MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1744, 22 September 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

OHBISTOHUEOH. Monday, Septbiibkb 22. TBefore G. L. Hellish, Esq., B.M.] Dbtoe and Disokdbb&y. A woman charged with drunkenness, with forty-one previous convictions as a recommendation was fined 20s. Four first offenders were fined 5s each.

Intebbbbing with a Constable.—Peter Paache was charged with obstructing Constable Williams in the execution of his duty. Mr Neck appeared in his behalf. The obstruction, according to Constable Williams, consisted in standing at the corners of streets and refusing to walk on when told, also with dogging the constable on his beat. The defendant denied causing any obstruction. He> was by trade a fisherman, and employed several men, whom he was looking after whentold to move on. The places'where he wa# accused of loitering were the White Hart Hotel corner, the front, of Carl's Hotel, and the Al, corner of Colombo and Oashel streets. The defendant called three witneeses to prove" ttat he was not obstructing the thoroughfare, but that the constable came up to him, called him a "loafer," and needlessly interfered with him. The defendant was also sworn, and stated that he was- doing nothing more than attending to his business, which required him to remain in the street. Constable Williams came up to him, called him a loafer, and evtritually took him in charge and locked him up. The Magistrate said there was nothing tt show that the defendant was doing anything mur» than attending to his business when the constable told him to move on. A. mistake had evfl en tly been made by the constable, who was a fresh arrival in Christchurch, in his temple endeavor to keep the street clear. Tho >£ e ndant would therefore be discharged. Pbotbction OBDBfc_Elizabeth Hamilton applied for an order foi^ e protection of her earnings feom her husbu ( j > Albert Edward Daviß Hamilton, on the gi un d of desertion. Vageancy.—John Irvim, a recent inmate of the Ashburton Old Jf as ' g Home, from whence he had run a way Wag charged with having no lawful visible i-ans of support. Inspector Hickson said th Ilmn WUB an imbecile, and would not remah_f or an _ ] erl ™tb, of time in the same place. I, Magistrate directed that Mr J. E. Mars. B hould be requested to take the man in ae Home again, and in the event of his ~fn sj n e a medical examination should be mau 0 f state of his mind with a view to his looming an inmate of the Lunatic Asylum. Drs. Frankish and Nedwill informe v foe Bench that the accused was sound mind, and capable of wortirg. the circumstances the Bench had him broiim up again, and informed him that he wottd be dealt with as a vagrant, and sentenced U three months' imprisonment with hard labor. False Pbetknce.— Henry Robinson waa charged with obtaining goods to the value of £8 by mean! of a valueless cheque. Mr Neck appeared for the accused, who pleaded guilty. The accused, on obtaining the goods, had at onoe pawned them for 255, but now said that he would get them taken out and restored to the prosecutor. As it was a first offence the Bench felt disposed to deal leniently with the case, and sentenced the accused to six weeks* imprisonment with hard labor.

Hoebes and Cattle at Lakge. The following fines were inflicted for allowing horses and cattle to wander at large : —John Harker 10s, costs 2s ; Samuel Ward ss, costs 2b ; John Wells Ss, costs 2s ; Henry Wendle ss, oosts 2s ; S. Simpson ss, costs 7s ; and H. Savory ss, and costs 7s. Albert Partridge was fined 10s and costs 4s 6d for leaving his horse and cart unattended in Hereford street. A lad found the vehicle without anyone to look after it, and took it to the police depot. Unbegistebed Dog .—Henry Melhoff was fined 20j for having an unregistered dog in his possession. Bbkacii of the Pbacb.—Q-. Brighting was summoned for behaving himself so as to occasion a breach of the peace. The Inspector of Police informed the Bench that the defendant had been committed to Wellington, on a charge of stealing from a dwelling, and therefore he would withdraw the present informations, of which there were three. The charge was therefore dismissed. Causing an Obstbuction. Nichola Columbus and Peter Cunningham were summoned for causing an obstruction on the South Town Belt, within the precincts of the railway station. The cases were dismissed. Illegally Plying fob Hibb.—Matthew G-oodger, a cabman, was summoned for plying for hire elsewhere than on a public stand. The defendant was fined 10s and 2s costs. Smoking in a Bailway Caebiagb.—William Sheppard was summoned for smoking in a railway carriage on the 21st of August. Mr Joyce appeared on behalf of the Bailway authorities. There was no appearance of the defendant, who was fined 20s and costs. Abusitb Language. Proctor Mullins was summoned for using abusive and provoking! language towards Henry G-oodey calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. Mr Joyce appeared for the complainant, and Mr Loughnan for the defendant. The complainant stated that on the 12 th of September he went with a man named Montague Stevens to put up a sod bank, when the defendant came up and threatened him. with violence if he proceeded, as it had the effect of stopping his water. The defendant repeated tbe threats, and used more violent language on the 13th and 15th insts., and had since subjected him to a series of annoyances. He (complainant) now wished to have the defendant bound over to keep the peace. Montague Richard Stevens corroborated the complainant's evidence. In his defence, the defendant stated the origin of any difference between him and the complainant was the fact of his having been called in as a witness between complainant and his "missus." On the occasion complained of, he (defendant) remonstrated with the complainant for stopping the drain that took the water off his property. Complainant called him an "Irish fool," which led to recrimination, but he did not threaten the complainant or challenge him to fight. A witness named Philpott deposed that the complainant was quarrelsome with his neighbors, but the defendant was a " quiet " man. The Bench characterised the case as a trumpery one and dismissed it, each party paying his own costs. liYTIELVTON. Monday, Skvibmbbb 22. [Before J. Beswick, Esq., B.M.] Dbunk: and Disobdbbly.—Mary Ann with the option of three months' imprisonment. Unnatural Offence.—Henry McDonald, Newton, an incorrigible drunkard, was fined£s, a youth, was presented for attempting to commit an unnatural offence on Thursday last. Upon the charge being read to him, and being duly cautioned, he said he admitted it. The accused was arrested in a whare off Brenchly road on Sunday morning last, by Constable Coles, and when taken into custody denied tbe offence, saying that a similar yarn had been got up about him eighteen months before. Robert Boyd, a lad of fifteen, related the details of the offence, which are unfit for publication. Bobert Ogden, a boy fourteen years old, James West, and James Bennington, gave corroborative evidence, and the accused was committed for trial.