MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1748, 26 September 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

LYTTELTON. Fbidax, September 26. [Before J. Beawick, Esq., R.M., and T. H. Potts, Esq., J.P.] Drunkenness. —William Roberts, having been two days in prison, and medically treated for drunkenness, was discharged. Embezzling Stores. Charles Phillips and David Brown were presented for stealing ship’s stores on board the Waitangi while on her voyage from London to Canterbury. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared for the proseution, and explained that it was not for the value of the articles taken that the company wished so much that punishment bo brought home to the offenders, as for the manner in which the lives of the passengers and the safety of the ship had been endangered by them in placing a naked candle on the top of the powder magazine. He pointed out the great danger there was of a ship being set on fire by the crew in the commission of these robberies on board, as it was an offence generally co mmitted during the night, and matches and candles were used with an utter disregard of the nature of the cargo they might chance to be set upon or thrown upon as the exigencies of discovery might necessitate. The belief was a general one that vessels were frequently set on fire in this manner, and ho thought no leniency should be shown. Charles Hodder, master of the Waitangi, said that on August 7th it was reported to him that the accused were down in the lazarette. The accused are on the ship’s articles, one as the second cabin steward and the other as baker’s assistant. The official log book was put in evidence, and the particulars, as recorded, were read. The prisoners, upon being asked by the Bench, admitted the charge. Captain Hodder said that the reason he did not imprison the men after the occurrence was that ho could not adequately punish men on hoard the ship, and had he done so it might have been urged by the Bench that they had been already punished. In reference to Brown, the steward, he thought that he had been influenced by Phillips, but the latter, in place of evincing any spirit of regret, afterwards had gone about the ship in a most cavalier manner, and boasting of what he seemed to think was quite a joke. Andrew McDonald, called, gave the accused Brown a good character. The Bench dwelt at length upon the grave nature of the offence, and sentenced Phillips to twelve month*’ imprisonment, and Brown to nine month*. The severity of the decision created some surgrise am,ong the croyd of pergona in the