MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1574, 6 March 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHUKOH. Thursday, Mabch 6. [Before His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch and Dr Deamer, J.P.] Dbttnk and Disobdebly.—Michael Bjoxe was fined 10s for being drunk. Labceny feom the Pbbson. James McArdell and Alex. Fitzgerald were charged with the larceny of £l2 from the person of Edward Terry. Mr Joyce appeared for the prisoners. The prosecutor, a farm laborer, residing in Christchurch, deposed that he met the prisoners about ten o'clock last Saturday night, between the Theatre and the Criteron. They all had a drink together, but he could not say in which hotel, as he (the prosecutor) was the worse for liquor. They went into Burmeston's oyster saloon and had! supper together. He had a pocket'boofe in his side pocket (the one produced) containing £l2 in money, consisting of two five and two one pound notes, as well as some papers and two photographs. He left the oyster shop with the prisoners, and afterwards missed his purse, Fitzgerald returned to him and he put it in his pocket. Prosecutor aud the two prisoners after that wont into Wallace's and had three drinks, and he counted his money. This wss iin the inside bar. The money was correct. Prosecutor paid for the drinks. Met the prisoners again in the oyster Baloon and had supper with them. A cabman named Brown came in, and prosecutor engaged his cab, into which they all three got, and were driven some distance, when the cab stopped, and the prosecutor got out at the prisoners' request, and he then discovered his purse was gone. Prosecutor next saw his purse at the police depot on Sunday evening. Previous lo that had reported his loss to the police. Trie prosecutor was cross-examined at great length with a view to show that he was too much intoxicated to remember how he lost his money. John Brown, a cabman, being sworn, deposed to supping with the prosecutor and the two prisoners last Saturday night in Bcrnieister's oyster saloon. The prosecutor paid for the suppers, taking the money from out of a leather purse, the same produced in Court. The prosecutor subsequently engaged the witness's cab, and the latter drove the prosecutor and the prisoners to Butterfie.'d's at Bingsland. He stopped the cab at the request of one of the prisoners, and the prosecutor got out. The prisoner, McArdell, told him to drive on, and the witness did so. Witness peeped through the traphole in the roof of the cab and saw the prosecutor's purse in McArdle's hand, and he was overhauling it. Heard McArdle say there's a " fiver" and a "one." Witness then Bhut the trap down, and McArdle stopped the cab again, and told him (the witness) to come down, and he did so. He |ogain saw the purse in McArdle'a hands, who said there was £6 in it. Witness also saw two photographs in it (the same produced in Court). Witness wanted to keep the carte de visites to put in his album, but McArdle would not let him, as he said, it would spoil the little game. The prisoners wanted him (witness) to take £2 of the £6, but witness refused to do so, declining to be mixed up in the transaction. McArdle took the portraits and wanted to destroy them and the rest of the papers in the pocket book, and keep the money. The prisoners got into the cab again, and (he witness drove them to Bingsland, and they gave him £l. They entered a house, and, after a short interval, they came out again, got into the cab, and witness drove them up the Stanmore road, where they got out. The next time the witness saw the prisoners they were in custody. After the prisoners left the cab, the witness on his way back to town picked up the prosecutor and drove him to the police station. James Edington deposed that his mother kept a boarding house in Colombo street, and ho identified the prisoner Fitzgerald as having lived thero. Last Sunday morning McArdle came and asked to see Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was in bed, and McArdle asked witness's mother to change a £5 note, as he wanted to pay Fitzgerald £2. Witness saw the note, but did not change it, not having ar-J change. The two prisoners were afterwards in the sitting room, and they left the house together. Hugh Wylie, a boy nine years of ago, was sworn, and said ho" lived with his brother, Neil Wylie, at Bingsland. Last Sunday he found the purse produced near the Cemetery, at Bingsland. He took it home, and by the direction of his father brought it to the police station. Detective Walker deposed lo having arrested McArdb on Monday morning, the 3rd instant, and the other prisoner Fitzgerald about four hours afterwards. When arrested McArdle said he (witness) was mistaken, and Fit zgerald said he was drunk on Saturday night. Fitzgerald, when arrested, had three £1 notes in his purse and 9s Bd, also a cheques of Mr Hales f r£3 2s 6d. This was the case for the prosecution, and the prisoners, who reserved their defence, were committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supremo Court.

iKDBOSirx Expostrßß.—-Charles La Roche was charged with, indecently exposing his person in a public place. He was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment with hard labor. Dbstbttoxiow op Pbopebty.—Walter C. Heathoote was charged with the wilful destruction of property, value 7s 6d, belonging ■to Thomas Hasfcet. Constable Lawler deposed to seeing the accused at 4 a.m. in company with another man break a pane of glass in the premises of the prosecutor, a saddler, •in Tuam street west. The other man ran away. The accused, who said it was an ace dent, was ordered to pay 17a 6d, the amount .of the damage done. Larceny.—John Bradley was charged with stealing a great coat, the property of James Henderson. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Indecent AssattliT. Angiolo Burdaasi was charged with indecently assaulting a female. He was defended by Mr. Joyce. On the application of the police the prisoner was remanded until next Tuesday.