MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1275, 20 April 1878, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHBISTCHUBCH. Saturday, April 20. (Before G. L. Lee, Esq., and Dr. Deamer, J.P.’s.) Drunkenness. —John Dowling was fined os ; Emma Pepperill was fined 6s j and a first offender in a similar amount. Vagrancy. —George Lowden and John Parker were charged under the Vagrant Act with being the occupieis of disordeuy houses in Victoria street, and Bichard Palmer, Minnie Thompson, Louisa Byau, and Margaret Maloney, with being frequenters of the same. Inspector Hickson told the Bench that the houses occupied by the accused were immediately opposite Bishop’s Court, and great complaints had been made of accused’s conduct. From the manner they were carrying on the previous night, he had ordered them to be arrested. Air Allan, owner of the property, stated that Lowden had told him he was a married man when he took the houses. He rented them for three mouths and paid the rent in advance. The houses had since been occupied by the accused, aud had been carried ou as places of ill-fame. Ho was under the impression that he could not compel them to leave until the three months had expired, aud he had complained to the police alter he had learnt the sort of characters they were. Several of the neighbours had complained to him of the conduct of these people. Sergeant Beck gave evidence of having visited the houses, aud described the depravity he had witnessed; Parker and Lowden were the occupiers of the places aud Palmer acted as pimp for the women. Evidence of the conduct of these people was given by several residents in the neighbourhood, and Detective Walker aud Sergeants Wilson and Hughes deposed to the character of the three men—Parker and Palmer especially —and the women, 'Thompson and Aialoney. In reply to the Bench, Lowden and Palmer said they had work to go to, and were not short of money. Parker said he had spent T 55 since January. Lowden was sentenced to one mouth’s imprisonment with hard labour, Parker to three months, Palmer to fourteen days, Thompson to three months, Byan to one mouth, and Maloney to three months. Extension of License.— John Carl, Empire Hotel, was granted an extension of his license to the Agricultural show grounds for the Odfellows’ fete, and for a ball the same evening at the Oddfellows’ Hall. LYTTELTON. Saturday, April 20. [Before W. .Donald, Esq., 8.M., aud T. H. Potts, Esq., J.P.] Drunkenness. —Two offenders were fined 10s each, or in default forty-eight hours. Stowaway. —Donald Smith was charged by the purser of the Botorua with having stowed away aboard that steamer on the passage from Wellington to Lyttelton. The Bencli ordered accused to pay fare or penalty, or in default be imprisoned for seven days.