MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1578, 11 March 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, Maboh 11. [Before G. L. Lee, Esq., J.P., and his Worship the Mayor.] Dbunk and Disobdlbly.—A first offender was fined ss. Affiliation Case. Jorgen Olsen, a foreigner was summoned by Margaret Petersen for neglecting to support his illegitimate child. Her evidoi ce was taken through an interpreter. The defends, it admitted the paternity of the child. The complainant stated that she and defendant had been living together up to last Thursday. They then had a row, and he turned her out, and bad not contributed anything since for the support of her and her child. On being asked what he proposed to do towards the support of his child and its mother, the defendant said he wot willing to take them both back and support them. Complainant said she was frightened to go buck to the defondandant as he was in the habit of ill-using her. The Bench ordered the defendant to pay 7s Gi towards the maintenance of the child. The interpreter said the complainant was quite destitute, but had expressed her willingness to live with the dol'andant if he would marry her. Mr Inspector Hickson suggested that the defendant’s means were sufficient to warrant the Bench in making the order larger for the benefit of the mother rather than force her to become a burthen on charitable aid. The defendant stated he could earn on an average about £2 per week, and the Bench having reconsidered their previous decision, enlarged the order to 1 Is 6d a week to bo paid into Court. Labceny. —Bridget Carrie Doolan, remanded from the previous day, was brought up charged with the larceny of a petticoat, the property of Charlotte Conner. Mr Neck appeared for the defendant. As the Mayor was not on the Bench the previous day, the evidence of the witnesses was taken over again. For the defence Eliza O’Brien, residing at Lyttelton, and a pupil in the Convent school, said about four months ago a hawker called at their house to sell his goods. Amongst other things he had petticoats in his stock, and the accused purchased one of him. It was a black and white one, but the witness could not swear that it was the on*

produced in Court, The pattern was a very -common one. The Bench held there was eufiicient doubt in tho case to justify its dismissal, and tho accused was discharged. There was a slight demonstration of applause at the decision of the Bench, which was promptly ■checked by the police. Attempt to Commit Suicide. —William Harvey Griffiths was again chorged with attempting to commit suicide by throwing himself into the river, on Saturday,, the Bth instant. The particulars have already been published. Mr Chiltern, house surgeon to the Hospital, stated that the accused was admitted into the Hospital in a. semi-conscious state. He was stated by the police to have been drinking heavily, but there was no absolute proof that such was the case. _ There was something about the prisoner which led the witness to imagine he was influenced by something more than drink. He appeared to be very weak-minded, and such a man as would be likely to commit a rash act under the influence of exciting circumstances. At the same time he was perfectly rational in his conduct while in the Hospital. The accused said he remembered nothing of the circumstances of which he was charged. The Bench dismissed the charge, but informed tho prisoner he would have to remain in gaol until he obtained the two sureties for the weekly payment of his wife’s maintenance ordered by Bench on Saturday last. He was then removed in the custody of the police. Indecent Assault. —Angiolo Burdaesi, an Italian, was charged with committing an indecent assault on a little girl named Amanda Silvia He La Cour. Mr Neck appeared for the accused. Evidence was taken, the greater part of which was unfit for publication. The accused, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial, bail being allowed, the moused in £SO and two sureties of £25 each.