MAGISTATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1726, 1 September 1879, Page 2

MAGISTATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, Seftkscbke 1. [Before Dr. Deamer, and J. E. Parker, Esq., J.P.’s] Obscene Language. John O’Halloran was fined 10a for making use of obscene language in Colombo street. He was also charged with destroying a show glass, value 20s, the property of James Dingwall. The offence was proved and the defendant ordered to make good the damage he had done. Stbeet Fighting. William McOliskie was fined 20s for committing a breach of the peace within view of a constable, Obsteuotihq the Police. Johnston Montgomery was charged with obstructing Constable Cleary in the execution of his duty. The constable having given his evidence, that the defendant tried to rescue a drunken man from his custody, a fine of 20s was inflicted. Dibtuebikg a Conqeegation. —William Nioholls, a young man, was charged with disturbing a congregation of worshippers on Sunday, August 31st. Constable Briggs stated a complaint was made to him by a man named Otto Lawson on Sunday evening that the defendant had turned off the gas while the Mormon congregation were worshipping in the old Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street. The witness arrested the defendant, but he did not personally see him turn off the gas. Mr R. D. Thomas said that, with the permission of defendant, he would undertake his defence. Mr Thomas took objection that under the Police Ordinance the defendant could not be said to have assembled for public worship. One person could not “ assemble.” The objection was over-ruled. Otto Lawson, sworn, deposed that he was acting as door-keeper while the congregation of “ Latter Day Saints ” were worshiping on Sunday night, in the old Oddfellows’ Hall. As the gas went out, the defendant was the only person near, and witness caught his arm as ho was taking it from the gas burner. He did not see the accused tarn the key, but he was the nearest person to it. For the last three or four months persons had been in the habit of habitually creating disturbances and trying to annoy the congregation while at worship. Last nitrht, in addition to the gas being tamed eff, there were persons screaming and making offensive noises. Elias Pierce, sworn, said he was a Mormon missionary. On Sunday night, while oonduoting the service in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street, the gas was turned off. Before that there was a great deal of disturbance created, which they had managed to quell. He could not identify the accused. The disturbances had taken place for the last four months. The Bench had no doubt the accused was present at the time, but as there was no proof of his having been the party who committed the disturbance, and turned off the gas, ths case would have to be dismissed.

Labcbbt.— William Ryan was charged with stealing a Maori kit, value Is 9d, the property of John Wheatley. There was a second ohage of feloniously entering a dwelling and stealing a coat, value £3 15s, the property of Frank Saunders. Both charges were admitted, and the prisoner was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labor. Laboeht and Fame Pbbthitoeb.—Richard Wood, remanded from the 27th ultimo, was charged with obtaining goods to the value of £2 6i lOd by false representations from George Ritchie. He was further charged with breaking and entering into a schoolhouse and stealing therefrom £9 Xls 6d, the property of Joseph Cumberland Prudhoe. There was a third charge of breaking into and entering the Durham street Wesleyan Church and stealing therefrom a comb and brush, the property of George Gould and others. Mr R. D. Thomas appeared for the accused. The second charge, for breaking into the Durham street schoolroom, was heard first, and all witnesses ordered out of Court. William Edward Shelton deposed that he was churchkeeper at the Wesleyan Church, Durham street. Was acquainted with the prisoner, A large schoolroom was attached to the church. On the let of May, in company with Constable O’Conner, witness made an examination of the school and the premises generally ; that included the church as well. Witness found a door leading to a boiler room from the schoolroom open. It was barricaded on the previous evening with a piece of scantling. There was another door leading from the schoolroom into the back yard, which the witness could not speak to. It was shut, not locked. Witness examined the premises generally, and found the poor-box in the church open. Thera were four doors by which entrance could be made into the schoolroom. Besides the ene already described as leading into the back yard, there were two leading from the main yard fronting Dnrham street, and one from the church into the schoolroom. The doors were all shut; they were latch doors and required no locking. The following Saturday witness missed a comb and brush out of the minister’s vestry, and a ring with a stone set in it. Had since seen ths comb and brush; those produced in Court are the same, and as far as witness could say were the property of the Church Trustees. Mr Gould was one of the trustees. By Mr Thomas.—The trustees were O. W. Turner, John Rutland, George Gould, John Ring, Joseph Munning, Fbenezer Connell, and others whose names witness did not know, and the brush and comb were their property. In answer to Mr Thomas, witness said he had no other means of knowing that the brush was the property of the trustees, beyond the fact of finding it in the minister’s room when he became door-keeper. Purchased the comb by instruction of Mr Rutland, the trustees’ steward, and paid for it out of his (witness) own money, as he was in the habit of doing. Could not positively swear it was the same comb, but it resembled the one stolen. Could not pick it out from others ef the same make. A number of witnesses were then examined, and finally Mr Thomas here applied for the discharge of the prisoner, on the ground that the ptrjon, Joseph Cumberland Prudhoe, whom the prisoner was charged with robbing of a certain sum of money, had no interest in it whatever. Mr Inspector Hickson suggested that the information should be amended, but Mr Thomas submitted the Bench had no power to do it. The Bench dismissed the information on the grounds submitted by Mr Thomas. The prisoner was remanded for twenty-four hours on the other charges, bail being allowed, the prisoner in one sum of £IOO and two sureties of £SO each. At the same Time Mr Inspector Hickson said he should lay a fresh information against the prisoner for the charge just dismissed.