MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1603, 9 April 1879, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

* CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, April 9. (Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R.M.] Drunk and Disorderly.—A first offender was fined ss, and a more hardened delinquent 10s. Indecency. —Johanna Gallagher alias Connor and Edward Burton were charged with indecent conduct in a public street. Constable Briggs proved the commission of the offence at about half' past nine o’clock on Tuesday morning, in a paddock at the corner of Armagh street and Gloucester street. Constable Cullen corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, and the prisoners were fined £5 each or, in default, one month’s imprisonment with hard labour. Stealing a Swag.— James Walsh, remanded from the 7th instant, was again brought up on a charge of stealing a swag belonging to Henry Pritchard. The prosecutor and the prisoner were in the Terminus Hotel drinking together on the evening of the sth inst. The prosecutor subsequently went up the town, leaving the prisoner in the bar. In the absence of the prosecutor, the prisoner abstracted the swag and later on the same evening left it in the shop of Henry Oakey, tobacconist, in High street, to bo taken care of until he called for it. These facts came out in evidence, and Constable Johnston deposed to the arrest of the prisoner at a quarter-past 8 o’clock on the morning of the 6bh instant at the Borough Hotel. The prisoner said he only took the swag to take care of for the prosecutor, who was drunk. There was a previous conviction against the prisoner in Dunedin for stealing from a private dwellinghouse, and he was now sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Shooting in the Domain. —Richard and Arthur Searell were charged with illegally shooting in the North Park on the 2nd inst., contrary to the Domain by-law. Mr Armstrong deposed that he heard two reports of an air gun on the day in question in the Park, and, following up the sound, he came across the defendants, and charged them with poaching, and had them taken to the Police Depot, Richard Searell admitted shooting at ducks, and justified himself on the ground that as one of the regulations referring to fishing was to a certain extent winked at, he did not see why the same latitude should not be extended to persons desirous of shooting. He had no intention of shooting at hares and imported birds. His Worship said that that was no defence at all, the birds that were placed in the gardens were put there for the engagement and amusement of persons frequenting them, and it was clear that from the fact of the defendants using an air gun, they were fully aware of the illegality of their act. He could not see why the full penalty should not be enforced. The defendants were fined £5 each. Maintenance Obdee,— Richard Whately applied for the reversal of an order or the Court for the payment of 12s per week to his wife, as his earnings were insufficient to enable him to comply with it. Mr M'Oonnell, on behalf of the applicant, stated that in the first instance Mrs Whately left him and he did not desert her, and that he was perfectly willing to take her back again. The applicant was earning 48s per week, and it cost him 30s per week for his keep, and the balance went for the support and clothing of his children. Under these circumstances he could nut pay his wife 12s a week. The applicant’s wife said she was willing to reduce the order, and in course of time when her health was restored she would waive it altogether, as she would then be able to earn her own living by her occupation as a dressmaker. The applicant said ho was willing to pay this amount, and the order was made accordingly.