MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1711, 14 August 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHEISTOIUECI. Thuesdax, August 14. [Before his Worship the Mayor of Sydenham and Mr L. E. Nathan, J.F.~| Deunk and Disoedeeix. —Two otunkards were fined 5s each, one 20s, and one 40s. Embezzlement.—dames McGuinness was charged with embezzlement, and remanded to Waimate, where the waivent had been issued for his arrest. Laeobnx. - Christian Maseeh and Elizabeth Messeh were charged with stealing £5, the property of John Hoppee, There was a second charge against the male prisoner of stealing two pars a ticket', the property of Thornes Thompson. John Hoppee deposed that he lived in George street. The prisoners occupied two rooms in the house in which ho resided. On the 7th instant witness left a coat hanging up in his room between 9 and 10 a.m. In one of the pockets were two one pound notes, three sovereigns, and some silver in a purse. Both prisoners were in the house when witness went out in the mo.mng. At half-past nine o’clock, on bis return, the back door was open, and the male prisoner drew his attention to it and said he might lose something. He also heard him tell b ; s wife, if any one naked for the key of her box in the morning, not to give it up. The next morning, Friday, in consequence of what ho had heard the male prisoner say, he searched in hie coat pocket and found the purse gone. Informed the police, and a constable came to the house and searched the prisoners’ bedroom. He found two he If sovereigns and some silver. The prisoners’ had no money the previous day, and witness lent the female half-a-crowa to purchaie firewood, and a week before that half a sovereign. Several days before witness lost his purse the male prisoner told him he had no money. At the time of the pu-se being stolen, and for some time previous, the male prisoner was out of employment. The prisoners agreed to pay 7s a week rent, but had paid no money since they had lived in the house. To the male prisoner—When the detective came to the house about the theft I did not accuse you any more than anyone ’else of taking the £5. To the Bench—The prisoners had lived in my house for twelve months, and during that time they had paid no rent. I considered my board, which the prisoners provided, an equivalent to rent, Edward Ravenhdl, licensee of the Eavenhill Hotel, deposed that on the 6th instant the male prisoner called on him and asked him for tue loan of a few shillings, as he was short and hard up. As a matter of charity witness gave h ; m 10s. Robert Paynter deposed that he was assistant to W. S. Stewart, pawnbroker. On the 7th instant the male prisoner called at the shop and presented a note to redeem some clothing. Witness thought he had another note in his waistcoat pocket. Samuel Stewart, licensed pawnbroker, deposed that the male prisoner called at his place of business on the 7th instant, and tendered a note j he a] p saved at the time to put another note back into his pocket. Constable Noil deposed that he accompanied the prosecutor to the residence of the prisoners on the Bth instant. The female prisoner was outside, and the male prisoner came up a minute or two afterwards. Told him ho was accused of stealing £5, and he said that he only had a couple of shillings. The prosecutor and the female prisoner wore within hearing. Searched him, and found 2s 6d in his packet. The male prisoner said his wife had some money she had put by in case of sickness. Witness searched the house, and in a box in the prisoner’s bedroom found two half sovereigns and £3 6s 6d in silver, in all £1 6s 6d. The male prisoner said ho always changed his notes for silver, as he did not believe in notes. Witness arrested the male prisoner, and Detective Stevenson the female. They were told the charge. Before leaving the house the female prisoner took some wearing apparel out of a box in which the smaller box containing the money had been found, and in a pocket of the dress she took out, witness found the purse produced which contained three shillings and eightpenoe. Mr Inspector Hickson informed the Bench that it was competent for them to deal with the

female prisoner as she was not the male prisoner’s wife.. Her name was Murphy, and she had a husband living in Oamaru. The male prisoner had been“oonvicted for larceny on the woman’s husband two yosrs ago in Oamaru. The Bench sentenced the male prisoner to six months, and the female to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor. The second charge against the male prisoner for stealing pawn tickets was then proceeded with. The prisoner pleaded “Not Guilty.” There was no appearance of the prosecutor, Thomas Thomson, who had been summoned personally to attend. A warrant wss ordered to be issued for his arrest, and the prisoner was remanded for 24 hours.

LYTTELTON. Tiiuhsdav, August 14. [Before T. H. Potts, Esq.] Pightikq. —W. Perguson and D. Lee, for creating a disturbance within view of a constable, wore fined 10s each.