MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1450, 9 October 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednbscay, October 9. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.] Drunkenness. —Charles Muller was fined ss, and William Hill 10s. Extraordinary Behaviour. —John Hale was charged with being drunk and disorderly and behaving in a manner calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. Sydney Shepherd, barman at the Prince of Wales Hotel, being called and sworn, stated that about nine o’clock the previous evening the accused came into the bar of the hotel and commenced flourishing about a loaded pepper box revolver, and when that was taken from him, took a penknife out of his pocket, opened it and brandished it. The landlord, Mr Eox, held the accused while the witness took the revolver from him. Information was given to the police, and Constable Rowse, sent from the depot, came and arrested him. The witness could not say that the accused wss drunk, but he was in a state of great excitement. Sergeant Morice informed the Bench that the accused had been working for Mr Howland, the coachmaker, and had recently been discharged for drunkenness. When arrested, he had declined to give his name or state how he became possessed of the following property, which was found upon him : —One Boston half-hunting silver lever watch, No. 32,038, with a greenstone pendant and Hope locket attached ; one hunting Geneva silver watch, No. 15,739, with monogram on it, ST or SET; one ladies’ half-hunting silver Geneva watch, No. 24,906, a broken hair watchguard, a bullet and a cold chisel. If the accused was remanded for a week he could be examined as to his mental condition, as, although when arrested he was not drunk, ho was very excited and singular in his behaviour, and if he had become in possession of the property dishonestly, it would give the owners an opportunity of identifying it. His Worship remanded the accused to Lyttelton for eight days. Abusive Language.—John H. Hart, remanded from yesterday, was again brought up, charged with having used abusive language towards Benjamin Webb. The case had been remanded at the request of the defendant for the purpose of serving a subpoena on Mrs Pogram, whom he said could give evidence in hij favor. Mrs Elizabeth Pegram, being sworn, said she was present when the alleged bad language was made use of, but she heard nothing of it. A little jealousy existed between the complainant and defendant, and they had a dispute, but she heard no abusive language on either side, and did not believe that the defendant had any intention of hurting or striking the complainant. The most Hart did, was to lay his hand on defendant’s collar, who slipped off his chair. His Worship said it was a trifling case, and dismissed it. Malingering. A man named George Cunningham, undergoing a sentence of imprisonment with hard labor in Addington gaol, was brought before the Court by Mr Reston, charged with lunacy, but after undergoing an examination by Drs. Symes and Turnbull, who pronounced the prisoner malingering, probably with the object of being relieved from hard work, he was sent back to the gaol, and his Worship directed the gaoler to put him to work again and keep him at it. LYTTELTON. Wednesday, October 9. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M., and J. T. Rouse, Esq., J.P.] Absent without Leave. —Wm. Palmer and John Atkinson, two seamen belonging to the ship Langstone, were charged with this offence, and sentenced to eight days’ imprisonment with hard labour. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared to prosecute. Assault, —The same prisoners were charged with assaulting Mr McLeod, the chief officer of the Langstone. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared for the prosecution. It appeared from the evidence of the mate and other witnesses that at 3 p.m. on Monday, Palmer came up to the mate as he was sitting on the ship’s rail and tried to throw him overboard, calling Atkinson to help him. Frederick Fielder, who was on board at the time, seized Atkinson and throw him on the deck, and the mate knocked down Palmer. Both prisoners were half drunk, but knew what they were about. They made use of most disgusting language. Had the mate not been a very strong man he must have been thrown overboard. James Yule, one witness, stated that he heard Palmer say to the captain and mate that he was going home in the ship, and that they had better look out for he would do for them both. Sentenced to ten weeks’ imprisonment, with hard labour. Civil Cases.—Nalder v Evans, judgment summons, claim £5, defendant ordered to pay 10s per week, in default one month’s imprisonment. Fletcher, as assignee of Wood’s estate, v Bossiter, claim £5 14s, Mr H. N. Nalder for plaintiff ; judgment for plaintiff, costs 10s, solicitor’s fee 21s. Fletcher vsarre, claim £1 ; judgment for plaintiff, costs 10s. Hobbs v Ray, claim £6 4s; adjourned for a week.