MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1420, 3 September 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, September 3. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.] Deuneenne93. Ono first offender was fined ss. Mary Maule was fined 20s. Attempting to Commit a Felony.— Michael Brannigan was charged with attempting to commit a felony ; he was also charged, on remand, with having no lawful visible means of support. Henry Allen, licensee of the Golden Age, deposed that prisoner was in the bar of the hotel on Monday evening with two other men. Thomas Hill was one of these. Witness saw prisoner put his hand into Hill’s pocket. Hill accused prisoner and struck him. The two men closed and fell to tho ground. Prisoner, while they were on the floor, again attempted to put his hand into Hill’s pocket. Witness obtained assistance and turned them out. There was a crowd round tho door by this time, and they held the prisoner till the police, whom witness had sent for, arrived. Hill paid for three drinks, and had money in a portmonnaie. Prisoner saw tho money and wanted to borrow five shillings from Hill, Thomas Hill, labourer, residing at Bingsland, deposed that he had mot prisoner on Monday near the White Hart. He had never seen prisoner before. He had changed a “ bit of money” at the White Hart. Prisoner then accompanied him to tho Golden Age, where prisoner wanted to borrow five shillings, and pub his hand into witness’s pocket. There was a conversation about work, and prisoner said he would not work for seven shillings a day. Witnes had about £4 in his purse. Prisoner knew this, as he had seen witness change a cheque at the White Hart. Witness put the purse into his left-hand trousers pocket. Witness then struck him, and told him he did so because prisoner was trying to pick his pocket. Prisoner made no reply to this. Constable Daley deposed to arresting tho prisoner, who, when arrested, pretended to be drunk, and had to bo carried part of tho way to the lock-up. Witness discovered that prisoner was sober. At tho watch-house he said —“ I admit being a thief if I get tho Chance, but I am too fly for anything to bo got on mo; I have crossed too much saltwater for that.” Constable Briggs confirmed the last witness’s evidence as to tho soberness of prisoner, and as to what he had said at tho watch-house. Prisoner was sent to gaol for six months with hard labor. The charge of vagrancy was not pressed. Stealing feom tub PEESON.—Margaret Ellison was charged with stealing £8 from the person of Robert Groat. On the application of Inspector Hickspn, she was remanded till Wednesday, the 4tK inst.