MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1379, 17 July 1878, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, July 17. [Before Q-. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness.—John Scott Ridley was fined 10s. A first offender was fined ss. An old man, John Sullivan, was remanded in order that arrangements might be made for putting him in the Selwyn Homo, Q-eorge Tibbs and Daisy Cornfoot were fined 10s each. Larceny. —Henry Johnstone was charged with stealing a swag of the value of 60s, the property of Frank Harris. He was charged also with stealing a vest, the property of S. D. Nathan. The prosecutor in the lust case deposed to having missed the vest, which was worth 20s. Detective Benjamin had seen prisoner offering for sale the vest and a blanket. When arrested on suspicion, the prisoner stated that ho hud bought the an ides at Rakaia. The charges were clearly proved, and prisoner was sentenced to four mouths imprisonment with hard labor.

LYTTELTON. Wednesday, July 17. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.j Assault. —Thomas Holder was accused of this offence. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared for the defendant. James Payne, a ballastman, stated that on the sth July defendant came to the quarry where he was working for ballast for his vessel, and a quarrel ensued. Defendant had bought a share in a ballast-cutter owned by complainant, and on the strength of this claimed half the quarry. A witness stated that Holder came alongside with Ins vessel on the morning in question. Payne was working above, and defendant could not load his vessel in consequence. A quarrel

ensued, defendant catching Payne by the beard, when Payne knocked him down with a pick. Defendant, before catching Payne by the beard, had gone up above, where complainant was working with another man, and rolled some heavy stones, weighing from 501bs. to 60lhs. Defendant said he had been working with Payne from 187(5, and in that year had purchased a share of a ballast cutter, tools, &e., from Payne. When Payne sold him the share he impressed on defendant that ho would have the privilege of working the quarry, which was situated so that they could work it in rough weather when other ballast boats could not work. It was on this account that defendant purchased the share in the cutter for which he gave an unusual sum on that account. Defendant on the morning in question went to work in the quarry as usual, and got there before the complainant. However, whilst he and his mate were making the vessel fast before loading her, Payne and another workman went to work above where he and his mate were, in a place where they had never worked before, and began rolling down heavy stones on them. He had then had a dispute with Payne, and seized him by the whiskers, on which Payne struck him with a pick he had in his hand, and knocked him senseless for five minutes. He had no stone in his hand when he struck the complainant as. stat ed by him. The man who was w orking with defendant confirmed his evidence, Mr Nalder argued that Payne had commenced the assault by rolling down the stones on defendant and his mate to drive them out of the quarry. The Bench fined accused 2s 6d, stating that defendant hud shown deliberation in going up above'JPayne to roll the stones on him. Costs 7s 61,

Civil Cashs. —Lyttelton Borough Council v Powell, claim 18a for borough rates ; judgment by default, costs 9s. W. W. Woods v George Smith, claim £4 ; judgment by default, costs 10s.