MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1404, 15 August 1878, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, August 18. [Before Q-. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.] Drunkenness. —William Leslie was fined 5s for being drunk, and 20s for assaulting a man iad woman in a public street. Illegally on Premises.— George Williams and George Spires were charged with being illegally on the premises of William Chapman. The prosecutor proved that a window in his house had been broken. The defendants were ordered to pay 18s, the value of the windows, and allowed to go. Larceny. —Joseph Edward Jackson was charged with the larceny of a rug, valued at 22s* the property of Dr. Symes. The prosecutor deposed that prisoner had been in his employment as groom until the 7th August. The rug produced was in the groom’s room, since that date. A man named Berry was in prosecutor’s employ about a years ago. James Smith, groom to the last witness, deposed that prisoner came to Dr. Symes’ house on Sunday last and had a talk, and left after about half an hour’s stay. That night witness missed the rug produced. The next morning witness mot prisoner at the railway station, and accused him of taking the rug, at the same time recommending him to give it up. Prisoner said the rug belonged to him; an old man had given it to him. Witness told him that a policeman would bo sent after him if he did not give it up. Prisoner replied, “Tell the doctor I will see him on Sunday.” To prisoner—You did not tell me that the rug was yours. You would have taken it away with your box if it did. To Inspector Hickson—Prisoner took his box away a week before he took the rug. . Dr. Symes, re-called, deposed that he had brought out the rug from England. Ho had had it for six or eight years. The witness here asked the Bench to deal leniently with the prisoner, who had been a good lad till the last few months, when he appeared to have fallen into bad company. Sergeant Wilson deposed to arresting prisoner, who had the rug on his bed. Prisoner said the rug had been given to him by a man named Berry, who had been in the doctor’s employ with him. Witness had endeavoured to find Berry, but had not succeeded. In his defence, prisoner repeated that the rug had been given to him by Berry. The Bench sentenced him to a week’s imprisonment, with hard labor. William Allan, alias Belgrave, and Maurice Fitzpatrick appeared, on remand, charged with stealing from the person a watch, the property of Thomas Kneen, on Monday, the sth instant, in Christchurch. John Anderson, of Prebbleton, was called for the defence, and deposed that Fitzpatrick passed his place, eight miles from town, on Tuesday morning, the 6th instant. He did not know where prisoner had been on the Monday. E. J. White deposed that he had driven Fitzpatrick to the Plough Inn on Tuesday morning, the 6th. He knew nothing of his doings on Monday. John Amos deposed to having seen Fitzpatrick on Monday, the sth instant, about ten o’clock a.m., and again between half-past twelve and one. Jane Anderson deposed to having seen Fitzpatrick on Monday, the sth instant, at half past two o’clock, at his own residence, Fitzpatrick was discharged, but cautioned to be careful as to mixing himself up in a questionable transaction. Allan pleaded that he did not know how he got the watch. He had been drunk. He would promise never to get drunk again. Inspector Hickson informed the Bench that prisoner had previously been convicted at the Supreme Court. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor.

City Bylaw. —Frederington Barrington was called, on remand, to answer a charge of allowing his horse to run away. A witness proved that he was not to blame, and the Bench dismissed the case.

LYTTLETON. Thursday, August 15. [Betore W. Donald, Esq., R.M.I Drunkenness. —L. Schmidt was fined 10s for the offence.

Drunk and Disorderly. —Charles Allen, arrested by Constable Hewett, was fined 10s. Absent without Leave.—J. Watts, a seaman belonging to the barque Elmabeth, was sentenced to four days’ imprisonment for the above offence.