MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1057, 16 November 1877, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Fbiday, Novembee 16. [Before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M.] Dbunkenness. William Benbrey, charged with being drunk and disorderly at the Christchurch Railway Station, was fined 10s. A first offender, for being intoxicated at the same place, was also fined 10s. Wife Beating. Ralph Byron was charged with assaulting his wife on the night of the 12th instant. Mrs Byren said the accused was one of the best husbands in the world when he kept away from drink. The accused expressed contrition for what he had done, said that he intended to give up drinking, and promised that if the Court would overlook the present offence he should not trouble it again. His Worship dismissed the case, on the understanding that the accused would join the Good Templars, but remarked that if he came before the Court again he should be severely dealt with. Laeceny.—George Carr was charged with the larceny of a coat, valued at 15s. The accused said he knew nothing about the matter, as he had been full of drink at the time. Detective Walker stated that on Wednesday evening Mr H. A. Davis, pawnbroker, missed a coat, which witness afterwards found at the shop of Mr S. Cohen, pawnbroker. He arrested the accused that morning at Addington. In reply to the charge the man merely said that he had been drunk that evening. H. A. Davis stated that on Wednesday he had had some articles hanging outside his shop door. In the evening, about five or six o'clock, he had missed the coat produced. It was worth 15s or 16s, and had not been disgosed of in any way by him. Sigismund bhen said that the accused had come to his shop about seven o'clock on Wednesday evening. He had with him the coat produced, which witness had subsequently handed over to Detective Walker. Witness had advanced 6s on the coat, which accused said was his own property. The man was perfectly sober. The prisoner protested that he must have been drunk. Inspector Buckley said that the man was a labourer, who lost a good deal of time through drinking, but so far as the police knew his character had hitherto been otherwise good. The Court remarked that the case had been clearly proved, and his Worship believed that the accused had also been sober at the time he committed the offence, but even if he had been drunk that would not have served as an excuse. He would be sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. Mr Cohen asked if he could not get back tho six shillings he had advanced to Carr. His Worship, having ascertained from Inspector Buckley that the man had no money on him, said that such being the case, he could not make an order. Mr Cohen said the man had a house and furniture, whereupon the Court remarked that Mr Cohen might take proceedings against Carr for the recovery of the money as soon as he came out of gaol.

LYTTELTON. Fbiday, Noyembeb 16. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.J Laeceny and Assault. —Five seamen, belonging to the Malay, barque, were charged by Louis Ferdinand, a resident in Lyttelton, with the above offence. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared for the prosecutor. After hearing evidence the Bench dismissed the charge of larceny, but convicted four of the accused of the assult and sentenced them to ninety-six hours' hard labour, and ordered them to pay solicitor's fee, 21s. _^___