MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1801, 28 November 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

OHRISTCHUROH. (Before G-. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.] Fbidat, Novbmbeb 28.

Dbt/nz and Dieoß.vsß.-LX. —A first offender was fined ss. DISOBETIN& aw Obdeb op the Cotjbt.— John Bell was charged with disobeying an order of the Court for the payment of £1 per week for the maintenance of his wife and five children. The defendant told a tale of distress, that he could not obtain employment, and the vessel of which he had been captain had been sold under a distress warrant. The Bench allowed the matter to stand over for a fortnight, to give the defendant a chance of obtaining employment.

Labceny.—Thomas Evans waß charged with stealing a cheque of £36 3s on the Union Bank of Australasia and six £1 notes, the property of Samuel Maneon. Mr Inspector Hickson said as Detective Benjamin, who had arrested the accused, was going to Wellington, ha wonld ask to have his evidence taken at once, and then apply to have the prisoner remanded for a few days. Detective Benjamin bein* sworn, said that on the Bth of January last, Samuel Manson reported to him that he lost some money which he described, viz., a cheque for £3Gi 3s on the Union Bank of Australia, Christchurch, six £1 notes, and a purse. Witness made inquiries, and found the cheque had been cashed by Samuel Ereeman, of the Southern Hotel, on the 24th December last, by a man answering the description which had been given to him by the prosecutor. Witness arrested the prisoner yesterday, who handed him the paper produced, which he said was all he had on him. The particulars in the document correspond with those which had been previously given to witness by Mr Ereeman. The prisoner was then remanded until Friday, December sth.

Stealing A Gold Eing.—Henry Birmingham was charged with stealing a gold ring, value £1 Is, the property of Mary Elmsly. The prosecutrix, Mrs Elmsly, stated that she resided with her husband, Thomas Elmsly, coach builder, Montreal street South. On the morning of the 26th instant she was engaged in her washhouse. She had taken off one of her rings and had put it on a shelf. The prisoner oame into the washhouse and asked for some bottles, which witness sold him. The prisoner stood close by the shelf where witness had placed her ring. About two hours after she missed the ring, and the next time she saw it was in the pawnshop of Samuel Stewart. There was a boy with the prisoner when witness sold him the bottles. Samuel Stewart deposed that the prisoner pledged a keeper ricg with him, for ss, last Wednesday afternoon. He said it was his wife's ring and had been previously pledged there. Witness did not remember ever lending money to the prisoner upon that or any other ring, but said possibly he might have done so. The prisoner denied the theft, and told an ingenious story to the effect that one of the children found the ring in his kit, in which he had carried home the bottles he had bought from the prosecutrix, and that ho had pawned it under the impression that it was his wife's ring, which she had previously loßt. The Bench disbelieved the story, as the prisoner had been charged with larceny eight times and convicted four, but out of consideration for his family, four children, the Bench sentenced him to three months' imprisonment only, with hard labor.

LYTTELTON. Fbiday, Notembkh 28. [Before Joseph Beswick, Esq., 8.M.1 IKSTJITINO A SrATIONMASTEB. —W. Treloar was charged with using insulting and abusive language to Thomas Bradley, stationmaster at Lyttelton. Mr Joyce appeared for the complainant. The aocused admitted the charge, and said he YU excited at the time at some mistake about lujgage, and that his boy had gone off on the wrong train. He expressed regret at the occurrence, and was sure that had he known it was the stationmaster he would not hare behaved so. He was so much excited be didn't remember what language he had used to Mr Bradley. Mr Joyce said (he offence was one that was

getting altogether of too common occurrence, but as the accused had tendered an apology and expressed his regret, he thought the defendant would be satisfied with a light penalty being imposed. The Bench fined the accused 20s, and counsel's fee 21s. Cmx Cash.—Redfern v. Tozer, claim £7, for goods delayed in delivery. Mr Joyce appeared for the Union Steamship Company, the owners of the vessel by which the package was shipped. The plaintiff proved that the package did not reach him in Ohristchurch until a month after the goods reached Lytteiton. Defendant showed that the company's liability ended when the goods were landed at Lyttelton, and that the ordinary custom was to put them into the railway trucks. Judgment was given for the defendant, with costs.