MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1019, 1 October 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, October 1. [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R.M.]

Drunkenness. —James Brown was fined 10s, and F. Bonner was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment. Vagrancy. —Adolph Gloof w r as brought up on a charge of soliciting alms. The arresting constable said that he had learned that the accused had not long ago arrived from Dunedin, and that he could get no work and had no means of subsistence. Evidence was led showing that accused had been offered work, but would not take it. It was apparent that he did not understand the English language. His Worship remarked that accused was a thorough young loafer, and sentenced him to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor.

Wife Beating. —Anthony Ferrick was charged with beating his wife and with assaulting the police. Sergeant Morris asked for a remand as the complainant had to be removed to the Hospital. The arresting constable stated that at about 9 o’clock on Sunday morning Ferrick’s wife complained to him of her husband’s assaulting her. When spoken to the accused said he found his wife drunk and gave her a “couple of clouts.” The accused, when being arrested, caught the witness by the whisker. Sergeant Morris said that the -woman might or might not, according to the doctor’s statement, be ready to appear in Court in a day or two. The accused was fined 20s for assaulting the police, and the other charge was adjourned until the 3rd instant. Maintenance of Illegitimate Child.— James Read was charged with failing to support his illegitimate child, of which Ann Carmichael is the mother. Mr Thomas, for the defendant, held that, as the mother of the child had married, her husband—not the putative father—was responsible for its support. In the event of her husband dying or becoming’unable to support the child, and the State being called upon to maintain it, the putative father could again be called upon to support. Mr Slater, for the plaintiff, argued that Mr Thomas’s plea was grounded on a statute which was not in force in this country. The Court asked the question, if it was inconsistent with the law of New Zealand on the subject. Mr Slater said he had just been instructed five minutes before the case had been called on, and asked for an adjournment. Adjourned for a week. Order to Support. —Jacob Lyskey, a sailor, was ordered to pay 7s a week towards the support of his illegitimate child. Miscellaneous. —For breaches of the city bye-laws James Rosser was fined 5s ; George Mapstone, 10s; Joseph Ward, 20s; Charles Physic, 10s ; and Robert Beattie, 10s ;