MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1008, 18 September 1877, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHEISTCHUECH. Tuesday, September IS. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., E.M.) • Drunkenness.—Owen Stace and Donald McFarland were each fined 10s for being drunk and disorderly. False Eepresentations.—Eobert William Jones was charged with vagrancy and with obtaining board and lodging by means of false representations. William Ashcroft said he knew the accused, who had commenced to board on the sth July under false representations at Allchin's Dining Eooms. Jones said that a settler named King about Southbrook owed lum £ls for work done, and the witness let him come in because of these representations, as accused said he would get some of the money on a certain Saturday from Mrs King, Mr King being away at Dunedin. Shortly afterwards accused gave witness a letter purporting to be from Mrs King, who expressed surprise that her husband should owe him money, but she or her son would be down on the 28th of July, when he would get some money. Accused afterwards got the letter back, and went away saying he was going to Eangiora for money and would return next day. Accused had obtained three weeks' board on the strength of his representations, the cost being £2 14s. The accused cross-examined the witness for the purpose of showing that he had been working for King, had received no wages, as he was taught in return for his work, and that the witness had advised accused to sue King for wages at £1 per week. Hence he made the representation as though the money were actually owing to him. William King, of Flaxton, said that when he first saw accused he looked as if a meal would do him good, and after a timo accused came to him at witness's place, but there was no arrangement as to wages. It appeared that accused could get nothing to do for wages elsewhere, and ho remained with witness, getting his food and making himself useful about the dairy. Mrs King deposed that she had never written to the accused, nor did she owe him any money whatever. Eobert Morrison, compositor, had been staying at Allchin's Boarding House when accused was there. Witness saw accused show Ashcroft a letter, which accused afterwards described as a ruse, as he wag getting money from home, but did not wish to let people know that. Accused, however, said that he intended to pay for his board. This was all the evidence, and after hearing the accused in his own defence, the Bench said it was a deliberate of fraud. He had been previously before the Court, and yet he went using forged letters when he would have found honesty the best policy. He would be sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor.

LYTTELTON". Tuesday, Septembeb 18. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.] Drunkenness.—George Coutts and John Thompson, arrested by Constables D.vi; eand Johnston, wire botli iined 10s, or, in default, forty-eight hours'. Abusive Language.—Houora Davis was accused of using violent and abusive language, calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. Case dismissed, accused to pay costs. Assault. —The adjourned case against Patricjs WJiyte fo? asg&uitiag David Bvwja,oa

June 25th, came on for hearing. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared for the prosecution. Dr. Nedwill gave evidence tli.it David Evans came o the Hospital, complaining of an injury to one of his thumbs. There was a compound fracture of the second joint, which rendered it necessery that it should be amputated. Evans was in the Hospital about a month. The injury might have been caused by a bite. The bite must have been very severe. (The witness complained bitterly of having been brought through from Christchurch, stating that the house surgeon at the Hospital would have been the proper person to call.) Evidence was further given to prove that accused was the worse for liquor and effected a forcible entrance into the house where the assault took place, smashing the door and windows. Evans was sent for, and, when he came, accused assaulted him. Evans held him down, and then Whyte bit his thumb. The Bench fined accused 40s, or, in default, three weeks' imprisonment, and ordered him to pay all costs.