MAGISTRATES' COURTS

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1633, 15 May 1879, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS

CHRISTCHURCH. Thtjbsday, May 15. [Before G, L. Mellish, Esq., E.M.] Dbxtnk and Disobdebly.—A first offender was fined ss. Indecency.—-Johanna Gallagher, alias Connor, and James Lowo, were charged with committing an act of indecency in a public place. Constable Cullen and Mr Armstrong, the Curator of the Public Gardens, proved the commission of the offence. Both prisoners admitted the offence. Mr Inepector Hickson stated the woman had been previously convicted and received a sentence of twelve months for a similar offence, and had been before the Court twenty-four times on other charges. The female prisoner was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labor, and the man was fined £5. Pbojanity.—Roderick Mcßae was charged with using profane language in a public place. Wm. Galbraith, a confectioner in Cranmer square, proved that the accused came to his house and abused him, and he had to send for a constable to remove him. The constable, who arrested him, stated the language which the accused had made use of. A fine of 10s was imposed. Maintenance.—Daniel Berry, arrested on Warrant issued from the Dunedin Bench, was charged with failing to provide his wife and family with adequate means of support. On the application of Mr Inspector Hickson, the defendant, who had been arrested the previous day by mounted Constable Hale at West Melton, was remanded to Dunedin. Eobging and Uttbbing.—Jacob Yagt was charged with forging and uttering a promissory note for £22 10s on Elizabeth Fuchs. On the application of Inspector Hickson the accused was remanded until the 16th instant, that the necessary witness might be subpcened. Labcbny tbom a Dwelling.—William Power, alias Powell, alias James Smith, was charged with stealing a gold chain and appendages, the property of Edward Gribble. The prosecutor, a carpenter, living at the Royal Oak boarding-house, Cambridge terrace, deposed that he had seen the prisoner at the boarding-house. He first came there on Sunday, the 14th inst. He left the Tuesday following. Between the 4th and the 6th witness left a gold chain and trinkets out in the room where he was sleeping. The articles were in a box, which was not locked. He also lost six or eight shillings out of his trousers pockets, which he had left hanging np in his room. The chain and trinkets produced are the same, and are worth £9. Did not know by what name the prisoner went at the boarding-house. Maurice Cohen, the son of S. Cohen, licensed pawnbroker in Colombo street, deposed that the boy came to the shop last Monday or Tuesday week and offered a chain in plodge. He said that his father's name was James Smith. That he was a carpenter, living in Victoria street. He said his father had sent him to pledge the chain. Lent 35s on the articles, and afterwards gave them to Detective Benjamin. Detective Benjamin deposed that he arrested the prisoner on the morning of the 8 h inst., in Haye's boarding house in Lichfield street. He told him the charge he was arretted on, and he denied it, find said he hud pawned no chain at Cohen's. Sixpence was all tho money the prisoner had when arrested. Ho afterwards said he came trom Dunedin to Christchurch on the 3rd instant. The wine-s got the chain and locket produced from tho kat witness. Mr Inspector Hickpon stated that the real name of the lid was William Power, who pleaded guilty at tho last sittings of the Supreme Court held in Dur.edin to tho charge of forgery und uttering. He was committed to bail in his father's recognizance of £IOO to come up for pentence when called on. Tho boy'B father, whotse name is John Power, is a brick carter, residing in Castle street, Duredin, and at the time when tho boy committed the forgery the aterwas employed as a message boy intha ofliee of the " Otago Djily Times." The boy left his father'a house on tla yi.'d instant, and was supposed to huvo gone to Tin aru ; I e had £3 in his possesion, and since then bis utlhirhas heard nothing pf his whereabouts. The boy had stated to the police he was tiom Dunedin to

Ohristchurch by four men on purpose to commit robberios. All this was a fabrication, and he (the inspector) made enquiries, which resulted in tho foregoing facts coming out. He would ask that tho prisoner bo committed for trial. The evidence was then read over, and the prisoner, a lad of about fifteen years, was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court. LYTTELTON. Thub3day, May 15. [Before His Worship the Mayor and Dr. Rouse.] Rufitsed Duty.—Henry Millerson was presented. Thomas Weir, chief officer of tho Coriolanus, said that on Monday morning accused left the ship without leave, and returnod evidently tho worso of liquor. When told to go to work, he refused. Prisoner denied that he refusod, but promised to be more attentive to his duty in future, whereupon ho was ordered to return to his ship.