MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1365, 1 July 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, July 1. Drunkenness. John Oorboy was fined 20s ; Robert Smeston 40s, and ordered to pay Is cab hire ; Ellen Jordan 20s ; Louisa Ryan was sent to gaol for three months with hard labor. Against the above previous convictions were alleged. Two first offenders were fired 5s each. Destroying Property.— Stephen Rodda was charged with breaking into the R.M. Court building. Sergeant Morrice deposed to the amount of damage done, 18s fid worth. Prisoner said lie had left an umbrella in the City Council chambers. Mr Haskens, clerk of the City Council, deposed to prisoner having made bis way into the Court by smashing in one of the doors. Witness followed him until secured by the police. Sergeant Morrice called his Worship’s attention to the difficulty experienced in securing convictions in cases of larrikinism such as this, and asked for a severe punishment whore offenders were caught. Prisoner was fined 5s for being drunk and 10s for destroying the property, and ordered to pay its value, 18s fid.

Malicious Injury to Property. —John McNamara was charged with the malicious injury of property valued at 13s fid. Sergeant W ilson deposed to having, on Saturday night, seen prisoner smash a window at the corner of Kilmorc and Barbadoes streets. Prisoner said the mischief was done by a mate. William James Stoupe, storekeeper, deposed to having overtaken prisoner close to Ward’s brewery. The moment „ witness heard the window break he rushed after prisoner, who ran away. He had heard no footsteps except those of prisoner. Eor the defence, Michael Reilly deposed that prisoner was about half a chain ahead of him when he stumbled and fell accidentally against the window and broke it. The case was dismissed, and a summons immediately issued against Michael Reilly. Laeceny.— George Carr was charged with stealing a pair of boots, the property of B. J. Hale. George McCutcheon, foreman for Mr Hale, deposed to having been informed that prisoner had taken a pair of boots. Witness followed bim and caught him in a right of way near Uncle Tom’s. Prisoner pitched a pair of boots (produced) from under his coat. Prisoner asked to be let off on account of his wife and family, and then suddenly bolted. Witness next saw prisoner when Detective Benjamin brought him to Mr Hale’s shop. John Thornton, bootmaker, corroborated the evidence already given. Prisoner could not understand how boots, which were exposed for sale, could be identified. Arthur Hind, shopboy at Hale’s, deposed to having seen a man, whom he suspected of taking a pair of boots, and pointed him out to witness McCutcheon. Detective Benjamin deposed to having arrested prisoner, who had been identified by the witness Thornton. Prisoner denied all knowledge of the theft. A record of several previous convictions was handed to the Bench by Sergeant Morrice. The Bench passed a sentence of six months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Destruction of Property. Michael Reilly was then charged with destroying wilfully two panes of glass, the property of Mr Stoupe. John McNamara, laborer, deposed to having heard the window smashed, and having run away. Defendant was a little drunk. Witness was taken to the lock up. Sergeant Morrice mentioned that a number of palings had been torn from fences in the same neighbourhood. Accused said he was passing the shop and stumbled accidentally against the window. Ho was fined 40s, and ordered to pay 15s, the amount of damage done.

Larceny. —John E. Taylor was charged with stealing a pair of trousers, the property of F. Gabites. Thomas Chave, draper, in the employ of Fletcher Gabites, deposed to having exposed for sale a pair of trousers of the same pattern and size as that produced. He missed the trousers on Thursday. They had not been sold to one. Their value was 9s 9d. To Prisoner—l can swear to the pattern and size, and think it doubtful that you could have purchased them at another shop The prisoner here said that the trousers had been given to him by a friend who had left the country. Solomon David Nathan deposed to prisoner having offered to pawn the trousers produced. Witness refused to have anything to do with them. Witness suspecting the man followed him to Gloucester street, when he demanded where the trousers came from. Prisoner said someone had given them to him in the street. Witness gave him in charge on suspicion. Constable Kenny deposed to the last witness giving prisoner in charge to him. A long list of previous convictions was handed to the Bench. Prisoner was sent to prison for six months, with hard labor.

Disobeying Order of Court. John Henry Hart was charged with disobeying an order of the Court requiring him to pay 15s a week towards the support of his wife. Mrs Hart proved that defendant had paid her nothing. Ho had plenty of money. The issue of the order was duly proved. The Bench sent defendant to prison for three months, with hard labor. Protection Order. —Emma Borland applied for a protection order against her husband, James Borland, on the ground of habitual drunkenness. The case had been adjourned from last week. Sergeant Beck informed the Bench that defendant was a hardworking man, but drank a good deal. The Bench let the matter stand over for a week, in order to allow of both parties taking the pledge. Throwing Stones. —JSllesmere Goodwin, a lad about twelve years of age was charged with assaulting Lilly Carter, a little girl, by throwing stones at her. The Bench said the lad had been flogged by his schoolmaster, and kept in school during play hours for a week. The boy was dismissed with a caution, and ordered to pay costs, 15s fid. Abusive Language. —William Henwood was charged with using abusive language to Francis Pepperell, on the 16th June’ The evidence was contradictory, and the Bench dismissed the case.

Game Laws. —James W. Wright was charged with killing game without a license on the 21 at June at Papanui, Defendant admitted the fact under extenuating circumstances, and was fined £5 and costs, 9s. Pawnbroker’s License. The application of S. Cohen for a pawnbroker’s license was granted.