MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1493, 28 November 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRI3TCIIURCH. J THUBBDAY, NOVKMIiKB 28. [Before a. L. Mellish, Esq , E.M.I i Disobeying a Summons.—Matthew Welsh was charged with disobeying a summons to appear at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Christchurch, on November 27th, for violently assaulting and beating his wife. Catherine Welsh, the wife of the accused, gave evidence that he had beaten her, but sho did not think he knew what he wao doing at the time. The accused said there had been a difference between himself and his wife for some time,and he thought the best thing they could do would be to separate, and ho would make an allowance for her maintenance. His Worship agreed with him, and ordered him to enter into his own recognizance in the sum of k-0 to keep the peace for twelve months, or in default one month's imprisonment. Obscenity.—Wm. Hay man was charged with wilfully and obscenely exposing his person in a public street. Mr Inspector llickson said he hud reason to believo the pruoner could be identified on other eimilar charges, and requested a remand until Monday m-<i. He had made arrangements for the witnesses to be at the police depot in tlie evening lor the purpose of identifying him as the perpetrator of other similar acts of indecency besides the two charges that ho was now brought up on. The evidence of Constable Sutherland, who arrested the prisoner, was taken, and he was remanded until Monday, December 2nd. His Worship requested the reporters; who were present to Call the attention of any persons who had been insulted by acts similar to that of which the prisoner was accused to the desirability of their coming forward for the purpose of identifying and giving evidence against him if necessary. George Edward Willon was brought up on a similar charge, Mr R. D. Thomas appearing on his behalf. A female witness slated that on Friday, the Bth instant, her children, nine and six years of ago respectively, hud been Bent down the Canal Reserve road to attend cows, and on their return home, in rousequence of something they said, she told her husband, and subsequently the police. A little „irl eight years of age, the daughter ot the last witness', was examined as to her fitness to be sworn. From her answers it was evident that she wae totally unconscious of the moral responsibility she would undertake by talsely waring, and his Worship ret used 0 have hersw/rn, stating at the *ame tune that the case must break down for want ot evidence.

Feloniously Breaking into a Store, yv —George Brind was charged with breaking & and entering into a store with intent to commit a felony. There was idao a second charge of larceny from a dwelling of a watch value f , £0 9s, the of Henry Greenaway. The evidence of Detective Walker was taken t( to the effect that he arrested the prisoner ( .. while pawning a watch, and charged him at a i the same time with breaking into a store unci f'< stealing the watch. At thoreqne»t of Mr In- C spector Hickson, the prisoner was remanded ai to Ashburton, where the offence was com- *' mitted. . oi LYT rELTON. hi (Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.) tl Thursday, November 28ch. 113 Refusal of Doty on the High Seas.— r J Alfred Opie and Harry Somers, seamen be- _ longing to the barque Akbar, on remand _ from yesterday, was brought up charged with C( this o'ffonce. John Carson, the chief officer, tl corroborated the captain's evidence, and tl stated the vessel was in a seaworthy condi- y< tion, and after Mr Nalder had addressed the a Bench on behalf of tho prisoners, thoy wire tl sentenced to one week's imprisonment each. 1] : —— " ci