MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1879, 2 March 1880, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, March 2. [Before Q-. L. Mellish, Esq., E.M.] Drunk and Disorderly.— One woman, an old offender, was fined 20s. Window Smashing. —Edward Savage was charged with breaking a pane of glass in the Borough Hotel. John M‘Swigan, a shoemaker, swore that shortly before twelve the previous night he heard the smashing of a window in the Borough Hotel in High street, and saw the accused the other side of the street. No one else was standing by. He went up the streit, and witness and others followed him, and a constable arrested him near the Southern Hotel. Constable Allen proved the arrest of the accused. John Barrett, the licensee of the Borough Hotel examined, said that he had been paid the value of the glass broken by a mate of the prisoner. This was all the evidence, and the accused was discharged. LARCENY. —Thomas William Forder was charged with the larceny of a pair of trousers, the property of Robert Black. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Stealing Feuit. —William Brooks and Albert Brooks (father and son), remanded from Monday, were charged with stealing a quantity of apples from the garden of Henry Bell Johnston. Mr Neck appeared on behalf of the elder Brooks, and pleaded guilty. He wished, at the same time, to point out that the lad was of tender years, and doubtless acted under the coercion of his father. Also, there was no evidence to show that he was with the elder prisoner at the time. Detective O’Connor said he was in the enclosed garden of Mr Johnston, in the Fendaltown Road, last Sunday night about half-past eleven o’clock. Ha saw the older prisoner in the garden with a bag of apples. When he saw the detective he dropped the bag and ran away. The detective gava

chase and arrested him. In reply to witness, he said there was no boy with him. Subsequently, he saw the boy outside the garden and he took him into custody. The boy said he had never stolen any apples before, but they were starving at home and had no bread. The prosecutor, examined, said he resided at Sumner, but had a garden at T'endalltown. In consequence of the repeated robbery of fruit from his garden, he gave information to the police and Detective Connor was set to watch the thief. He did not wish to punish the boy, as he considered he was coerced by his father. His Worship told Mr Neck he would take his view of the hoy's case and discharge him, as he regarded the father as responsible for his own crime and that of his son, whom he jvas training up to become a perfect night shark and thief. Ho should sentence the father to ■ one month’s imprisonment with hard labor, at*the same time cautioning the boy to take - warning by the sentence passed on his_ father. Wira Dbsbbtion. Edward Hill was brought up for failing to provide his wife with adequate means of support. The defendant’s wife said she had received £1 16s from her husband for nine weeks. Constable Hillyard said he arrested the defendant on a on "a warrant at Leeston. He had been drinking at the hotel there for the last fonr or five days. Defendant had a cheque for £5 a month ago, and had knocked it down. Defendant said he spent £2 out of it in clothes. The constable said he believed there was no scarcity of work at Leeston. Defendant’s wife said that her husband had left her on a former occasion. Defendant said that was with her own consent. His Worship said defendant must have made more than’. £5 in nine weeks. He knew what harvest wages were ; the fact was the defendant must have spent the money in drink. He should sentence him to fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labor.