MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1536, 20 January 1879, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monpat, January 20. [Before Dr. Back, J.P., and His Worship the Mayor.] Wandering Cattle.— Alfred Coker was summoned for allowing a horse to wander at large. After hearing the evidence of the defendant’s wife tho summons was dismissed. Abusive Language. —William Stevenson was summoned by Mary Anne Brightmore for using abusive and threatening language towards her on the 10th instant. From the evidence of the prosecutrix ’it appeared that the parties were neighbours, and the dispute arose out of a fire which had been lit by the complainant at tho bottom of her garden, and the smoke from which filled the defendant’s house, and caused him considerable annoyance In consequence of this the alleged abusive language was made use of. A witness called by the defendant, Ellen Epps, swore no bad language was made use of, and this was corroborated by the defendant on oath. The case was dismissed. Forgery and Uttering.— Walter Bullivant was brought up charged with forgery and uttering a cheque for £4, the property of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand. The Inspector of Police said there were ten charges against the prisoner, and asked that the case might be adjourned for a week, at the end of which time he would be prepared to proceed with everyone of them. The prisoner was remanded until the 27th inst.

Causing an Obstruction. —Hans Savage was summoned for causing an obstruction on the south town belt by allowing his cab to block up the entrance to tho railway station on November 27th. After hearing the evidence of Mr Back, the general manager of railways, who deposed to the obstruction caused by the defendant being off the stand, and that of a witness who stated defendant went off the stand to answer a hail from an intending fare, as well as that of the countable who laid the information, tho Bench considered the evidence against the defendant, who was accordingly fined 10s.

Wits Desertion. James Wilson was summoned by his wife for desertion, Mr Loughnan for the complainant, and Mr McConnclly for the defendant. The complainant, being sworn, said she left her husband on September 13th, in consequence of a quarrel which they had on the 9th. Ho had given her no money to keep tho house with for three months, which she had kept out of her children’s earnings and & small rent that she possessed. Her husband, when they quarrelled, used very filthy language, and said she was too well off, and ho would never give her another penny. Ho also said ho wished she was dead, and hoped that she might die. He got her to mortgage her land for its full value, and having spent the money, became such a tyrant that it was impossible for her to live with him, and ho would never give her the money to redeem it. He- was a master cabinet-maker, and could earn plenty of money if he liked. In cross-examination the complainant swore that the defendant left the house on the morning of Friday, the 18th, went away pleasuring, and did netreturn until tho following Monday. At that time she had a sum of £9O in the house, for the purpose of paying off the mortgage on the freehold, which had been settled on her years ago. Mr McConnell submitted that the fact of tho complainant leaving her husband’s house voluntarily did away with the theory of desertion. Tho Bench, after hearing the facts brought forward, were of opinion that the information for desertion must be dismissed. There was another information under the Married Womans Protection of Property Act for cruelty without adultery. Tho complainant swore that on the 11th December she laid an information against the defendant for habitually threatening her and destroying her peace of mind. He had also written to her threatening her with violence. [The correspondence alluded to was handed in to the Bench.] Mr Loughnan said ho had no further evidence to call. The Bench considered, after looking over the letters and weighing the evidence that had been brought forward, that no cruelty had been proved, and dismissed the pates. Mr McConnell applied for a certificate that the cases had been dismissed, as a bar to any repetition of the same informations. The Bench had no objection. LYTTELTON. Monday, January 20. [Before W. Donald, H. R. Webb, and T. W. Potts, Esqs., J.Ps.] Dbunjc.—Samuel Taylor, belonging to the brigantine Maud Graham, having been locked up from Saturday night, was discharged. LARCENY, —Henry Pierce, seventeen years old, employed as boots at the British Hotel, wat arrested this morning by Detective Moutray, for stealing, from his employers, two teaspoons, a meerschaum pipe, a pair of shoes, some tobacco and cigars, a pair of gloves, and one set of studs. The articles were found upon him. Sergeant-major O’Grady asked for a remand, as the case had hut a few minutes before been reported. Remanded till to-morrow.