MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1708, 11 August 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, Augitt 11. [Before G. L. Lee, Esq., and G. W. Hall, Esq., J.P.’s.] Dbunk and Disoedeelt. —A first offender was fined ss. Three flues of 10s each were inflicted in other cases, and one inebriate who had not had time to get sober was locked up for twenty-four hours. Not ttndee Conteoe. —John Fairburn was fined 10s for not having his horse under proper control. Henry Bryan had to pay 10s for firing off a gun on a public thoroughfare.

Uneegibtebed Dogs.—John Worsnoaki and John Mangles were each fined 20s for having unregistered dogs in their possession. Edward Shakspoare wag fined 40s for having two unregigtered dogs. Beeach of Public house Oedinance.— John Carpenter, licensee of the Albion Hotel, was summoned for selling liquor during prohibited hours. The offence was admitted and a fine of £5 inflicted. Edward Brinkman, proprietor of Kendal House, was similarly charged. There was a further charge of having permitted gambling, and a third for supplying liquor without refreshment. Mr R. D. Thomas appeared for the defendant, and the cases were adjourned until the 18th instant, to allow of witnesses being subpoenaed. Ceuelte to Animals.— l Samuel Counter was summoned for driving a horse with a sore back. The offence was proved by John Gomersal, from whom the defendant had hired the horse, and Edward Mills, a groom. A fine of £2 was inflicted. Wandbeing Hoeses and Cattle.—J. Steel, Charles Higgs, and W. J. White were each lined 5s and 7s costs for allowing horses to wander at largo. Assault. —Jane Menzies applied that her husband, Alexander Menzies, might he hound over to keep the peace. She stated that he had assaulted her and threatened to take her life. When sober she had no fault to find with him, but whoa drunk he had no control over himself, and was ruining himself and family. The case was adjourned for a week. Assault.—Jamas Bashford was summoned for assaulting J. E. Bashford on the 4th August, and threatening to take his life. Mr Thomas appeared for the complainant. After hearing the evidence of the complainant, from which it transpired that the assault and threats arose out of a family quarrel, the Bench were of opinion that the case had been proved, and the defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six months, himself in £SO, and two sureties of £25 each, or, in default, one month’s imprisonment. Adusite Language.—Charles Baehfoil was summoned for using abusive language towards J. E, Bashford on the sth instant. The complainant stated that this case arose out of the previous one, and took place the following evening in Mr Gaisford, the butcher’s shop. The evidence of a witness named Piorcy showed that no provocation had been given by the complainant, and that the defendant shook his fist in his face and wanted to fight him. Corroborative evidence was given, and the testimony of another brother was to the effect that the defendant was naturally of an excitable temperament and violent disposition. On the promise of the defendant not to annoy the complainant for the future, the case was dismissed.

Pawnbeokee’s License, —3. D, Nathan, licensed pawnbroker, applied for a renewal of his license. The application was granted.

Larceny as a Bailee. —Samuel Dobbinson, on rerraad, was charged with larceny as a bailee of a cheque for £l2, the property o£ Antonio Juris. Mr Inspector Hickson stated that ha wished to withdraw the charge against the prisoner, as from circumstances which, had since come to his knowledge he believed him to be innocent cf the charge. The prisoner was then discharged.

Fraudulent Peetence. —Charles Eoyle was charged with endeavoring to impose upon Joshua Singleton with a view to obtain a benefit. Joshua Singleton, barman at the Empire Hotel, stated that on the Ist instant a letter was received at the hotel, by post, addressed to Antonio a fisherman. Witness to the best of his belief gave the letter to Dobbinson, a fishhawker, or to a man named Tibb. On the 7th inat. the prisoner called and asked for a letter addressed to Aifcmio, and witness said he had given it to Dobbinson, Prisoner represented that ho had been tfie sender of the letter, and that it contained £l2, and threatened the witness for giving away a letter to a peison it was not addressed to. He made witness promise, under coercion, that he would give £6 to him (accused) as compensation. Accused returned again in the evening, and said he wanted £l, which the witness gave him. He also stated that Dobbinson admitted that ho had received the letter, and had lost it. Someone else had found the cheque for £l2, and cashed it at the Bank of New Zealand. Accused said that the cheque which the letter contained was signed by him. Information was given to the police by Mr Carl, licensee of the Empire Hotel, who was acquainted with the circumstances. Subsequent to the complaint being made to the police, the accused returned witness the £1 he had borrowed. Witness refused to give accused the £6 ho had promised, and the latter said “All right.” Detective Stevenson stated that he arrested a man named Samuel Dobbinson on Friday, the 9th inst., on a charge of larceny ns a bailee. The following day ho found the prisoner who was supposed to be tho owner of tho property Dobbinson was charged with stealing. He never made any complaint to tho police. Witness took him to the Detective Office, and asked him where ho got the cheque which he said tho letter contained. Ho said ho got it from a man whose name he refused to give, for whom ho had worked at Ashburton. He said, also, that Dobbinson was a poor man with a family, and he did not wish to prosecute him. Ho refused to give any further information about the cheque. When ho made the statement it .was in tho presence of Detective Walker tn 1 Coustible Neil. Drctccfive Walker and Mr Inspector Hickson corroborated the evidence of the last witness. Mr Carl was sworn, and narrated tho history of the case, which was corroborative of tho evidence given by tho first witness, Singleton. The accused said ho had received the cheque in the first place from a stableman named. Macrae at Ashburtou, and then ho put it into an envelope and addressed it to Antonio, at the Empire Hotel. It was on the Union Bank of Australia. The case was further adjourned until the 18th instant.

LYTTELTON. Monday, August 11. J. T. Eouee, Esq., J.P ] An Unfortunate Female. —Mary Ann Newton was presented for being drunk on Saturday night. The woman was only discharged from Addington a few days ago, after doing three months. The Bench now sentenced her to pay 20s or forty-eight hours' imprisonment, tho latter alternative being ac•epted. Deune and Disorderly. —Eobcrt Bussell, for this offence, was fined 10s or forty-eight hours’ imprisonment.