MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1636, 19 May 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHUROH. [Before GK L. MoUish, Esq., R.M.] Monday, Mat 19.

Drunk and Disorderly.—The following fines were inflicted for this offence. Four first offenders 5s each, one with twenty-two previous convictions 60s, and one with nineteen 20s. Sheep Stealing.—William Bernard was charged on warrant with sheep stealing. Mr T. I. Joynt appeared for the accused. On the application of Mr Inspector Hickson a remand was granted for a week. Mr Joynt applied that bail might be allowed, and the Bench fixed it at the accused in one sum of £2OO, and two sureties of £IOO. Vagrancy.—John Irvine was charged, under the Vagrant Act, with having no lawful visible means of support. Sergeant Wilson gave a deplorable account of the accused, who had recently come out of the Hospital. His Worship directed the police to detain him, and arrangements would be made for the purpose of obtaining hie admission into the Ashburlou Homo. Causing an Obstruction. Reuben Ogden was summoned for causing an obstruction in Cathedral Square. On the application of Mr Izard, the hearing of the case was adjourned for a week. Brkach of Puulic-House Ordinance.—Joseph Oram Sheppard was summoned for keeping his licensed house open during prohibited hours. There was a second information laid against him for keeping open on Sunday, contrary to the Public-house Ordinance. Mr R. D. Thomas appeared for the defendant, but said he could not admit the offence, as it was committed in the billiardroom, which was not under the control of the licensee. Robert Colquett, a fellmonger, residing at Woohton, said that he was in the bi'liard-room of the White Hart Hotel last Saturday night week. It might have been after eleven o'clock, and he was in company with five or six others. Had some drink in the room nearly up to the time of leaving. James White, of Woojston, sworn, said ho was in the billiard-room of the White Hart Hotel the same night as the previous wjtneei we» there. To the best ot his

belief he left between eleven and twelve o'clock. Several other persona wore thoro and they had drinks, but could not specify the hour. The last drink ho had was between ten and eleven o'clock. In leaving he came out by a door leading into the right-of-way and not through the hotel. Herbert Straker, also a residont of Woolston gave similar evidence to that of the previous witr esses, but could not positively fix the time he had drinks, or the hour at which he hud the laßt one, but thought it would be between half-past ten and elovon o'clock. He and the other gentleman from " Woohton" left the hotol about the same time a little after midnight. By Mr Thomas —The bar was such a one as could not be closed, but no one was serving drinkß. Charles Day, another resident of Woolston, was equally unable to tax his memory, as to the precise time when he had his last drink and quitted the hotel. Edward Genet, the lessee of the White Hart billiard-room, being Bworn, stated that he closed the room on last Saturday night week at a quarter to one o'clock. The four witnesses who had given evidence were there from nine o'clock in the evening, and left when he shut up the room. The barmaid left at eleven o'clock, and witness served the drinks after that, but could not Eick out the individuals he gave drinks to. The otel was closed as well a 3 the door that communicated with the billiard room. The witness was positive Mr Sheppard did not know what was going on in tho billiard room. His Worship held that the law had been infringed, and fined the defendant £5. He severely censured the manner in which the witnesses, with the exception of Genet, had given their evidence, especially Day. He could not understand how a young man could come into a witness box and before his God and the publio lie like that. His Worship declined to express an opinion as to whether the defendant was aware that the law was being infringed on the night in question, but said it would tell against him all the same, although he did not know what was going on. Malicious Injpby to Peopeett. B. Buxton, Kobert Dixon, and Charles Day were charged with malicious injury to property. Mr Thomas appeared for Dixon and Day Buxton did not appear, and when called on Mr Inspector Hickson said he had " cleared out." There were ten informations against the accused, one of them being laid under the Public Works Act, and the remainder under the Malicious Injury to Property Act. All tho witnesses were ordered out of Court. Bobert Shaker, being sworn, said he lived in the Ferry road, and was in the White Hart Hotel on Saturday night week, and left in company with the two defendants. When they had got some distance down the Ferry road all the party left with the exception of Colquitt. Witness saw no damage done to any gates, drain pipes, or other property. Did not see anything done opposite the police Btation, but saw some stones, gates, and concrete lying in the road. There was no piping near it. Bobert Hogarth, sworn, said he had no connection with tho last witness in the presence of the two defendants He wus interested in the c;88 for several reasons, and made overtures to have the matter settled He had the money in his pocket to pay the damages. Mr Thomas instructed mo to go to the parties who had suffered damage and pay the money, but they declined to accept it. Witness was interested in the matter more than that, because the detectives wore getting up a wrong case. He could not tell the whole truth through having a bad memory His Worship said he would commit the witness for contempt of Court if he treated his oath with contempt. The witness said he had another reason for being interested in the case, but refused to tell it. His Worship—- " You must." Witness—" I cannot; I don't know what my other reason is." His Worship—" You swear you don't know?" Witness—"l do." His Worship—" What is the other reason?" Witness —"I can't tell." His Worship—"ls the man sane?" Mr Thomas —" I have no reason to doubt his sanity, and his evidence is immaterial." His Worship, who appeared to doubt the sanity of the witness, then allowed him to leave tho witness-box. Eobert Stroker re-examined, admitted he had made a different statement to Detective Benjamin. Eobert Colquitt said he left Christehurch last Saturday night week, with Dixon, Day. and two others, and went down the Ferry road. When they got as far as the Caversham Hotol all went away but Stroker and himself, Lower down saw several obstructions on the road. James White, sworn, said he left Christehurch with the parties mentioned by the previous witnesses, and Dixon left the party near Berry's place beyond the belt. There were some gates opened and taken off on the Ferry road, and some pipes carried away. Buxton took one gate off and witness took another. There were some stones put on the road by Buxton and Day. Tho piping was taken off the footpath and put on tho road by Buxton. Henry Lake, sworn, said he was a contractor for drainage works on the Ferry road. Last Saturday night week be had a concrete block and some drain piping removed. On the following Monday morning he saw some pieces of the concrete block and piping which had been broken. The damage done amounted to 8s 6d. This was the evidence in support of the first case. Mr Thomas addressed the Bench, and asked that the case as againßt Dixon might be dismissed, as there was no proof that he went beyond the belt, and the injuries were committed further down the road. The information against Dixon was dismissed. Mr Thomas then asked for the dismissal of the case against Day, on the ground that no damage had been shown to have been committed, but only a rough stone removed, and it was clear from the evidence that it was not the concrete block which had been smashed up. The case against Day, referring to Mr Lake's property, was also dismissed. The same defendants were then charged with having on the same date, namely, the 11th of May, thrown down seven gates the property of several persons living in the Ferry read, including the trustees of the Congregational Church, Woolston, and the Heathcote-Ferry road school committee. James White gave evidence that all the gate 3 had been taken off by himself and the defendant Buxton who had "cleared out." Day did not in any way assist them, and Dixon left them at Berry's. The last gate that was off was at Hopkins' and the first just below Berry's. It was Buxton who suggested that the gates should be taken off. It was Buxton and himself that took the gate off the church, and laid it in the road. Mr Inspector Hickson said it was clear there was no evidence against the defendants Dixon and Day, and the seven charges against them for removing and damaging gates were dismissed. Edward Buxton and the two previous defendants were then charged with, on the 11th May, wilfully damaging two bridges, the property of Ludwig Berg and James H. Hall. The witness White was again put in the witness box, and swore that in this instance also he and the absent Buxton were the only delinquents, and the damage conßiated in overturning the bridges into the roads. All that Day had done was to remove a stone and remove one gate. These cases were aIBO dismissed. At this juncture Mr Izard stated he appeared to represent Buxton's mother, and ho was instructed to say that if her son was convicted and fined sho was willing to pay tho penalty. His Worship said that a wan ant had been issued for his apprehension. The same defendants were finally charged with placing stones on the Ferry road. The evidence of tho same witness, White, established the case as aguinat D;iy. but there was nothing against Dixon. Again, ;.s in tho previous cases, the witness and Buxton participated in tho mischief. T. E. Mills, clerk to tho Hoathcoto Road Board, deposed, that he had laid tho information cgdust the defendants for obstructing the road. Mr Thomus, having addressed the Bench on behalf of Day, and called a wilncs ua to his character, did Worship dismissed the cree against Dixon, and fined Day £5. At the same time staling that hut for the character given him ho would have fined him the full fientlhy of £lO. Third wis a perfect nest of arrikins down the Ferry road, and they required to be severely dealt with and put down. Bbeach oi Hackney Cabbiagb ByLaw. — Edward Cro.'B was summoned for carrying more pat senders than lie was legally entitled to under the bylaw. The ofFonco w<ib admitted and a fine of 10s inflicted.

Duncan Munro was summoned for plying for hiro elsewhere on a public stand. The < (fence was proved by Kailway Constable Kelly, and tho defendant was fined 10s. T. Mulholland, similarly charged, was Cned the Biime amount. Thomas Kerr was summoned for plying for hire within the railway premises without permission. The offonco was admitted, and the defendant fined ss. Pawniieoker's Licknsk. —Samuel Stewart applied for the renewal of his pawnbroker's license which was granted. Tbansfee of License. —Tho licenso of tho Suranor Hotel whb transferred from Elizabeth Schluter to George Cameron. Anu3iTE Lanchtaob. —William Jenkins, a cabman, w»s summoned for demanding moro than his legal fare. After hearing the cvi dence, tho Bench hold tho information sustained, and fined tho defendant 20s and costs 7s. There was a second charge of ueing obscene and abusivo language towards Adam Beck, the City Council's ranger, on tho Bth May. After hearing tho evidence of tho complainant, who stated tho language madouso of by tho defendant arose out of tho previous case, a further lino of 10s and costs 7a was imposed. Biding: Across titk Footpath.—Atlantic Ford, a, youth, was fined 10s for riding across the public footpath. Wandebino Hobses and CattTiß. The following fines woro inflicted for allowing horses and cattle to wander at large :—Lawrence Bradlay, one cow, f»>; Wm. Thompson, one horso, ss; Wm. Parks, one horse, ss, costs 7s; A. C. Josling, one horso, ss, and costs 7s.