charged by Constable Moutray with this offence, was dismissed with a caution. Drunkenness. —John Roach, arrested by Constable Moutray, was fined 10s, or, in default, forty-eight hours’. Stowaway.- John Smith was charged with having stowed himself away on board the s.s. Wanaka on her trip up the coast from Port Chalmers. The Bench ordered accused to pay the fare, which was 355, and a further penalty of equal amount —£3 10s in all—or, in default, five days’ imprisonment witli hard labour. Accused, not having the money, was sent to gaol.