MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1517, 27 December 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, December 27, [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq-,R.M.] Drunk; and Disorderly.— Annie Wharton was fined 5s : a first offender ss; and Thomas Grainger 10s. Michael Kecvy alius Kelly, in addition to drunkenness, was further charged with resitting Constable Ryan and damaging his capo to the extent of 12s 6d. He was ordered to pay a fine of 40s; damages, 12s William Stephens, upon proof of a HKirge of drunkenness, aggravated by strikHKg Constable Harold, who arrested him, was ' fined 5s for being drunk and 60s for the assault on the constable. Robert Cameron was fined 10s for being drunk. Samuel A’Court, who was in custody for , being drunk and disorderly, made his appearance in Court in a state of intoxication, and was remanded until he was sober. Samuel Dowey, on bail, similarly charged, made no appearance when his name was called, and a summons was ordered to be issued. Wilful Damage.— Edgar Osborne was charged with with wilfully and maliciously injuring a gas lamp the property of the Christchurch City Council. There was a further charge of resisting the arresting constable and damaging private property of the value of 10s. There was no appearance of the accused, who had been admitted to bail. A summons was ordered to be issued for his appearance. Breaking into a Dwelling.— Margaret Dorn was charged with breaking into the house of Mr W. A. Toke and stealing sundry articles therefrom. Mr W. A. Toke, living in Madras street, said the prisoner had been employed in his house two days charing. On Christmas Day, he went out between 11 and 12 o’clock noon, no one being left on the premises. He returned shortly before nine o’clock, and found the cellar door broken open and some porter abstracted from a barrel. Elizabeth Toke, the wife of the last witness, said the prisoner had been employed by her. Witness was absent with her husband on Christmas Day, and left no one in the house, which was fastened up. On returning, she found the house as described by the lust witness open, and she missed some bacon, a quantity of eggs, and some porter out of a barrel which she had loft in the morning. Witness gave|informationto Detective Walker, and accompanied him to the Armagh street barracks, where the prisoner lived. _ There she found some plates and ribbon, which she identified as her property. Prisoner was then taken into custody, and admitted to the witness that she had taken the property, and begged for forgiveness. She had been instigated by another woman. Jane Smith, servant to the last witness, identified a Maori kit produced as the property of her mistress, aiso a bottle containing tea. Elizabeth Fraser, living at the Refuge in Armagh street, deposed that the prisoner left it about noon on Christmas day, and returned about a quarter of an hour afterwards. In the evening she (prisoner) cooked some bacon and eggs, and also produced two bottles of porter. Detective Walker said ho arrested the prisoner in Armagh street, who admitted taking the porter. His Worship said, as the prisoner admitted the offence, he would not put the country to the expense of a trial, but as it was not the first time she had been charged with stealing, he felt he must give her the full penalty which the law had imposed for larceny. She was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Indecent Assault. —James Horatio Key was charged with indecently assaulting Priscilla Coppock on the 26th inst. In the absence of a principal witness the accused was remanded until Monday next. Maintenance. Alexander Wright was charged with failing to provide for the proper maintenance of his wife and three children. The wife of the accused said ho had been away for thirteen weeks, during which time he had sent no money for her maintenance or her three children. Accused said he had gone away with his wife’s consent for the purpose of trying to get work, and had no intention of deserting her or his children. His Worship said he did not wish to imprison the accused although he could do so, but there was plenty of work to be got, and he must not leave his family in such a way again. Out of a sum of £2 9s found on him in the form of a cheque, £2 would be given to his wife. The man was then discharged. Failing to Provide.— George Wood was charged with wilfully failing to provide his wife and eight children with adequate means of support. The complainant said it was all owing to her husband’s drinking, which he admitted to be the fact, and had no defence to offer. The defendant said he would refrain from drinking, although he could not join a Temperance Society for “ conscience sake.” His Worship said the matter could stand adjourned until January 27th, when both parties would have to appear at the Court, and the case then gone into, and the accused would be dealt with according to his behaviour in the meantime. Assault. —Robert Eversan was charged with assaulting Arthur Hudson on December 22nd. The prosecutor, a laborer, residing in Madras street, said, on the evening of the 22nd inst., as he was going home, he met the prisoner, who stopped him and said he wanted their money. The witness told a long and complicated story, the sum of it being that the prisoner took him by the throat, and threatened him witli violence i| he did not hand over his money. This WBB corroborated by another witness named Smith, who called the constable, by whom the prisoner was arrested. Constable Ross stated that he arrested the prisoner, who probably not knowing him, said he must have money if he robbed the Bank of Now Zealand. His Worship fined the accused 40s for a common assault, and 15s, the expenses of three 'fcjjr'itnessca. Abusive Language. —lsaac Butterfield Wr was summoned for using abusive and threatening language to James Rowe. The complainant did not wish to press the charge, and the defendant was bound over in his own recognizance in the sum of £lO for six months.