MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1791, 17 November 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

OHBISTOHUBOH. Monday, Novembbb 17. . [Before G-. L. Mellish, Esq., B.M.J Dhthtk ahd Disoedbbly.—Two drnnkards were each fined 10s. Bobbins with Vioibncb —Joseph Clarke and Annie Osborne were charged with robbing Hugh Higgins. The prosecutor, a farmer, residing at G-ovronor's Bay, said he came to Lyttelton on Tuesday, the 11th inst. He purchased some clothing at Mr Brown's. There were two pairs of drawers, a singlet, and some other articles which he bought. He came to Ohristchurch by the 4 p.m. train, and had the things with him done up in a parcel. About 12 o'clock p.m. he asked the prisoners whom he saw near the railway station to direct him to Mr King's, when, in reply, the male prisoner knocked him down, and struck him while on the ground. While on the grpund the woman caught him by the side of the neck and seized his parcel. The man took his purse out of his pooket containing between 30s and 40s in silver. They both then ran away, the woman making off first, followed by her companion. Witness then got up and called out " murder." A policeman came up, and witness told him what had happened, describing the prisoner and also the contents of his parcel. Witness next saw the male prisoner at the Police Depot, and picked him out of half-a-dozen men as the person who had knocked him down. Similarly identified the other prisoner. Had no personal acquaintance with either of them. E. O. Brown, a draper, carrying onbusiness in Ly ttelton, deposed that on the 11th inst. the prosecutor called at his shop and made some purchases. The articles produced in Court were the same. The value of them was 255. The articles corresponded with the bill of sale produced. Thomas Bryant, a brickmaker, residing in Selwyn street, Addington, deposed that the female prisoner had been staying in his house. Sometime during the night of Tuesday, the 11th, she returned home. At break of day witness got up and found the male prisoner also in the house. Later on a detective called and took away a parcel which he found in the bedroom in which were the two prisoners. Detective Noil deposed that about eight o'clock on the morning of the 12th he went to Thomas Bryant's house. Ho saw the prisoners in bed. The woman's clothing, in Court, were lying alongside of .the bed, and witness took possession of them. The female, in answer to a question from witness, said they were her's. Witness told her they answered to the description of some things which bad been stolen. She said, " I stole them." The male prisoner said he had found them near the Crown Hotel on the previous night, and had given them to the female prisoner. The woman was also wearing the red singlet, and on the way to the look up threw away a piece of red flannel, which witness picked up. It corresponded with the under garment she had on. Constable Leahy deposed that on the night of the 11th inst. he was on duty at the junction of Tuam and Antigua streets. He heard a noise as of a man screeching "murder," in the direction of the Windmill road. On going up he met the prisoner apparently a little tinder the influence of drink. He said he had been robbed, and there were marks of fresh blood on his face. He described the parsons who had robbed him, which description witness embodied in a report. The articles in court corresponded with those the prosecutor said had been taken from him. This was the case for the prosecution. Both prisoners, who reserved their defence, were committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court.

Embezzlbmbnt.—Francis H. Valpy was charged, on remand, with embezzling £5 16s, the money of the Ohristohurch section of the Railway Employees Benefit Society. Mr Inspector Hickson applied for a further remand of a jfew hours on the ground that the witnesses had been absent on leave during the recent holidays, and had only been communicated with by the police on Saturday night. The accused opposed further postponement as {unnecessary and preposterous. The inspector said he could prove on oath the truth of what he had advanced. The Bench considered the request a reasonable one, and granted a further remand until Thursday, the 20th inst., the same bail being allowed. UNKESrSTBRKD Dogs.—Thomas Gudsell, Bobert Thomas, and Michael Brown, were severally summoned for having unregistered dogs in their possession. A fine of 20* was inflicted in each case. Bbeach ot Licensing Act.—James Bell and Mary Bell, residing at Shand's Track, were summoned for supplying less than two gallons of beer, contrary to the provisions of the Licensing Act. There were two informations against James Bell, and three against Mary Bell. Mr McConnell appeared for the defendants. James Hawthorn, a laborer, stated that he was at the house kept by the defendants on October 28th. He had three half-gallons of beer. The " missus " brought the first, which he paid for. That was drank. The second halfgallon was also supplied by the "missus," and paid for, and the third was brought by James Bell, the " missus " taking the money. The money paid on each occasion was, the witness believed, 2s Gi. The first half gallon was served between five and six o'clock in the evening. Witness left some time in the night, as the "missus', said she wanted to shut up. He slept under a hedge at the rear of the cart shed. James Brown, brother of the female defendant, said he was in her house on the 28th inst-, with the last witness. They drank some beer, which came from the Wheatsheaf. Was in the house from seven till eleven o'olock, and, during that time all he drank was two glasses. All the beer was brought from the Wheatsheaf Hotel, Did not see any beer supplied by the female defendant to the witness Hawthorn. The latter was the worse for drink. This was the case of selling on the 28th, which the Bench dismissed. For selling on the 29th, the same witness, Hawthorn, was called, and stated that, on the morning of the 29th, finding he had sixpence in his pocket, out of thirteen shillings, which he had on the previous day, he went into the house of the defendant, and James Brown asked .him to shout. He said he had only sixpence. Brown drew him half a gallon, but the " missuß " came up and took it away, and gave him a pint instead, for which he paid the sixpence. Later in the day witness returned and obtained a half gallon and a pint of beer, for which he paid out of money he had borrowed. He drunk the pint and took the half gallon to the Wheatsheaf, whioh he gave up to the landlord, who returned it to him, and it was drunk. James Brown was called, and contradicted the evidence of the previous witness. The defendant, James Bell, was called by Mr McConnell, and swore that he did not serve Hawthorn with any beer during the 29th inst. They had no beer in the house for sale, but only a small quantity for their own consumption. Mrs Bell being sworn, corroborated the evidence of her husband. Charles White sworn, said he was in company with Hawthorn on the 30th in Bell's premises. He was drunk, and oould not remember what had taken place. This case was also dismissed. A third case of supplying Charles White with beer on the 29th, was then proceeded with. White being sworn said he was served with a glass of beer, whioh he drank. He also took away tome beer in a bottle, for which he paid. He took it to the Wheatsheaf Hotel and the landlord took possession of it. Witness left it there and went away. Did not know what became of it. By Mr McConnell —Was not put up to obtaining the beer from Bell's by the landlord of the Wheatsheaf. Went directly from the Wheatsheaf to Bell's and bought a pipe cover before enquiring for beer, porter, or brandy, and afterwards returned to the Wheatsheaf. Mr Hutohins, licensee of the Wheatsheaf, was called by Inspector Hickaon, and corroborated the witness White's evidence as to bringing a bottle of beer, which he subsequently gave to Constable Weatherley. The bottle was maiked at the time, for future investigation. Three persons, who were in the house, pnt their initials on it. Constable Weatherley, sworn, proved receiving the bottle of beer in Court from the last witness on the evening of the 29th. It was stated to have been purchased at Bell's. The defendant, Bell, called by Mr MoOonnell, s'ated on oath that he gave the witness White some beer in a bottle to take home to his wife on the 29th October. No money was taken for it, and he took it out of a small barrel whioh he kept for his own consumption. The only money taken was one shilling for a pipe and a cover. This evidenoe was corroborated by the next witness, Mrs Bell. The magistrate said there was a great discrepancy in the evidence as to the state of the witness White, as to his sobriety, whioh oould only be cleared up by getting additional evidence. For this purpose the case would be adjourned until Thursday, the 29th. WANDKEraa Homes akd Cattle.—The following persona were fined for allowing

horses and cattle to wander at large :—Joseph Cocks, John Judge, and William Hale. SrsBET FiQHUKa George Williams and Maurice Kavanagh were charged with fighting: in the street. Mr Inspector Hickson stated that be should ask to be allowed to withdraw the cage against Williams, |as he had acted in self-defence, the other man being the aggressor. The case was dismissed against Williams, and Kavanßgh fined 20a and eosts.