MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1745, 23 September 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

OHBISTOHUBOH. TtTESDAY, SbPTESTBHB 23. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., B.M.J Dbunk akd Disoxdsblt.—Two drunkards were each fined 10s.

Smusura Saddlhbi. Thomas Henry Eeid, an apprentice, was charged with the larceny of saddlery, value £7, the property of his master, Jonathan Earnshaw. The accused pleaded guilty. Sergeant Morioe stated that, for the last six months, the prosecutor had missed stock from his shop, and yesterday the boy's father told Mr Earnshaw that his son had confessed to have stolen articles and sold them again to Mr Ingles, the butcher, and a pair of spurs to his son. He had also sold a stockwhip to Mr Marsden, of Opawa. Mots of the wings had been recovered since. Jonathan Earnshaw, being sworn, said he had, for the last six months, missed stock from his shop. The articles produced in Court belonged to him. The value, roughly, was about £7. Had given no one any tight to dispose of them, and had not purchased them from aMr McGregor. Last Saturday the mother of the aecused brought certain articles to witness and said they had been found in the garden fence and that her son had conf essedto having stolen them. Had not sold any saddlery to Mr Ingles, the butcher. John Exra Ingles said he was a butcher, in Armagh street East. The accused, who was apprenticed to a saddler, lived close to him. Witness pnrohased the articles of saddlery produoed, consisting of a head-stall and bit, some girths, currycomb and brush, buckles, &c. He gave £3 or £4 for the articles which he purchased at various times of the accused. . The accused told him his matter |had purchased the goods at Mr McGregor's sale. He (witness) had no idea that the boy was acting dishonestly in disposing of the property. He gave, as near as he could judge, fair vslne for the things, and had no idea that there was anything wrong in the boy's conduct. In answer to the Bench, the witness said he considered he had given nearly the fair value o£ the propeilr. A.b th» l»«f-. 1« h»/t»» 'o Bavo mn suspicion of the boy, and refused to purchase anything more of him. He did not; like to make inquiries, for the lad's sake. His Worship pointed out to the witness that he had placed himself in a very equivocal position, as it was evident he had bis suspicions of the boy aroused, and yet did not think it his duty to make any inqu : ties. Whatever might eventually come out of the case, his Worship thought the witness had acted most rsprehensibly, and that must be the opinion of everyone who had heard his evidence. He should direct the police to make further inquiries into the matter Marshall Ingles, the son of the last witness, deposed that he purchased two stock whips and a pair of spurs from the accused. He gave 4s 6d for one stock whip lash, and 4s for the other. The accused told bim to get the things from Mr Earnshaw, who allowed him to have them cheap. Witness sold one of the stock whips to Mr Marsden, of Opawa, for 4s 6d. The prosecutor being put in the witness box, spoke favorably of the boy generally, and said he was willing to take Tiim back again and do the best he could for him. Sergeants Hughes and Wi'son each spoke to the good character the lad had borne for the last few years. His Worship told the accused he was about to take an unusual course with him, but out of consideration for his youth, and the good charaotor he had hitherto borne, as well as the fatal facilities which the carelessness, to call it by no worse name, of others had given him of disposing of the property, he would deal leniently with him. At the same time, his father would have to enter into a bond for his reappearance in Court to answer the charge if called on, so that, although he was now leaving the Court without punishment, the charge was still hanging over him. His Worship hoped ih«t this would be a serious warning, and that he should never see him in the Court again on this or any other charge. The accused was then discharged. Labcekt. —Cornelius Vanliodgoudross was oharged with stealing a blanket, the property of Alfred Ohoupeaux. The accused pleaded guilty, but said he took the blanket by mistake for his own property, and meant to return it. The accused being a foreigner, M. Bourgeois acted as interpreter. The prosecutor being sworn, deposed that on the night of the 21st instant he and the accused slept at Prospero's Boarding House. On the morning of the 22nd prosecutor missed the blanket from the bed. There were three others sleeping in the same one, but the accused had not slept in the room. The blanket was in accused's bed; it had been put there by the cook. The blanket produced in Court was the same; it was worth Bs. No person had any right to take the blanket from the house, but the witness had given Mr Prospero's cook authority to put it on the accused's bed. Mr Prospero, boardinghouse-keeper in High street, deposed that the aecused came to stay with him eight days ago. He brought some blue blankets with him. Was acquainted with the prosecutor, who also lodged in the house. They both slept there on the night of the 21st. Before six o'clock on the morning of the 22nd the accused got up and left the premises. Constance Gaffney stated that yesterday afternoon he went to Barrett's Borough Hotel in company with the prosecutor. Received the blanket produced rolled up in a swag. Afterwards witness arrested the accused at Lyttelton. The Bench disbelieved the accused's story that he had mistaken the stolen property for his own blanket, and sentenced him to one week's imprisonment with hard labor.

LYTTELTON. Tuesday, Septembkb 23. [Before J. Besvrick, Esq., B.M.] Cvtil Casks.—J. G. "Wills v Bobert Owen, claim £44 12s 4d ; J. A. Robinson v same, claim £36 lis 8d ; A. Anderson v same, claim £25 9s lOd; S. Ohlson v same, claim £27 9s lOd ; Bobert Kemp v same, claim £23 lis 4d ; Samuel Ellict r same, claim £2O 19s 4d ; Richard Wood v same, claim £l4 16s 9d ; John Pope v same, claim £3 16 ; John Probart Jones v same, claim £ls 19s 4d ; G-arforth and Leo v same, claim £1 14s 4d. Mr Joyce appeared for the defendant (master of the Minna Bell), and at his suggestion the Bench gave judgment for the plaintiff in each of the cases, to-day being a day earlier than they were set for. Mr Joyce submitted that as all the parties were willing to such an arrangement, which, if carried out by the Court, would expedite the plaintiffs in getting their money, the Court Blight so take the cases. This course was then pursued, the Bench giving judgment for the plaintiff in each case, further proceedings to be undertaken on Friday next.