MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1782, 6 November 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

OHBISTCHUBCH. Thursday, November 6. G. L. Mellish, Esq., E.M.I Drunk and Disorderly. —A female was charged with this offence; fined 205., cab hire Is 6d. A first offender was fined sa. Obtaining Goods under False Pretences. —Jacob Bloom, was charged with obtaining jewellery by false pretences, to the value of £SO, from Bremens Newman, at Wellington. Detective Sullivan said—l am a detective, stationed at Wellington. I know the prisoner to be the man mentioned in the telegram now handed to me. Inspector Hickson requested that, as prisoner was identified, he might be remanded to Wellington. The clerk of the Court read over the warrant. The prisoner stated that he bought the goods from the seller. He could not sell his goods in the North Island, and therefore came to Christchurch, hoping to sell at the cattle show and races. He had had several transactions with him. Remanded to Wellington, to appear 13th November, by steamer leaving this day. Larceny. Fanny Clifton was charged with the larceny of an album, value 30s, the property of Kompthorne, Prosser, and Co. The charge was admitted by prisoner, who said she was tempted to taka the album by having no food for her infant, and having obtained some relief, had packed it up to return it this morning. Inspector Hickson bore evidence to her being an industrious person, and ■ aid, the property had been recovered, and there was no previous conviction against the accused. ilia Worship said that, as it was a first case, he would deal leniently with the case, and sentenced her to seven days’ imprisjnment with hard labor. Failing to Provide. —John Boss was charged with failing to provide his wife and three children with adequate means of support. Mrs Boss, sworn, said—l am wife of John Boss. All the money I have had from him for six weeks has been 16s 6d, and one week’s rent. He has been working. On Saturday last he said he had no work, and mast’ go up country ; but I have seen him working. Prisoner said nearly all he had earned he had given to his wifa and ho then promised to give her more this week. Inspector Hickson said the prisoner had been drinking hard lately. Mrs Boss said he spent £1 in drink last Saturday, and came home drunk with a big stone in his hand. She I feared her life wa» in danger, and would be •

I _ glad if a protection and maintenance order' were granted her. His Worship adjourned the case for a fortnight to give Ross a chance of providing for his family, cad oantionine him that if he came back again he would have to work without payment. Inspector Hickeon knew the prisoner was in work.

Abson. —Edgar Osborne wag charged on i remand with setting fire to B. Hois', store I St. Asaph street, on the evening of October 29th. Mr Holmes appeared for the accused who pleaded “Not guilty.” Ellen' ford, sworn, said—l am wife of George Whitford, a printer, employed in the ‘"Press” ofleo. I live in Durham street, near St. Asaph street. I was going to Mr Pox’c-abont quarter-past ton on the evening of October 29th (Wednesday)—that is a week ago, yesterday. I was walking on the north side of St. Asaph street towards ITox’fl, on- the left hand side. I was going to the Prince of Wales Hotel. I went there, I did not enter, and returned home again. I came back on the same side of the street, and whilst coming back I saw a fire on Mr Hale's premises/ situate between St, Asaph and Tuam streets. I saw the fire between the two buildings on Mr Hale’s land, nearest to the building in Durham street —that is to the west. I saw it blazing up the side of the building from tho* outside. I saw Mr Oakley get over an iron fence and put the fire out. I saw no one else about the place. I saw no sign of the fire on my going to the hotel, which I did not enter, owing to the bar being full of men. I then returnedhome. I waited till Mr Oakley put out tho fire. I suppose about ten minutes elapsed from my leaving home till he had put out the fire. Oh reaching home, I called my husband and wo went together to the hotel for some beer. On our way to the hotel wo crossed the street just below the boarding, house before we reached the scene of the fire. When crossing wo met tho prisoner about forty yards from the scene of the fire. I spoke to him. I pointed out to Detective Neil the spot where we met prisoner. I asked him if he had been to the fire. He said no, he had not; he did not see any fire. Ho asked me where the fire was. I said, “If you will come with • me I will show you.” He leaned over tho gate and said he could not see the fire, but could smell the tar. Myself and husband left him there. Another man then came up and called out “Is that you Ed.” He said “ Yes. ” We left them talking to each other. We then went to tho hotel, both of them following us thither. Tho prisoner went into the hotel, leaving the man who was with him standing at the opposite corner of tho street: My husband went into the hotel, I remaining outside. I did not see the prisoner again. As far as I remember tho man who was with prisoner went away from where he was standing. Xdo not know who ho is. I noticed' the prisoner's face and hands were rather black, and he was a little the worse for drink.. He had a “kind" of tweed coat on. I have not spoken to tho prisoner for about twelve months. It was a moonlight night.. When I first saw the fire it was just beginning to blaze. I first saw the smoke and then tho fire. By Mr Holmes— I do not know the distance from the hotel to my house, or to the fire. I know the time by having looked at the clock before going out. I am quite sure it was a quarter-past ten, not a quarter to ten. I saw the fire on my return home. I did not go home first I passed along St. Astreet street on that side of the street that the fire was. I do not remember the kind of fence, but it was a gate that I could see through' I did not see anyone about on my way to the hotel. There are two buildings on the premises. I cannot say how near they are to each other. I know Mr Oakley, although I did not at first recognise him. He got over the fence in Tuam street. I afterwards recognised him, I know it was Mr Oakley, because his name was in the paper the next night. We met prisoner between our bouse and the scene of the fire, in St. Asaph street, nearer to Durham ttr.ct than to the hotel. He was coming from the direction of the hotel. I asked him if he had seen the fire, because I thought he had been there. He was on the footpath. As nearly as X remember it is twelve months since I last saw him before this. I cannot describe his dress. Ho was a little the worse for drink. I am sure a man called out to him. They were talking to each other, but I did not hear what they were walking about. I saw only one man speak to prisoner. It was the same who turned and walk back to the hotel. At the time ho looked over the gate there were no signs of fire. He said he could smell the tar. I could not smell it, owing to having a bad cold. It was about half-past ten when my husband and myself met the prisoner, as nearly as I can tbink. He went into the hotel bar after my husband. Tho prisoners hands and face were a little black. I could not tell if it was from tar or drink. When I say he was the worse for drink, he was not staggering, but I know that he was the worse for drink. By Mr Hickson—When I saw the prisoner first he was between us and the scene of the fire. I did not see any one else but Mr Oakley putting out the fire, but two or three men came and leaned over the gate, and one called out asking him if it wss all right. George Whitford, sworn—l am a printer, employed at the “ Press ” office, Christchurch. I live in Durham street, near corner of St. Asaph street. I remember my wife coming home from Pox’s on Wednesday week, it was about half-past ten when she came back. We then went together to Pox's for some beer. We went through St. Asaph street. We met prisoner about twenty or thirty paces from corner Durham street, towards the hotel. I know Mr [Hale’s premises. There is a gate leading in from St. Asaph street. When we met him he was about twenty yards from the gate of Hales premises,nearer to Port Philip Boarding-house than the hotel. He was going towards Durham street. I spoke to him, asking if he had been to the fire. He either said “ What fire,” or “ Where is tho fire ?” Ido not know which. He turned with us and looked over tho fence, when some one down the street called out to him. He turned and went towards him, nearer to the boarding-house. We were all on the same side of the street. I thought him rather the worse for liquor. I noticed his hat was dusty, and his face very dirty. About five to seven minutes ho came into Fox's Hotel, where I had gone. About five minutes had elapsed before he came in. I noticed his clothes wore rather dishevelled on him. I did not remain long in the hotel ; about ten or twelve minutes altogether. I saw no sign of the fire on that night, that is. On my way home I saw the blaze, and heard a voice call out, “ Have you got it out, Harry.”' It was on Mr Hale’s premises. When nearthe gate I smelt a strong smell of tar or pitch. By Mr Holmes—l know the black made by tar, but was not near enough to him to notice whether it was a blackness on his. face by tar or otherwise. I was about five yards from him in the hotel, and although near enough perhaps to tell, yet he was too dusty to distinguish. The black on his face was patches of dirty color hero and there, slightly resembling that on a blacksmith’s, face after a day’s work, but not quite so black. Three or four minutes passed whilst we were in the bar. I beard some one ask where he had been to get his face so black. I did not hear his reply. I cannot tell how many people were in the bar. Ido not know any of them. When he leant over the gatehe said, “ I do not see any fire, but I can smell tar or pitch.” There was a strong smell of something burning when we werethere. I could not tell what it was. When wo passed tho scene of the fire it was all in darkness, and wo could see no sign of any fire. The Court hero adjourned at 2 p.m. On resuming, Henry Oakley was examined, and gave evidence as to his discovery of the fire when in company with his partner, John Taylor, and as to his putting the fire out. John Taylar gave corroborative evidence. {"Left Sitting ]