MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1630, 12 May 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, May 12. [Before G. L. Lee, Eap, J.P., and His Worship the Mayor ol Christchurch.] Drunk and Disorderly. Two first offenders were fined 5s each. Furious Driving.— William Wilson was summoned for iurious driving. Constable Hayee deposed that on Tuesday, the 29th April, he saw the defendant drive a horse ai d buggy furiously down High street and Lichfield street. He called out to him, but the defendant took no notice. The defendant denied t he charge on oath, stating his pony stumbled, and pulling her up sharply, she started off at rather a rapid pace, but was never from under his control, and he (defendant) gradually slackened the pace, and eventually drew the pony up at hie stable

deer. The defendant called William Hughes, Who stated that wlien ho saw the defendant the mare was cantering, and the defendant wns trying to check her. The case was dismissed. ;. Larceny pi? A WATClt.—James Harding Was charged with stealing a watch, value £lO, the property of Edward Hiorns. Mr R. J). Thomas appeared for the accused. Detective Benjamin stated that on the morning of the 7th inst, about half-past 7 o’clock, he went into the billiard room of the Central Hotel, where he saw the prisoner and asked him to give him the description of a man suspected of stealing a watch. Defendant gave him a description of a man he had turned out of

the billiard rcom, and ho then told him he was suspected of stealing a watch, (he property of Mr Hiorns. Joseph Yoak, lessee of the billiard room at the Central Hotel, deposed that the prisoner had been in his employ as marker. Last Saturday right, between 9 and 10 o’clock, lie pulled a strange watch out of bio pocket and showed it to him. Had never seen it in his possession before. Wi'ncss asked him where he had got it from, and he replied that ho had bought it of his father-in-law. He said he had given £8 for it. Witness told him it was a cheap watch, and asked prisoner to let him look at it. On examining It witness told him it looked like a watch Mr Hiorns had lost> and asked to i see the j number of it. Prisoner gave ium the numoei 1 , and that was all that passed between them. By Mr Thomas—Accused did not apparently know that Mr Hiorns had lost a watch until he told him so, and he exhibited no reluctance to show him the watch or give the number, although the billiard room was full of people. Immediately afterwards witness missed him from the room. Edward Hiorns, landlord of the Central Hotel, sworn, said—The prisoner had formerly been in his employ, and up to Bnnday last was employed by the previous witness. On Saturday, April 12th, witness lost a watch from his dressing table, where he had left it. Witness missed it on the following Monday, but thought" his wife might have put it away. On the 7fch inst. witness reported the loss to Detective Benjamin, having found out the previous day that it had been stolen. On Saturday, the XOtH in»t, prisoner asked witness if he had lost a watch, and he replied “Yes.”, Witness told him the number was 83804, and the prisoner theh said “ the same number is on this ~atch, it must be yours, and I had better give it you.” He then gave it up, and said he had found it under some pieces of wood leading to the kitchen. After reporting the matter o Detetive Benjamin, witness asked prisoner to describe the “boots,” who was suspected of stealing the watch. The “ boots ” left on the 12th of April, the day the watch was missed. The watch was missed at night, and the “boots” left witness’s employ in the morning. The “boots ” was about the hotel Until Sunday. It was possible for the “boots” to have got access to the witness’s hbd room. Witness saw him go upstairs to his bed room, which was opposite his own. He said he went fob a scarf, and he came flown Stairs with one in his hand. His box waS down stairs. When the “ boots” went fldwh to go oiit, he passed the door where the Vvatbh wH* alleged to h y .ve fcebn found. The place would afford a ready place of concealment. .The “boots” had not since been traced. To the best of witness’s belief the prisoner did not know he had lost a watch until the time that he had a conversation with him when he gave it lip. Detective Walker deposed to arresting the prisoner on Saturday night in the billiard room of the Central Hotel,. He , said “ It’s come to, that has it? I found it under . the. door steps tlirSe dayd after thb bodtfl loft.” Witness said “you knew Mr Hiorn’s had lost a watch, why did you not give up ?” He replied I knew a watch was lost, but I thought it belonged to one of the boarders. He then pointed out where he had found the watch, in a passage between the hotel and the kitchen. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr Thomas called a witness named James Gilbert, vrho-stated he knew the prisoner intimately, and that a fortnight yesterday ho showed him a silver watch similar to the one now in Court. He said ho had found it at Mr Hiorn’s, underneath a doorstep. Mr Thomas having addressed the Court on behalf the prisoner, the Bench held that there was sufficient evidence to send the case for trial, and the prisoner was accordingly committed to take his trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed, the jariapner ip the sum of £IOO and two sureties of £SO each. Breach of City By-Laws.—Thomas Tillman, summoned for having neglected to leave, a light on a hoarding between sunset sunrise, near ; .the Empire Hotel, High etrpetj was fined ICs. Breach or Hackney Carriage ByLaws. —J, Dermott was summoned for driving without a license. The offence was admitted, and the Bench imposed a fine of 10s, There was another charge of a similar nature committed on May Ist, for which the defendant was fined another sum of 10s. A. Coker, a cab-driver, charged with neglecting to keep his lamps alight after sundown was fined 10s, Driving Without a License.—John Gomersal, charged with driving without a license, was fined 10s. [Left Sitting.] LYTTELTON. Monday, May 12, [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq.,R.M,, and F. H. „ Potts, Esq., J.P.] Lunacy prom Drink. —Robert McGurkin and Thomas Kelly were discharged, having recovered. Alexander Heron was also discharged. Refusing to Work.—San Antonio, an able seaman belonging to the Cape Einesterre, refused to do his work on board the ship, complaining that he was sick. Dr, Macdonald hid seen him, and certified that he was able to work. Accused, Sergeant-Major O’Grady said, had been in gaol since the 3rd instant, and remanded from time to time for trial. The Bench took this into account, and ordered the man to be taken on board. Assault. —Alexander Heron was presented to answer this charge. Mr H. N. Nalder for complainant. Sarah Heron said on Monday last accused was pulling and hauling her servant about. I saw he would injure the girl. I interfered and he seized hold of me and shook me badly and struck me. I got the protection order produced in 1875. I did not know I could turn him out of the house. I have been supporting him and myself by keeping a small shop on Norwich Quay, He is always drunk. He never gives mo any money. Since I got the protection order he has paid me but a few shillings. He is continually using foul language to me, Annie, the servant said she saw Heron strike his wife. Ordered to find sureties to keep the peace for twelve months in £2O, or in default one month’s imprisonmet. Breach of Public-house Ordinance. — A. McDonald, proprietor of the Canterbury Hotel, was charged with keeping his house open during prohibited hours, and also with selling liquors after hours. Mr Nalder, on behalf of defendant, submitted that the information wvs required by the Act to be laid by the police within a reasonable time. In this case the defendant had been, on April 25th, charged with the offence, and the information at that time being found defective, the case was dismissed. The police not now take advantage of the time that elapsed to lay another information. [Left Silting.]