MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1892, 17 March 1880, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHEISTOHUEOH. Wednesday, Maboh 17. [Before Q. L. Melliah, Esq., E.M.] Dbtjnk and Disobdbbly.—A first offender -was fined sa. Bbeach of thb Pbaos. —William Hatch and Edwaid Btevens were charged with committing a breach of the pence within view of a constable. Constable Allen stated that about ten o'olock the previous night he saw the defendantß fighting and pulling eachother about in front of the White Hart Hotel, and he arrested them and took them to the lockup. Constable Macarthy gave corroborative evidence. The defendant Hatch, in his defence, said he wa ß barman at the White Hart Hotel, and had turned out the other mmior creating a disturbance in the Hotel. While they were utrugj-ling on the pavement they were both arrested by a policeman, who took them to the Police Depot, declining to hear any explanation. The defendant Hatch called a witness who saw the conduct of the defendant Wilßon in the hotel, and he attributed the blame to him and exonerated Hatch. The Bench dismissed the charge against the latter, and fined Wilson 10a. Neglbctbd Childbbn.—Lucy Davy waß brought up on a charge of failing to pay for the support of her children in the Industrial School. The defendant said she was not in a poaition to pay the arrears that were due ; the father of her ohildren was in Christchurch. Ho had been awoy aeven anda-half yearß, and it was time he did something for them. Sergeant Morice said the father was in Chriatchurch, but was not in poaition to contribute anything. Sub-Inspector O'Donnell said the defendant had been arrested on a warrant issued at Caversham, and the Bench lemanded her toDunedin. Vagbancy.— Frederick William Oldman was charged under the Vagrant Act with having no lawful visible means of support. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labor. Joseph Evans Whidby was charged with having no lawful visible means of support. Sergeant Wilson gave the defendant, a colored man, a very bad character, as a strong hearty fellow who was unwilling to work. He had known him for several years, and his conduct had never been in any way different. Sentenoed to six months' imprisonment with hard labor. Margaret Bo wen and Theresa Dixon were also charged with having no lawful, visible means of aupport. The defendant Bowen, one of the oldest habitues of the Court, Baid She wished, if permitted, to leave thecolony and go to Melbourne. Mr Hoskins said that the defendants had become the tenants of a cottage belonging to him under false representations. He hod subsequently found they were most reprehensible characters, and a perfect nuisance to the neighbors. He had given them notice to quit, verbally and in writing, and had failed to eject them. Sergeant Wilaon corroborated the evidence, and said, of his own knowledge, both the women were prostitutes and confirmed drunkards, and a nuisance wherever they dwelt. The defendant Bowen said if Bhe went into_ a paddock she was turned out, and the police would not let her dwell in a house. Both defendants were sentenced to twelve months' imprisonmeict with hard labor.

Lakceny. Faith Gibson alias Faith Minnie waß charged with the larceny of a shawl, value 12s 6d, the property of Thomaa Henry Bone. There waa a second charge of stealing a silk skirt of thirty yards of satin cloth, value £3 2s 6d, also the property of Thomas Henry Bone. There wbb also a third charge of stealing a largo ulster, value 245, the property of Everett Brothers. Mr Stringer appeared for the accused. Detective Maurice O'Connor said the previous day, at 2.15 D m., he was in Cashel street, standing opposite Mr Bone's shop. He saw accused examine some goods in the window, and then went into the right-of-way, where there were some clothes hanging. Amongst them was the shawl, which was hanging over an iron bar. She took the shawl off the bar and put it under her jacket, and then went down the right-of-way towards Lichfield street. Ho followed her and took the shawl from under her jacket, 3nd asked her where she had got it. The accused said—" Oh, for God's sake, don't make any harm of it." Witness told her he was a detective, and charged her with stealing the shawl from Mr Bone's shop. He took her there first, and then to the police depot. On her way there she made one or two attempts to throw herself into the river. She said she would pay for the Bhawl. Henry Penberthy, sworn, said he was a draper in the employ of Mr Bone, Oashel Btreet. He saw the shawl placed at the corner of the right-of-way. It was there between half past 12 and 1 o'clock. Saw the accused brought into the shop by detective O'Connor. He had never seen the accused hefor6. The shawl had not been Bold to any one, and it belonged to his employer. The accused offered to pay for it, and Baid she would drown herself. This was the case for the prosecution. Mr Stringer said from what he had just heard he had no defence to make. He had been led to believe from hi» instructions that he should hear a very different statement of facts. He should like the Bench to hear the statement of the accused's husband, who had been in the employ of the railway department for some years, but was now out of employment, and an invalid. He man a man of good character, and might throw some light on the matter. The accused said she did not steal the Bhawl, she was examining it when the detective caught hold of her, and accused her of stealing it. She had purchased it from a -woman, and if she had time given her, she might be able to produce the woman. This wbb the evidence in the first case, and Mr Stringer said he Bhould decline defending the accused in the other cases. The second charge was then proceeded with of stealing thirty yards of satin cloth. Defective 'O'Connor said that in company with Deteotive Benjamin he went to the prisoner's house in Bt. Asaph street West the previous evening, and searched it. The accused was very violent, and he went out for one of the neighbours, and when he returned Detective Benjamin told him she bad given up to him the satin cloth produced. Searching further they found the lady's "Ulster. Detective Benjamin corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, and further stated that the accused said she had bought the things from a woman who had called on her the previous day. She said she thought at the time that the things might have been stolen. Mr Bone, being sworn, identified the articles as his property, and they had never been sold out of his shop either to the accused or to anyone else. The third charge was then proceeded with of stealing a lady's Ulster. Detective O'Connor gave similar evidence to that in the last case, that he had gone to the accused's house in company with Constable O'Connor to search for stolen property. The other good* had been specified as stolen, but not the uliter. Subsequently he had gone to the shop of Messrs Everett Bros , in Cashel street, and they identified the ulster as theirs. Albert Everett, sworn, said that in turning over their books they had found a lady's Ulßter missing. It was exactly like one they stm had in stock. They had sold three, and had two left, the one produced in Court was one of the latter. He could not positively swear it was bis property. Mr MellUh said he had no doubt the prisoner had Btolen the articles enumerated in the first two charges, but he would give her the benefit of the doubt in the third, although the article would be delivered up to Mr Everett. | The prisoner said .-he could not have stolen the things as alleged, as she was engaged washing on the day iu question. Mr Stringer again appealed to the Bench to deal leniently with the prisoner for the sake of her husband, who was a man of unblemished character, and who had to leave his employment through an accident. Mr Mellish said ho should be more disposed to deal leniently with the accused if she had shown the slightest contrition, but she had brazened it out, and had told an unblushing tissue of lies. She would be receiving a comparatively light sentence, on account of her husband and family in being ordered to undergo one month's imprisonment with hard labour in each case, the sentences to run concurreitly. Felonious Attempt.— George Wilson, alias Martin O'HalJoran, alias Mark O'Halloran, alias George Crosly, alias Jrseph Dubbo, alias Dublin Joe, alias Jameo Wilson, alias Martin Wallace, waß charged with attempting to commit a felony by stealing a cash box, the property of Thos. Armstrong. M*ry Armstrong, sworn, said— Her hußband was a draper in Peterborough street. Laßt Saturday morning, about halfpast ten o'clock, she saw the prisoner in her shop. She had gone out to look after her baby, and returning, she saw through the window the prisoner, partly behind the counter, and his hand within two or_ three inches of the till. She accused him of attempting to rob the till, saying " I won't have that," and he replied, " I won't do it again if you'll let me off." There were four

£1 notes in the till and 16s or 17s in silver. She called it the till, but it was, in fact, a metal caah-box. She detained the prisoner, and sent for a constable, and when the constable came she gave the prisoner in charge. He was sober. Constable Macarthy, sworn, said that in the forenoon of last Saturday he went to Mrs Armstrong's shop, and she gave the prisoner into his charge for attempting to steal a cash-box from behind the counter. He took him to the lock-up. The prisoner was perfectly sober, but looked as if he had been drinking over night. This was the caao for the prosecution, and the prisoner was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court. LYTTELTON. Wednesday, Maboh 17. [Before Joseph Beswick, Esq., 8.M., and J. T. Eouoe, Esq., J.P.J Bbeaoh of Eailway By-Laws. Two veteran offenders, Johinna Gallagher, alias Connor, and Bridget Ferrick, were charged with riding from Christchurch to Lyttolton in a first-class carriage, they having but second-class tickets. A fine of 50a was imposed in each case, with the alternative of fourteen days' goal. A Foolish Appbentice.—Henry Leader on remand for deaerting from the barque Inglewood, was brought up and the evidence taken of the master of the vessel and of the police. The accused was an apprentice on board, and was arreated on the s.a. Hawea last week. _ He admitted the offence, and was sent to prison for a month, to be put on board when the chip leaves. Civil.—J. T. Eouse v. Carson, judgment summons, £7 9s, was ordered to pay 10s weekly or go to gaol for one month. Same v. Northey, £1 17s ; ordered to pay in fourteen days or be imprisoned for that time.