MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 989, 27 August 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH MONDAY, AUGUST 27. (Before. G. L. Mellish, Esq., R,M.) DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. - John Williams, for drunkenness, was fined 40s, and cautioned not to appear before his Worship again. George Young, charged with being drunk and using obscene language at the Addington railway station, was fined 40s. Two first offenders were each fined 5s ; and one who had been admitted to bail 10s. H. F. Allen was fined 60s, and James Woods, sen., 5s. INDECENT ASSAULT. — John Macdonald was charged on warrant with having committed an offence of this nature on Emma Borland, a married woman. Mr Thomas appeared for the accused. After hearing the evidence, his Worship said there was no doubt whatever but that accused had tried to kiss the woman There had been a sort of scuffle, and accused had tried to take liberties which he should not

have done. He (his Worship) would have dealt very differently with him if he thought the assault had been an aggravated one. He would be fined £5. FALSE PRETENCES. - Matthew Hayes was charged on remand with obtaining 10s from Jacob S. Wagner by false pretences. Percy C. Brown, clerk in the Colonial Bank, Wellington, called stated that he knew the accused. He had an account at the Bank before the 16th February, 1877. It was closed on that date by a cheque to lawyer Brandon. Accused must have been aware of this. Witness was employed in the National Bank at Wellington. The cheque, produced had been presented at the Bank, and it bore witness's writing '' account closed." Accused could have had no reason to expect that the cheque would have been paid. Other cheques drawn by accused had been presented since his account was closed. By accused — Frederick Cook is the present manager of the Bank. Jacob S. Wagner, recalled, corroborated his previous evidence. Had given accused his account for £2 2s, and added the ten shillings cash to the account. Accused told the Bench that he received the ten shillings on the 16th of the month, and gave the cheque on the 17th. In reply to the Bench witness said he had given accused the silver when he gave the cheque. Believed accused wanted the change to pay a cabman. Accused had paid for a breakfast for himself and a friend named Anderson. In reply to the Bench accused said he had been fourteen or fifteen years engaged in banking, and knew well the penalty of issuing a valueless cheque. Before leaving Wellington in the Luna he saw Mr Fred. Cook on the wharf. A coolness had previously existed between himself and Mr Cook, and on that day Mr Cook said to him " If you ever want £20 or £25 I shall take care that no cheque of yours is dishonoured." Accused replied to him that if he should be short for current expenses between that place and Port Chalmers he would do so ; and Mr Cook then said accused was to make as much on the face of the cheque as possible. Mr Brown recalled by Inspector Buckley, stated that the day the cheque was presented he took it in to Mr Cook, and he.told witness to write across it "No account." Mr Cook also remarked that accused had written him several letters, and it would be no use if he were to write him a million. Accused here asked his Worship to sentence him, and he would fight it out afterwards with Mr Cook. His Worship told him that he had made a statement and if he desired to rely on it, and wished for Mr Cook's evidence he would adjourn the case. Accused said that not only had Mr Cook told him what he had stated, but also added that if he overdrew that amount he would borrow the money if possible to meet any cheques. Inspector Buckley said the summons had been served on Mr Cook to send some person down, and it was strange that that gentleman had not done something in the matter if accused's statement were correct. Accused observed to the Bench that when the National Bank refused Mr Cook his original testimonials he (accused) went to the safe and handed them to him, and that was the man who now sent him to gaol. Accused had already been sixteen days in custody, and his Worship sentenced him to seven days imprisonment with hard labor. WIFE DESERTION. - The adjourned case against John Brooker was called on, and accused paid the amount owing, £1 18s. MISCELLANEOUS. A case against F. W. Thiele, for allowing the chimney of the City Hotel to catch on fire, was dismissed, as it was shown to have been the result of accident, and that the chimney had been swept only recently. George Patterson, summoned for carrying an excess of passengers, was fined 10s. John Golding, for allowing his horse to run away, was fined 10s. Cornelius Sexton and Daniel Howard, for being absent from their horse and cab, were each fined 10s. For driving without a license John Hill was fined 10s. Alexander Caldwell, summoned for smoking in a railway carriage on the Ashburton line, was fined 10s. HORSES AND CATTLE AT LARGE. — For permitting horses and cattle to wander at large, the following persons were each fined 5s - Malcolm, Thomas Aldridge, and Michael Lawlor ; William Ormandy, on two informations, was fined 10s.

CHILD DESERTION. —Bridget Ferrick was summoned for deserting her child on 7th July. It was shown that defendant had left the child with a woman, and promised to givesed to give her 10s a week to take care of it. She paid 18s for it, and did not go near it again for three weeks. — Defendant said she had since taken the child from the woman, and would have paid her, but she had not the means. She could have obtained work up country, but had no money to pay her fare to Ashburton. Her husband would be released from gaol on Saturday next, and if she got time he would pay the amount after he got work. His Worship said he would allow the case stand over for three weeks.

DISOBEYING AN ORDER. —Henry Jordan was summoned for neglecting to comply with an order of the Court to contribute towards the support of his wife. It was shown that complainant had lived with her husband at Temuka since the order was made. His Worship told her by her doing so the order had been cancelled, and if she wanted another order fresh proceedings would have to be taken. LARCENY. —Alice McGan was charged on summons with having stolen three pairs of children;s socks from Ellen Vincent, Opawa. After hearing the evidence the Bench dismissed the case. LYTTLETON. MONDAY, AUGUST 27. (Before W. Donald Esq., R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Charles Brown, arrested by Constable Dineen, was fined 10s for being drunk, and a further sum of 30s for tearing the constable's clothes. REFUSAL OF DUTY. — Thomas O'Malley, a seaman belonging to the barque John Knox, was — charged by Captain Davis with this offence. Ordered on board. TRANSFER OF LICENSE. An application for the transfer of the license of the Canterbury Hotel, from Thomas Bailey to A. Macdonald, was adjourned for a week.