MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1600, 5 April 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

♦ CHRISTCHURCH. Satubday, April 5. [Before GK L. Mellish, Esq., R.M., and F. de c. Mulct, J.P.] Obscenity. —William Beechey, charged with making use of obscene language in a public place, was fined 40s. Bbeach of Debtoes and Oeeditoes Act. —John Johnson was charged on warrant with unlawfully failing to “fully and truly discover to the trustee of his bankrupt estate goods to the value of £3O, with intent to defraud his creditors. Mr Joyce prosecuted. Nathaniel John Suckling, boot manufacturer, being sworn, said that he supplied the prisoner with goods during September of last year, and the previous months. He had a quantity of boots in August. He had a current account during that month, and had at least a dozen pairs of boots. He became bankrupt on 15th October, and the witness was appointed trustee, and in that capacity requested him to deliver up all moneys and goods in his possession. He said that ho had none beyond what the officers of the Supreme Court had taken possession of. Witness subsequently told the prisoner that ho and other creditors were convinced that ho had money and goods in his possession, the property of the estate, hut ho denied it. On March sth Mr R Cresswoll, with Messrs Donnelly and Levien, went to the prisoner and accused him of having goods in hio possession, the property of his creditors. He denied it, but afterwards admitted he had £3O worth of boots in his possession, those hoots being the same produced in Court. The witness enumerated the goods which he said Ire had found concealed in Mr Johnson’s shop at Papanui, and the prisoner on being taxed admitted that ho had kept away the goods from him, as trustee. [Mr Joyce handed in the order from the Supremo C >urt to prosecute.] Witness further stated that he had supplied the prisoner with a great, part of the goods in Court prior to his bankruptcy. F. do C Malefc, Registrar of the Supreme Court, being sworn, produced the papers in the bankruptcy ot John Johnson, bootmaker, Whately road. Elizabeth Helen Woodard, the John

WorafJ, bootmaker, High si net, de o-ed t.uu.l, at. ,-i mee. lug m me t • isom-r’s cr. ditors, in the Supreme Court, on the sth of October, h sdd he bad given up all the property he !•> d to l.tii* U'u ■«..:<■, &' (I had no more than, was on his premises at (.ho time. He Buosrq ieiit.lv repealed the denial. He had had £2O worth of goods five weeks before he filed, for which the witness said, “ worse lack,” She had taken a bill for three months. Some of the goods she had supplied the prlsoner with were now in Court. William James Donnell v, bootmaker, deposed that he had supplied il o prisoner with goods before last S.'pt.•mi;or, and said that part of them were in t;ie Court. R.-bort Marshall Cresswell, partner of the lust witness, gave similar evidence, and proved finding a quantity of boots in the prisoner’s possession after ho had said ho had givan up ' ll Ills property to bis creditor?, Mr Buckling, recalled, swore to the identity or the prisoner, with the John Johnson named in his bankruptcy papers. This was the whole of the evidence against the prisoner, who, reserving his defence, was committed for trial at the next sessin of the S. preme Court. Prisoner was allowed bail, two eu-c-tics in £IC3 each, and himself in £1.03, LYTTELTON. Satueday, April 5. [Before Dr. Rouse and H. Allwright, Esq.} Refusing Duty. Augustus Sylvester and Y. Borgenson, seamen belonging to the barque Buttermere, were prosecuted for refusing to work on board the vessel. c ylveeter was but liberated from giol on Friday, after doing seven days for striking the second mate. Captain Ogilvie testified that when prisoner got on board from gaol he complained of having a pain in his back. Medical attendance was procured, and the doctor could find no ailment about Sylvester. The Bench sentenced him to one month with hard labour, to be put on board the vessel when she leaves. Borgensen, the other prisoner, said he would work if shoes were provided for him. The Bench ordered that he be taken on board, the captain to furnish him with the required necessaries.