MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1013, 24 September 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, September 24. [Before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M.] Drunk; and Disorderly. —Three first offenders were fined 5s each, and two others who had been admitted to bad 10s each. Mary Maule, an old offender, was given one more chance, and discharged. William Jarvis was fined 10s.

Striking his Wipe. —James Robinson was charged with striking his wife in the public street. It was shown that accused had received very great provocation, but his Worship held this to be no excuse for the act, and inflicted a fine of 10s. Larceny of a Saw. —Charles James, arrested for stealing a saw valued at 10s, the property of James Lusk, was remanded until Tuesday on the application of Inspector Buckley. Drunk and Using Profane Language.— 1 James Stark was charged with being drunk and using profane language in Cashel street on Saturday night. Mr Thomas appeared for the defence. The arresting constable deposed to the language said to have been used, and also to accused being drunk. The watch-house keeper stated the man was helplessly drunk when taken to the depot, and another constable also said he was drunk. Mr Thomas called two witnesses who were with Stark at the time he was arrested, and they positively swore he was not drunk, nor had he used the language complained of. They did not see any occasion for the constable’s interference. His Worship said that on the evidence accused must have been drunk, and he would be fined 10s on that charge ; the other case j woidd be dismissed. Fighting. —David Grey, charged with striking a man in the street, was discharged, as it was shown that he was not the aggressor. Miscellaneous. —John Lewis, for permitting his chimney to catch on fire, was fined 10s. John Lamb, for not being in sufficient attendance on his horse, was fined 10s. G. McLatchie, for allowing a fire to be lighted in his yard within the city, was fined 10s. For allowing his horse to run away through being absent, John Jury was fined 10s. Joseph Briggs, for a similar offence, was also fined 10s. A case against William Jordon, summoned for having no light on his cab, was dismissed, as it was shown to be the result of an accident. Thomas Gee, for not keeping sufficient light on a hoarding, was fined 10s. For allowing a horse to obstruct a footpath, Thos. Goodman was fined 10s. A case against Thomas Rosser for obstructing Harper street, Newtown, with three drays of gravel, was dismissed, as defendant had only been acting under instructions from the Road Board Surveyor. For opening the gates and driving a horse and dray across the line at Rolleston station when a train was approaching, William Stanley was fined 20s. A case against John Gair, for causing a crowd to collect in a public street, was adjourned until the 27th instant.

Cruelty to a Horse. —Frederick Jones, alias Purdue, was charged with ill-treating a Jiorse in Durham street south. Chiles Hea-

ton gave evidence of defendant striking the horse violently in the side with a long-handle shovel, because it could not draw a dray out of a hole. In reply to the Bench, defendant said the horse did not belong to him and he had only driven it for the day. His Worship told him it was a pity that any person should entrust him with a horse, and imposed a fine of IDs.

Child Desertion. —Mary McCauley was charged on summons with deserting her child. Defendant did not appear, and it was shown that she had left the child at aMr Palmer’s house some time ago, promising to call again and pay for its being taken care of, but had not done so. His Worship adjourned the case until the following day for the production of the woman.

Using- Obscene Language. Thomas Leatham, charged on summons with using obscene language to a constable in Tuam street, was fined 20s. Horses and Cattle at Large.— For permitting horses and cattle to wander at large the following persons were each fined 5s: —Nathaniel Sale, Alex. Cowan, Isaac Pentecost, John Dollan, John Wilson, and Peter Pasche.

Disobeying an Order. — A case against James Read for disobeying an order for the support of his illegitimate child was adjourned until Thursday next. Abusive Language. —Anne Millar was charged on two informations with having used abusive language towards James Herelitz and to his wife. The parties are neighbors, and the evidence showed they had not lived on very neighborly terms for a long time. After hearing most contradictory evidence his Worship fined defendant 10s and costs on one information and dismissed the other. Threatening Conduct. —A case of this nature, Ball against Fitzroy, was adjourned until the following day for the production of a witness.

Assault. — A case, Wakefield against Peiper, was adjourned until Tuesday morning. Throwing Stones. —Robert Boreland, Charles Boreland, and W. Wood, three young lads, were charged with throwing stones at the house of Mr James Thorne, Chester street, on the night of 13th inst. The complainant did not see the stones thrown on this occasion, but after they were thrown he followed a number of boys who were running away and caught up to defendants. He had repeatedly suffered from this nuisance. A little boy named Blythe, called, said Wood and the Borelands were among the “ mob” of lads who threw the stones. Other evidence was given of Wood having been seen with a stone in his hand. Mrs Wood, who was in Court, gave her son a good character. After administering a severe caution, his Worship dismissed the charge against Wood, and ordered the Borelands to pay the Court costs.

Breach or Public AVorks Act. —Thomas Yilliers, summoned for getting into a train on the Christchurch and Lyttelton line while it was in motion, was fined 20s.

Larceny as a Bailee. —Carl Gustafson Klint was charged on remand with disposing of a mare belonging to John Brook, Christchurch. Mr Izard appeared for the accused. When taxed with the charge by Detective Benjamin, accused said he was guilty. Witness afterwards took possession of the animal, branded A on near shoulder, at Millett’s stables. The prosecutor deposed to accused coming to his place on the 18th inst., and agreeing to break in three horses for him. He took away a bay mare branded A on the shoulder, and was to leave her at the stables of the Foresters’ Arms’ Hotel at four o’clock on same day. The mare was not left as promised, and after looking for sometime witness found the animal at Page’s stables. Accused had no right to dispose of the mare. The value of the animal was £25. C. F. Bunz called, stated that on the night of the 17th inst. accused called at his shop and asked for the loan of £23 to purchase a horse which was worth £3O. Witnesstoldhim to go to Davis or Murphy, as he did not lend money. He went away and returned, and witness then lent him the money on the understanding that it was to be paid back on the following morning. Accused did not call as promised, and witness went to him and took him to Murphy’s office to raise money on a bill of sale for three horses accused said he had. Accused wanted £4O, and Murphy said he would take witness’s name, but he declined to give it, and then Murphy said he would .advance the money on a bill of sale for the horses, but it would cost accused a lot of money. Murphy then suggested that accused should sell the horses to witness, who could return them as soon as the money was paid back. Witness, accused, and Mr Wykes then went dowm to the Foresters’ Arms stables to value the horses, when accused, in reply to Wykes, again said the horses belonged to him. Witness then took possession of them, and consented to enter into an agreement with accused to allow him to have the horses on hire for £5 for three months. Accused gave witness the receipt produced for the £23, and called afterwards at the office, when witness gave him £l7. Before leaving accused said he would have £3OO in a few days, and witness told him he could then have the horses back. From something witness heard afterwards he had the horses removed to Page’s stables, and afterwards heard that Brook had taken possession of one. The horses outside the Court were two of those witness had purchased from accused. In reply to Mr Izard witness said it was clearly understood that accused w r as to retain possession of the horse for a certain time. W. H. Wykes, called, deposed to valuing three horses for the last witness on the day named. Valued the mare in the present case at £2O. The horses were handed over to Mr Bunz by accused in the presence of witness. A second charge of the same same nature was preferred against accussed. He had gone to Carew’s stables and hired a horse, valued at £37, for a number of days at 5s per day, which he subsequently sold to Mr Bunz for £25. The horse belonged to a Mr Gardiner, who had placed it in Mr Carew’s hands with permission to w r ork it. [Accused was committed lor trial on both charges.]