MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1503, 10 December 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, Dbcembeb 10th. (Before Q-. L- Mollish, Esq., R.M.) Deunk and Disoedbbly.—A first offender was fined ss. Lunacy. —Robert Thomson was charged with lunacy from drink. Mr Brinkman, with whom he had been boarding since Friday, said he had got up in the middle of the night and ran out of the house. He said he had been poisoned. He was followed by a man who had occupied the same room with him and detained until taken charge of by the police. He had been taken to the Hospital and examined, and the house-surgeon said he was only suffering from the effects of drink. The accused said he was quite sane now ; he had had a ringing in his ears, and generally felt ill, which made him think he had been poisoned, but he was in the full possession of his senses. His Worship said he could see nothing about the man to show that he was out of his mind, Mr Inspector Hickson reminded his Worship that it was only half an hour since the accused had been examined by Dr. Coward, who had advised his temporary detention for medical treatment. The accused having reiterated his protestations as to his sanity, his Worship ordered his discharge, at the same time advising Mr Brinkman to keep an eye on him, and if he acted strangely at once to take the proper steps necessary for his safety. The accused was then discharged. Yasbancy. —Bridget Ferrick and Henry E. Danby alias Duffy were charged under the Vagrant Act with having no lawful visible means of support. Henry Q-afney, living in Lichfield street, next the defendants, said there was a great disturbance last night in their house, and a great deal of bad language was used, These disturbances were of frequent occurrence for the last three years. The male prisoner, be believed, did nothing for a living. Mr Dallas, the agent of the property occupied by the defendants, anid complaints had been made to him by the last witness of the defendants’ conduct since they had been in the house. Another resident in Lichfield street corroborated the evidence of the first witness as to the disturbance last night. The defendants were a nuisance to the neighbourhood, and unless something was done he would have to leave his house. Sergeant Beck said that by instructions he had received he went lust night to the house of the defendants, and arrested them on a charge of vagrancy. The male defendant only shammed to work for a living, and the woman was a common prostitute. The male defendant denied that he had created any disturbance. He earned bis living by hawking fruit about the streets, and endeavored to keep himself respectable. He had a broken foot, and could not do any hard work. Detective Benjamin said some months ago the male defendant was a disorderly character, but since he had come out of the Hospital he had been more sober. His Worship had no belief in his statements, but said he would give him forty-eight hours to clear out or choese better company ; if he was found at the end of that time in the female defendant’s company he would be arrested again. The female defendant was discharged at the same time.

An Uncontrollable Child. George Kusker was brought up as an uncontrollable child. His mother said he frequently ran away and was absent for days at a time. He was beyond her control. She said if he would promise to behave himself for the future she did not wish him sent away or punished. She wished to send him to his father at Akaroa by the coach on Thursday morning. His worship said, under tho circumstances, ho would discharge tho boy, and cautioned him as to Id's conduct for the future. LYTTELTON. Tuesday, December 10th. [Before H. R. Webb, T. H. Potts, and H. Allwright, Esqs.] Lunacy. —Virginia Taylor was committed to the Sunnyside Lunatic Asylum on tho medical certificates of Drs. Rouse and Macdonald.