MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1522, 3 January 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Fiudav, Januaey 3. [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R.M.] Duunk and Dibohueely. Thomas O’Brien was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and of grossly misbehaving himself in the hospital where he was a patient, AY. H. Smith, a wardaman, stated the defendant had received permission to pass out of the hospital, and returned in a state of intoxication. Witness reported him to the house surgeon,, and the following day defendant had another pass to go out again, and returned in a state of intoxication. On the last occasion lie used most abusive language to the witness, "'ll and acted so violent ly that he had to be given "I into custody. A fine of 20s was indicted. Two first offenders were fined Ss each, and a third was discharged, us lie had been laid up with a dislocated shoulder for some weeks in the hospital, the consequence of an accident be met with afc the time of his arrest. His Worship- considered ho had been punished suiticiontly. In dec ukt Ex cobles. —Francis MeLouglin was charged with indecently exposing his person in a public place on the 31st ultimo. The off, nee was committed on the Stamuore road in the presence ol a respectable lad and his sister who were passing at the time. The evidence of the boy and of his sister was very clear on the point of the prisoner’s identity and of his misconduct. The father of the previous witnesses said they were out for a few minutes on the evening in question, and on their return homo they complained to him of the condimt of the prisoner. Ho was also identified by u third child of the last witness. The prisoner denied that he was the offender, and called a witness to prove that, he was elsewhere at the hour ho was charged with committing the offence. The prisoner's witness said ho (witness) was at Port Levy on the Tuesday evening, and therefore' could not any where the prisoner was on that occasion, All he could say was in favor of the prisoner's character. He had know ” him since last October, and ho bore a very gocti character, His Worship considered tbf

case proved, but at the same time he did not regard it asi a gross and wilful act against decency. The prisoner was probably in a state of intoxication, and not conscious of ■what he was doing. A fine of 40a was inflicted.

LYTTELTON. Friday, January 3. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.; IT, R. Webb, Esq., and 11. Allwright, Esq., J.P.’s.] Absent Without Leave. Robert Orosbie, chief officer of the brig Raymond, was charged with this breach of the Maritime Statutes, and with being drunk _ yesterday. Captain Evans testified and said that ho didn’t wish to press the charge, and as the derelict officer expressed his regret, saying that he was ready to go on board and attend to his work, the Bench permitted him to — Thomas Dyer and _ Thomas Eadcliffe were charged with committing an assault on Christmas Eve. Mr McConnell for plaintiff, Mr Izard for defendants. Thomas Radcliffe, complainant, stated that a man named Thomas Dyer assaulted him on Christmas Eve by striking him with his fists and kicking him, and one James Tregear afterwards assisting him, thereby inflicting upon him a black eye and a number of wounds about the face. The assault took place in the complainant’s and defendants’ bedroom, in a house in London street, rented by defendant, Dyer, and complainant’s son. Defendants proved that the assault was provoked by complainant first striking at them, and using bad language, he being at the time under the influence of liquor. The case was dismissed.