MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1668, 25 June 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

OHRISTOHUROH. Wednesday, Juke 25. [Before R. J. S. Harman, Esq., and Hie Worship the Mayor.] Dbttni: and Disobdbbly.—John Beaton, for druukennes-s, using obscene language, and assaulting Constable Brookes in the execution of his duty, was fined 20s on the first two charges and ICs on the third, or in default 72 hours' imprisonment. A first offender was fined ss.

Laecbny.—John Herbert was charged with stealing a hat value 12a, the property of Henry Allen. Mr Seek uppsared on behalf of tho accused. The evidence of the prosecutor was to the effect that the prisoner, in company with his wife and another man, came to the G-olden Age Hotel, of which he (witness) was the landlord, on the night of the sth inst. When they had gone, witness missed the hat, which he had left hanging on a peg in the room. About a week afterwards, he saw the prisoner in Colombo street with the hat on his head. He taxed him with stealing it, but prisoner said he got it from another man, a butcher. Sub - sequently, prisoner came to him and offered to pay for another hat, if he (prosecutor) would let the matter drop. Witness said he could not interfere, as the matter was now in the hands of tho police. Detective Benjamin said he arrested prisoner at his house in the Windmill road on the 24th instant on a warrant. The prisoner was told of the charge, and he said the hat was taken by a man uamed John Williamson, who had sinco gone to Greymouth. Williamson had been lodging in his house, and prisoner took hio (Williamson's) hat off the table in mistake for his own, and went to the theatre wearing it. He afterwards went to the G-olden Age for a drink, and sometime after, while standing in the street, Mr Allen came up and took the hat off his head and claimed it as hiß perty. Prisoner said he explained to B*> Allen how he came by it, and then ran away tc avoid being locked up. He also said he afterwards went with Williamson to Ailen'f and gave the former 10s to give Allen to buy a new hat with, but the latter refused to take it, and subsequently had given information to the police. The Bench were of opinion that the case was open to doubt, and gave the accused the benefit of it, who was accordingly, discharged.