MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1784, 8 November 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday, November 8. [Before Q-. L. Meliish, Esq., B.M.] Drunk and Disorderly.—A first offender was fined ss.

Steading Money. Patrick Moss, alias Moss Benjamin, remanded from tho previous day, was charged with stealing £7 from the person of William Wilson. The prosecutor stated ho came to ChrietoV.uroh from Biccarton, where he lived, on the 6th instant, and in the afternoon went to the White Swan Hotel. The prisoner was there, and witness and he drank together, the former paying for the drinks, having changed a £1 note for that purpose. Witness had eight more notes in a roll, which tho prisoner saw him take out of hit pocket to take one from to pay for the drinks, and then replace them. Witness, after two or three drinks, went out into the yard, and the prisoner followed him. Witness felt the prisoner put his hand in his pocket and take the money out. He taxed him with it. Shortly afterwards he returned to the hotel and saw the prisoner there. Told Joseph Osborne he had been robbed. The prisoner said he did not rob him, but he knew who did. Witness had known tho prisoner before draw £9 10s from the Bank of New Zealand. Tho notes in his vest-p icket were the not ?s he had drawn from tho bank. Wm. Samuel Benson gave corroborative evidence as to seeing tho prisoner follow tbo prosecutor into tbo yard, and afterwards heard him say he knew who had tho money. Inconsequence of something he had beard, witness went to tho stables at the rear of tho Royal Hotel and searched for tho money. Witness found a roll of notes, which he did not count, under a bucket upside down at the roar of the stables of tho Royal Hotel, near tho closet. From seven o’clock witness saw no one go to the rear of the stables but tho accused. Witness gave tho notes to Mr Williams. George King, barman at the White Swan Hotel also swore he hoard the prisoner make the same remark as to knowing who had the momy. Witness received seven £l-notes from Mr Williams about 7.45 p.m., and handed them to Mr Collier, the landlord of the White Swan. Witness saw the notes handed to Williams in the bar by the witness Burton. Alfred Collier, landlord, of tho White Swan, stated that the prosecutor and prisoner were in his hotel on the evening of tho 6th instant. From something ho heard, he wont into the yard, between seven and eight o’clock. Prisoner, Williams, Osborne, and the prosecutor were there. Heard the prosecutor say Moss had robbed him. The prisoner denied it. Witness went for the police, and returned with Sergeant Morice, to whom he gave the money he had received from the barman. Sergeant Morice took the prisoner into custody. Sergeant Morice, sworn, stated on the day in question he arrested the prisoner on the charge of stealing seven £1 notes from the prosecutor. Prisoner said, “X know nothing about the money.” On his way to the look up, prisoner said, “I know that money was planted, and I know who took it, but lam not going to tell.” Witness received seven £1 notes from Mr Collier. This was the csss for the prosecution, and after hearing a witness called by the accused, the Bench decided to send the case to trial. The prisoner was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court. Adulteration of Bread.—James Slade and Lewis Slade were summoned under the Bakers and Millers Act, clauses 5 and 17, for haring on their premises, used as a bakehouse, certain alum for the purpose of adulterating bread, also for exposing for sale bread containing alum. Constable Stephenson stated that at 11.30 a.m., on November 7th, he in company with Constable Ryan, upon authority of a search warrant, searched the defendant’s bakehouse, and found about 21bs. of alum. James Samuel Slade was there at the time. He admitted putting alum into the bread sold the previous day. James S. Slade, sworn, said he was in business as a baker, in Oxford Terrace. He represented tho firm solely as he had a month ago dissolved partnership with, his brother, Lewis Slade. He admitted the offence he was charged with, but said he only used alum as his customers would have their bread white, and sometimes he had Hour which would not turn out white bread without the use of alum. It was no benefit to him to use the alum. Professor Bickerton said it was not known to be absolutely injurious when used in small quantities. Medical men, however, thought that if constantly used, or used in largo quantities, it would be injurious. Inspector Hickson said twenty samples of bread had been analysed, and only this sample was found to be adulterated. Fined 40s in each case, and costs.