MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1490, 25 November 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, Novembee 25. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.]

Dbunk and Disorderly. —Calligan McCarthy was fined 10s. A first offender waa fined sa.

Assault. —Mr Inspector Hickson asked leave to withdraw a charge of aaaault against Albert Oaraon. Mr R. D. Thomas, who was to have appeared for defendant, made no objection. The charge was withdrawn accordingly. Indecent Exposure. —George Edward Wilson was charged with wilfully and indecently exposing himself in a public place. Mr R. D Thomas appeared for defendant. The case in the absence of the witnesses for the prosecution was remanded until Thursday, 28th hast., bail being allowed.

Rubious Driving. —Ezekiel Kerr was charged with furiously driving down High street on October 30th. The evidence of a witness, who saw the occurence, being taken, the case was dismissed, as there was nothing to show that defendant had been driving unusually fast or recklessly. Wandering Animais.— A, Piper, E, 11. Millt'tfc, J- T. FaviUe, Jacob Wagner, C. Higgs, Cornelius O’Jonnor, John Herbert, James Wearn, Finlay Rose, and Joseph Hatfield, were fined 5s each for permitting their horses and cattle to wander at large, contrary to law.

Bbeach or City By-Law.— William Gahagan was summoned for driving across the concrete channel and asphulte footpath, and was fined 10s.

Unregistered Dogs. John Harper, senior, John Harper, junior, and Henry Joblin were each fined 20s for having unregistered dogs in their possession. Non-Attbndance, —Thomas Hawkins was summoned to show cause why his recognizance should not be estreated. The defendant handed in a medical certificate from Dr. Symes, and stated that his absence was the result of an accident, having been thrown from a trap. His Worship said the certificate did not apply to the date' on which defendant should have appeared in Court. Defendant said he was too ill to come on that day, but ho did •not obtain medical advice until a day or two after the accident. He admitted tho offence of being drunk, for which he was summoned to appear. His Worship admitted the excuse for non-attendance and inflicted a fine of 20s for the drunkenness.

Flower Stealing.— Edward Jerningham Wakefield was charged with stealing flowers from the Public Domain early on the morning of 11th November. John Francis Armstrong, curator of tho Public Domain, stated that he had detected the defendant carrying flowers out of the garden on the day stated. They were worth 10s, The excuse made by the defendant was that he wanted them for the hospital, and did not take them with any felonious intention. A nurse in the hospital had been kind to him, and ho took a few floweos to give her. Mr Armstrong had given him flowers before, and he did not think he was doing any harm in helping himself to a few on this occasion, as he intended to acquaint Mr Armstrong when he met him. A fine of 40a was inflicted. Breach or Sheep Ordinance. Job Horvvell, John Garforth, and Frederick Yesey were summoned for having in their possession unbrauded sheep contrary to the Ordinance. In the cases of Horwell and Yesey, a fine of 20s was imposed, but in Mr Garforth’s instance there were extenuating circumstances, and the mitigated penalty of 10s was imposed. Assault. —Thomas Low was summoned for assaulting Williamson on tho 12th inst. The prosecutor was in the employ of the defendant, a butcher, and the assault complained of was being rather roughly bundled out of the shop. The defendant, at his own request, was sworn, and admitted putting the complainant out of tho shop. He had been three months in his service, and out of that time ho had not beeuaober a month. Ho put him off tho premises in consequence of statements made by his daughters on his return from Timaru, that the complainant had insulted them. The defendant’s daughters were sworn and gave corroborative evidence. His Worship characterised it as a very trivial affair, the justice of which would bo met by a fine of Is and costs.

Assault. —Richard Lew in was summoned for assaulting Mr Armstrong, curator of the Public Gardens. Mr Harper appeared for tho complainant, and said that the defendant had written an apology to the complainant, who was willing to withdraw the charge. His Worship ordered the defendant to pay 15s lor damage done to complainant’s clothes, the ■cost of one witness, 3s, and for permitting his d'ur to trespass in the ground, a line of 10s was inflicted.

Maintenance. —James Mitchell was summoned for neglecting to contribute towards his wife’s support. A weekly order had previouely been made, but the defendant hud allowed arrears to tho amount of £4 17s 6d to accumulate. His Worship ad journed the ease to give the defendant an opportunity of making an effort to clear off the arrears.

Abusive Language.—John Everill was summon d for using abusive and threatening language to Peter Duncan on November Oth. The language complained of was made use of •on the Agricultural and Pastoral Aaic.ciation’s Grounds, Colombo road. Mr It. D. Thomas appeared for the complainant, and Mr Izard for the defendant. The prosecutor Stated that on the day in question he was an

exhibitor at the Agricultural Show, and he heard the defendant say, “There’s Duncan himself, the b scoundrel; he has robbed me of £3.” He used other abusive terms at 10 o’clock in the forenoon, and again at 4 o’clock in ,tho afternoon the same day. The defendant had been drinking, but knew very well what ho was doing. They had parted on friendly terms the same morning at eight o’clock. Mr Izard, on behalf of the defendant, said he was prepared to admit the unjustifiable nature of the language used, and that there was no justification whatever for calling the complainant a swindler. Mr Thomas said that admission was what was desired in bringing the case forward. If the language had been made use of in Mr Duncan’s yard, where his men knew him, no great harm could be done to his reputation ; but the sting in this matter was, that such an unwarrantable outrogo, which might have possibly led to serious consequences, should have been passed on a respectable man in so public a place and time. He had four witnesses, likewise, who had come specially to give evidence in the case. His Worship fined the defendant 20s and costs, the latter amounting to £3 14s 2d.

LYTTELTON. Monday, Novembee 25. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.J Deunkenness. —David Watson, who had been arrested by Sergeant-major O’Grady, was discharged with a caution. Neglecting toPeovide eoeChildeen’s Supeoet. —Mr Oolee, master of the Burnham Industrial School, charged Thomas Dale with not paying for the support of his child. Accused was ordered to pay 10s per week. Edwin Blackler, for similar negligence, was ordered to pay £2 at once, and £1 per month till arrears were cleared off.

Absent Without Leave. —Alfred Opie, belonging to the Akbar, brigantine, charged by the master of that vessel with the above offence, was sent on board. Lunacy pbom Deink. —Thomas Fisher, on remand from Ashburton, and H. F. Allen and W. Hildreth, on remand from Christchurch, having fully recovered, were discharged.

Attempt to Assault and Abusive Language. —Catherine Kelly was charged by Mrs Parker with committing the above offences on November sth. The offence was fully proved, and accused was bound over to keep the peace for six months and to find sureties for same in the sum of £2O, or in default, to suffer a month’s imprisonment with hard labour.

Civil Case. —Selander, Fletcher and Co, v Captain Day, master of brigantine Star, claim £5 17s 4d for goods short loaded. Judgment by default for amount claimed and costs, 13s.