MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1790, 15 November 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

OHRISICHTJEOH. Saturday, November 15. [Before G. L. Mellish, Eeq., B.M.] Neglected Children. Ada, Harriott, and William Smith were brought before the Court under the Neglected and Criminal Children’s Act. Sergeant Wilson stated that he took them in charge out of the house kept by their mother, which he knew to be one of ill fame. Eepeated complaints had been made of every bouse occupied by the woman for the last four years. Sergeant Hughes corroborated this evidence. They were ordered to be sent to the Industrial School for the respective periods of three, six, and seven years, to be brought up in the Church of England faith. LtaOßiT —Bobert Harris was charged with stealing a silver guard chain, value 225, the property of Alfred Corbin. Mr Neck appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, a farmer residing at Kaiapoi, said he was in the White Swan Hotel on the morning of the 12th instant, and rather the worse for drink, Bemembered being awoke in the billiard room, where he had laid down to sleep. Witness missed his watch and chain, which he valued at £lO 10s. Had no knowledge of the prisoner. George Sinclair Bing, barman at the Swan Hotel, said he rememberedjthe last witness coming into the hotel on the X2th instant, between eleven and twelve o’clock. Being rather the worse for drink, witness advised him to lay down in the bagatelle room to sleep. Between twelve [and one the prisoner came into the hotel, and witness saw him go in to the billiard room, and bearing a noise, witness looked through a slide window, and saw prisoner in the act of drawing away his hand from the prosecutor’s pocket. Witness told some men who were in the bar to watoh the prisoner as he suspected him of robbing the prosecutor. Prisoner got up and went into yard, the men followed him, and brought him to the bar, and the prosecutor eaid he had been robbed of hie watch and chain. A man named George Miller give witness the chain, who subsequently gave it to Constable Briggs and the prisoner was given into custody. George Miller, a laborer residing in Tuam street, said ho saw the prisoner while in the yard put his hand in his trouser’s pocket, take out a chain, and drop it on the ground. Witness picked up the chain and gave it to the previous witness. Prisoner subsequently admitted taking the chain, but said he had done it for a lark. Constable Briggs deposed to arresting the prisoner at the White Swan Hotel for stealing the chain, and he denied it. The prisoner was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labor.