MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1502, 9 December 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, December 9th. [Before G. L. Mcllish, E?q , R.M.] Prune and Disorderly. Margaret Buchanan was fined 20s. Robert, Row, for bt ing drunk and making use of obscene language, was fined 20s. LUNACY. —Charle-i Denman, charm'd with lunacy Irom drink, was remanded to Lyttelton for medical treatment. Obscene Exposure,— William Frederick Steer, jun., was charged with this offence and

(he making vise of obscene language. The offences were committed while under the influence of d> ink, in High street, on Sunday morning. The constable who arrested the prisoner stated he made use of the language complained of. A (Ice of 20s was inflicted in each case,and also 8s the expenses of one witness. A c iso against Thomas Hanley, alias Timothy Sullivan, was, at tho prisoner’s request, allowed to stand over for a short time for tho production of evidence in his favor. On resuming, however, his witness corroborated the testimony of the previous witness, audhe was lined 'los. Whiting Insulting Letter.-- John Firth was charged with having on tho 2nd of December sent a certain writing to Ellen Cooler with the intention of provoking a broach of the peace. Mrs Cooper, wife of Charles Cooper, stated she was on a visit to Mrs Firth and picked a strawberry or two in the garden, the latter having told her that her husband did not wish to have the strawberries picked ; that he counted them and would make a noise if he missed any of them. Tho following morning Mr Cooper received the note complained of, and he then laid an information. Tho husband of the last witness corroborated her evidence, and read the offensive letter in Cort, in which his wife was alluded to as an old cow and a beast. His Worship said nothing justified the use of such language, and he should order the defendant to enter into his own recognizance to keep the peace for twelve months, or in default twelve months’ imprisonment.

Protection. —Mary Jones applied for protection for her earnings against her husband, William Jones, on the ground of his habitual drunkenness and ill-usage. The applicant said she had no wish to imprison her husband, but they could not iivo peaceably together, and she wished for a separation. The defendant admitted that he had struck his wife when in a passion, which he was sorry for, and he was willing to agree to a separation, and allow his wife 12s per week and the household effects. The applicant agreed to this, and the order was made accordingly. Maintenance.—An order was made against William Dixon to pay his wife, Sarah Dixon, 15s per week for her maintenance. Dog Trespass. —George Whiteford was summoned for allowing a dog, his property, to be at large in the North Park, on the 11th of November. The defendant said although the dog was registered in his name, it did not belong to him. David Douglas, the ranger, who laid the information, said at the time of the trespass the dog was notin the care of the defendant, but with three other persons. A fine of 10s was inflicted, the defendant preferring to admit the ownership of the dog, and seek his remedy hereafter from the real owner, than lose any more time over the matter.

Breach of Public-house Ordinance.— Jacob Wagner, for allowing the lamp outside the Clarendon Hotel to remain unlighted on Sunday night, the 24th November, was fined 10s.

Stray Horses and Cattle. —The usual flue of 5s was inflicted in the following cases for allowing horses and cattle to wander at large. Patrick Flannery, Thomas Green, Samuel Dowdall, J. T. Dowdall, P. Taylor, John Percy, Lewis Smith, William Wilson, John Gilman, Charles Oartman, Thomas Poole, John Hawker. Obscene Language. —Anthony Ferrick and Bridget Ferrick were informed against for making use of obscene language in Brown’s lane, on the 17th November. Detective Benjamin stated that both were drunk and quarrelling, and making use of very bad language within the hearing of passers-by. Each was fined 20a and the expenses of two witnesses who had been subpoenaed. There was a second charge of a similar character against the female prisoner, committed on another date. A fine of 20s was also inflicted in this case as well as the expenses of two witnesses.

Torturing a Horse.— William Keith was summoned for riding a horse with a sore hack. From the evidence of a witness and the constable whose attention was called to the circumstance, the offence appeared to be of an aggravated character, and a fine of 40s and costs was inflicted. Transfer. —A wine and beer license at Sydenham was transferred from Wm. Letford to Alfred Piper.

Incendiarism. Joseph Wade, Charles Wade, and Frederick Chisnell were charged with wilfully and maliciously setting fire to a store, the property of Messrs Twentymanand Cousin. Mr Inspector Hickson asked for the discharge of Frederick Chisnell, as the police did not intend to offer any evidence against him. The other two prisoners, mere lads, were defended by Mr Izard. Ellen Vogel, a little girl nine years of age, having been examined as to her knowledge of the obligations of an oath, and sworn, said she lived in Worcester street, and knew the two prisoners. Her brother John was on Sunday week milking cows in a paddock near to the one where the fire occurred. It was in the afternoon, ' and she left him there to return home. She passed through the paddock where the kerosene store stood, and saw the two boys there ; the biggest one lighted some grass with a match, and put it close to the shed. It began to blaze; the smaller boy did not do so much as the others, and when the fire began to blaze up they ran away. John Vogel, brother of the last witness, said on Sunday week, about four o’clock, he went to milk his cows in a paddock adjoining the one where the fire was. He saw no one in that paddock, either going or returning. He saw the fire from his own paddock, but did not see the boys there; they were in his paddock, and afterwards went into the one where the kerosene shed was, and then he did not see them afterwards. Frederick Chisnell, nine years of age being sworn, said ho was walking in Vogel’s paddock with the two other lads last Sunday week. Ho was in the paddock where the kerosene store was, but not in that part of it. He was in Hazard’s paddock when the fire broke out. Ho saw three big boys lying down in the paddock where the kerosene store was; one of them lighted a match and was smoking. When the fire began they all ran away in the direction of the Stanraore road. They were bigger, but not much, than the two prisoners, Neither be or his companions had pipes or matches, nor did ho see either of them light one, although he was with them all the time. Thomas Grey, a gardener, said he passed the kerosene store on the Saturday afternoon before the fire, and he saw leakage of kerosene several feet away from the building, and thought what a dangerous thing it was, as persons frequently passed by it smoking. Did not see any one in the paddock the same day. Previous to the fire lie had frequently seen boys there smoking, and had corrected them. It was a common occurrence, especially on Sundays. This was the case for the police. Mr Inspector Hickson said ho had not brought the case forward with the view of having the boys punished, neither did Messrs Twentyman and Cousin wish that to he done. It was simply that the ventilation of the matter might have a deterrent effect for the future by showing the danger of the careless and indiscriminate practice of lighting matches and throwing them away in the open air. His Worship agreed with Inspector Hickson, and having administered a caution discharged the lads.

LYTTELTON. Monday, December 9. [Before W. Donald, Esq , R M.] Vagrancy. —Charles Dale, a child 8 years of age, who bad been found on the promises of George Barr, was sent to Burnham Reformatory for six years, to ho brought up in the tenets of the Church of England.