MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1098, 5 January 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday, January 5. [Before G. L. Lee Esq. and Dr. Deamer, J.P.’s.] Drunk and Disorderly. Frederick Farmer, charged with drunkenness, resisting the police, and tearing the constables’s clothes, was fined £l, and 15s amount of damage done. William Allen was fined os, and Margaret Dempsey 10s. A charge against H. Williams was adjourned, as Inspector Hickson said the man was in the hospital and unable to attend. Laecbhy ot Tobacco. —Arthur Delaney, a young lad, was charged with stealing about 20lbs. of tobacco from, the store of Percival Pearce, Oxford terrace. Mr Izard appeared for the lad.—The prosecutor stated that on the morning of 6th December he missed a quantity of cake tobacco from the back of the counter. The piece would weigh about 201b5., and the wholesale value would be about £4 15s. The accused came the previous day to the store and purchased two sticks of tobacco. Witness saw him about there afterwards during the day, and from what he heard he asked the hoy three or four days subsequently if he had said he stole ten sticks of tobacco from witness’s place. The boy said he had said so, but told a story when he accused himself. In cross-examina-tion, witness said that a man could reach the tobacco from in front of the counter, but a boy could not get at it without going behind the counter. —B. A. Eosenoskie, a young boy called, stated that about four weeks ago th ' accused told him he had stolen ten sticks of tobacco, a box of matches, and some lollies from Mr Pearce’s storp. lie asked witness he did npt go and get some. Ho said he |iad bought two sticks of tobacco and stole Cithers while Mr Pearce was writing behind his desk. In cross-examination the boy said he was not on friendly terms with the spoused. —Mr Pearce re-called, stated that his desk was at the back of the shop, and when he was writing he could not see anyone in the shop.—Detective Walker deposed to speaking to the accused about having acknowledged stealing the cakes of tobacco from Pearce’s store. The lad said he had admitted saying so, but it was not true, and he did not know what led him to say that he had taken the tobacco. In cross-examination witness said the lad’s mother was a hard -working, respectable woman, but his father did not do much, and was up the country at present. Mrs Delaney gave witness every assistance to search her house, but no tobacco was found. —Mr Woodford, one of the masters at Gloucester street school, called by Mr Izard, gave Delaney a very good character. The boy had been about six |weeks at the school previous to the vacation, but was under him for some time at the Music Hall. -Mr Izard was about to address the Bench, when his Worship said there was no occasion for him to do so, as there did not appear to be the Bjight'eat' evidence against the ‘boy, and nothing whatever pb connect him with the offence beyond the conversation he was said to have had with the other lad. He had received a very good character from his schoolmaster, and the charge would be dismissed.

LYTTELTON. Saxukdat, January 5. [Before W. Donald, Esq., E.M.] Drunkenness.— I Wm. Roderick, charged with the above, was fined 10s. * Larceny. —Harriet tylead was b?o\,ght up, on'remand, charged’ with this offence. After hearing evidence, the Bench remanded accused for f ourteen days, liberating her on her pwn recognizance in the gum of £2O.