MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1539, 23 January 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, January 23. [Before" C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M., and Dr. Back, Esq., J.P.] Desertion prom Apprenticeship.— John Taylor was brought up on a warrant charged with deserting from his apprenticeship. Edward George, bootmaker, High street, being sworn, said the defendant left his employment a fortnight ago without permission, and had not returned since. His mother was a widow. His wages had been paid regularly since November, but ho (complainant) had stopped a portion of his money for goods that they had out of the shop. The defendant's mother had incurred the liability, and the complainant knew that without keeping back a part of the defendant's wages he would never be paid. The defendant said ho had been living with his mother in Dunedin since he h:d left his master. The Bench ordered him "back to his apprenticeship, and directed him to pay 7s costs incurred in bringing tho proceedings. Uttering Counterfeit Coin.—Edward Michael Davis was brought up on a warrant charged with uttering counterfeit coin. On the application of Mr Inspector Hickson, the prisoner waß remanded for eight days. Misappropriating a Cheque.—Robert Viusar was charged with misappropriating a «<■>< -«f W ««r,,Hi to him as an agent, cheque lor ju-*, >- - ; * u.a I Detective Walker stated that ho arresteu ...- , prisoner on the previous day on a telegram nt | had received from Napier. Mr Inspector Hickson said ho had that morning received a t telegram stating that tho warrant wouia De

forwarded from Napier, and asked that the prisoner might be remanded. Remnnded Hccoidingly for eight days. Bail was allowed, the prisoner in his own recognizance of £l5O, and two sureties of £l5O csch.

Laechnt from the Peeson. George Skaites and John Stevingce, remanded from the ' ; 2lat inst., were charged with stealing a gold watch and chain value £4O, the property of Archibald G-rant Reed. The prosecutor, a storekeeper at Waikouaiti, in Otago, said, he arrived in Christchurch last Saturday. On Sunday afternoon he went to Lyttelton. He got intoxicated and sat down on the wharf and dozed off to sleep. This was two or three hours after he got to Lyttelton. He woke as it was getting dark and got up and went to Lazarus' Boarding House. He slept there that night. About, 3 o'clock in the morning he woke up and missed his watch and chain, which he carried in his waistcoat pocket. He found a portion of the chain sticking on the button hole. The chain must have been broken. The watch bore his (witness's) initials on the back iof the case. Reported his loss to the police in the morning and then came to Christchurch. Never saw the watch and chain again until now. The one produced is the same. The value of the watch is £4O, and the chain £5. Had the watch and chain when he went to Lyttelton, but could not say whether they were in his possession when he went on to the wharf. The piece of broken chain and the one attached to the watch when put;together|formed one complete chain. Had never disposed of either watch or chain to any person. Samuel Stewart, pawnbroker in Lichfield street, deposed that the chain produced was pawned at his shop last Monday at about 11 a.m. by the prisoner Stevinges. He lent him 10s on it. Prisoner said it was his own. Witness gave him the ticket produced. About 3 p.m. he returned with the other prisoner, and Skaites wanted him (witness) to give hira a silver watch for the gold one produced, and give him the difference in their value in money. Replied that he would trade with him, and while in treaty with him from information he had received he sent to the police depot The prisoner Skaites said he would take a silver watch and £6 for the gold one. He said he had given £43 for it at Hokitika or the Kumara. He had brought down a good cheque from the Kumara j had knocked it down and wanted to raise some more money. Serjeant Morice arrived while he was in treaty with the prisoner, and heard him say the watch was his own. Serjeant Morice deposed that he went to Mr Stewart's shop at a quarter-past 3 p.m. on the 20th inst. Saw the prisoners there and Mr Stewart. The watch produced was in the latter's hands. Heard Skaites! say that is my watch; I bought it and the chain at Hokitika for £43. Witness then arrested them on the charge of stealing the watch and chain from the person of Archibald G-rant Reed. Skaites said, " All right, governor." The other prisoner Stevinges denied any knowledge of the watch and chain being stolen property. Stevinges said ho came from Lyttelton to Christchurch with Skaites, and at his request he pawned the chain for him for 10s, and gave him the money. Witness said he received the watch and chain from Mr Stewart at the time he arrested the prisoner. At the depot Skaites said he gave Stevinges the chain to pawn, which he did for 10s, and he, Skaites, gave him 2s to get something to eat with. Received a pawnticket, No. 480, from a barman at the Southern Hotel, named Hugh Dougherty, at 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening. Stevinges told the witness 'that he had seen the watch in Skaite's possession an hour before they came to pawn it. The prosecutor reported his loss to the police, and accurately described, the watch and chain, which corresponded with the one in Court. Hugh Dougherty, a barman, was called, but as he was from drink evidently unfit to give evidence, was ordered to be locked up until sober, and fit to appear in Court. The further hearing of the case was accordingly adjourned until 3 o'clock. LYTTELTON. Thursday, January 23. [Before W. Donald, T. H. Potts, and H. R. Webb, Esqs., J.P.'s.] Domestic Infelicity.—Michael Higgins, a laboring man, was charged with having for three months subjected his wife, Mary Higgins, to various acts of cruelty. Mrs Higgins asked the Court for protection for her earnings. She stated that her husband had been in gaol for four years at Picton, returning to her about eight months ago. During his term in gaol she had earned a living for herself and her boy. Since his return to Lyttelton he has repeatedly abused her. He had taken her by the throat and dragged her out to a pit in the yard, and threatened to drown her in it. She had to take refuge in the neighbors' houses for protection. He was addicted to drink, and spent all he earned in the public houses. Michael Higgins, in defence, denied the charge of assault. Sergeant-Major O'G-rady testified to going to Higgins's house on Friday night last, when Higgins had turned his wife out of the house. They were both very bad tempered. A worse case of incompatability of temper never came under his notice. Mr Nalder, who appeared for the plaintiff, asked that a protection order might be issued. Granted.