MAGISTRATES’ COURT.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1485, 19 November 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, Novembre 19. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.) Drunk and Disorderly. —A first offender was fined ss. OnscENE Language. —Annie Wharton was charged with drunkenness and making use of obscene language. A fine of 20s was inflicted.

Lunacy from Drink. —William Hildreth was charged with lunacy from drink, and remanded to Lyttelton for one week for medical treatment. Larceny from a Dvvelxino. —John Vavasour was charged with breaking into and entering a dwelling-house and stealing therefrom a silk pocket handkerchief, value 4s, the property of one John Mathson. The prosecutor said ho was in the employment of Mr Bealey, at the Styx, on the 17th inst., ho left homo with his wife between 12 and 1 o’clock, returning about nine o’clock the guano day. On coming homo lie found his box had been rummaged and the things thrown about. One of the windows had been taken out. Two sixpences, some coppers and oranges, and a pocket handkerchief were mis.-ing. Last saw the handkerchief (the same produced) at Mr Mullholland’s, where the prisoner had been working. The prisoner came to prosecutor’s house the morning ho went out with ins wife, and left a half an hour before hinn William James Mulholland, a farmer residing at the Styx, said ho engaged the prisoner, who entered his service on Friday last. Gave him permission last Sunday to go and see bis parents, whom he said lived at the sandhills, lie went in the morning, ar il returned about 3 p.m. Prisoner subsequently snowed him the handkerchief produced, which be said bad been bought lor him by bis people, who had given os lor it. Co ns I able Briggs proved arresting the prisoner at the house of the last witness. Ho told him who he was, and the nature i f the charge against him, and then look him in charge to the depot, having previously, from a statement

of the prisoner, searched Mr Mulholhnd’s garden, and found the handkerchief which had been stolen. This was the case, and the prisoner, who was only fifteen years of age, and had just come from a three years’residence at the Naval Training School, Auckland, where ho had been sent as a neglected child, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, and twenty-four lashes.