MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1252, 12 March 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, March 12. [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R.M.] Drunkenness. Mary Kennedy, alias Wallace, was fined 20s, and a first offenders?. Escaping from Legal Custody—Samuel Dnnn, alias Robert Knight, was charged with escaping the previous day from the hard labor gang while working in the Hospital grounds. Mr Reston, gaoler at Addington, produced warrants by which he held the accused in custody. He was undergoing a sentence for six months with hard labor by warrant dated 30th October, 1877, signed by Mr Caleb Whitefoord, R.M. northern district, and also a warrant dated Ist December, 1877, for twelve months’ hard labor, at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Christchurch. The term of his first imprisonment had not yet expired, and there was also a third warrant for escaping from legal custody. Accused was sent out the previous day at 7 a.m. in charge of warder Ruddy and assistant-warder Harold to work in the Hospital grounds. From information witness received he visited the gang yesterday at eight minutes to eleven, and found that accused was missing from the party, Richard Harold, assistant warder at Addington Goal, stated that accused was working yesterday morning in the Hospital grounds cutting down trees and gathering up the branches about fifty yards from the fence which divides the acclimatisation grounds. Witness looked round for a moment, and the next instant saw accused in the act of climbing over the fpnee. He called qn him to stop, but he did not do so. Witness followed accused into the grounds, but as the bush was go thick he lost sight of him. Constable Lawlor deposed to being sent at half-past ton the previous morning to search for accused. After searching the Hospital, went in the direction he had taken, and after searching for about three-quarters of an hour found him in the grounds concealed under some gorse and brambles. Witness nearly walked over the accused. He then arrested him. In reply to the Bench, accused said the reason why ho had run away was that they would not treat him the same as the other prisoners were treated. He was not allowed to speak to any of them, and was also not allowed a light at night, to reacj, as tlqe others were. His Worship told him that if lie had had any complaints to moke he should have made them to the visiting Justices. The Justices visited the gaol regularly, and accused hod not on any occasion made a complaint to them. He would be sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour, the sentence to take effect at the expiration of the other sentences. Committal to the Asylum.—The man Henry who attempted to throw himself out of the* train yesterday afternoon when coming through (he tunnel, was found to he insane on medical examination, and committed to the Asylum.