MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1961, 7 June 1880, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHE I BTOHUEOH. Monday, June 7. [Before Q-. L. Lee, Esq., and the Mayor of Christchurch.] Deune and Disorderly. —Eight first offenders were fined 5s each, and in ene case Is 6d cab hire.

DbUNKENKESS AND INDECENT EXPOS USE. —William Gaidar, charged with the above offences, was fined. The arresting constable deposed seeing him in Bedford Bow at 11.40 on Sunday morning, and proved offences. Prisoner expressed sorrow. Fined 20a or forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. Assault with Intent to Bob.— James Crawford, on remand from June 3rd, was again brought up. All witnesses were ordered out of Court, William Cook, sworn, deposed that he was a labourer, living at Klingenstein’s Bastaurant. He knew prisoner. Becollected meeting him on May 26th, about eleven o’clock at night. We went into the Palace Hotel. We had drinks together; three others were in our company. Witness paid for the drinks ; took out about 4s or 5s when paying for them. After having the drinks we all five came out of the hotel a little after eleven, when the hotel was closed. We then all went to the Commercial Hotel and had drinks there ; then went to the City Hotel. We stopped outside talking a few minutes, after that wo proposed to go home. Prisoner said it was rather too early to do so ; we then went down to the Mill bridge, in Hereford street. As we went over the bridge the redwhiskered man fell down ; he was a tall thin man and of a fair complexion. By the Bench —Did not know him; he was one of the party; helped prisoner to pick him up. At least prisoner said ha helped. Do not remember. Walked off the bridge, one stopping behind. The prisoner, self, and the man who fell down walked on. Whilst looking round to see if the other man was coming, he ran up

and knocked me down. Before I had time to get np one kept me down whilst the others tried to pick my pocket; it was my left-hand coat pocket and left-hand troweer* pocket and right-hand vest pulled out a collar (collar produced). That is the collar. The prisoner was there at the time, but I do not know which it was put his hand in my pockets. Had 10s in silver and £l7 in notes on me at the time. The notes were in my left-hand coat pocket. Did not tell accused about having the money. The assault on the bridge took place about 11.30 on the evening of May 26th. Accused nor any of the others had any permisuion to put their hands in my pockets. Cried out, “ Are you going to rob me ? I know you, Crawford.” And they all ran away. Saw a fellow crossing the bridge whilst getting up. Wont with the police the following day to the place where I was knocked down, and showed them. Found the collar lying on the ground. Detective Neill was present when the collar was found. By —Met you about 11 o’clock on the night of the 26th. Was in the company of the others when I met you. Saw you in the morning of that day about half-past 9 o’clock. Did not see you between the two occasions. Was not drinking with two prostitutes in the hotel when you saw me. By the Bench— Went in the hotel with prisoner. By prisoner —Was in your company before going j into the hotel. Met you outside. Wasnotdrink-

ing with women in tho hotel before you came in. Did not ask the other men to take mo to a house of ill fame. By Sergeant Morrice— Did not lose any money. By the Bench —The prisoner and three other men left tho Palace Hotel with me ; tho same men were with mo on tho bridge. By Sergeant Morrice —Did not see any of the men after the assault took place ; pointed out accused the following day to Detective Benjamin. Detective Neill stated, prosecutor pointed out a place at tho corner of Cambridge terrace and Hereford street, near the Hereford street bridge, on the morning of tho 27th; showed me the collar produced and identified it as his, about eleven o’clock in the morning: it was lying on the roadside, about four feet from the footpath. Saw him about twelve o’clock on the night of the 26th. Ho was sober but a little excited. Ho was alone, and made a eomplaint to me; said he had been knocked down by four men, and his pockets were rifled by them near Hereford street bridge. He mentioned James Crawford as one of the persons who had assaulted him. Detective Benjamin stated—He arrested the prisoner about 4 p.m. on the 27th of May, in Colombo street, and explained the charge to him. He said he left the Central Hotel with three others as be supposed to go to a brothel. He said they mot prosecutor and walked all together to the Hereford street bridge. The three men with him knocked prosecutor down, but he took no part in it. Ho did not know the names of tho other three men. By accused —You said you met the prosecutor after you left the hotel. You may have meant so, but you said you and the three others met him. Will net be sure of it, but so understood you.

Prisoner said he was a perfect stranger in Christchurch. He had witnesses, but did not know where to find them. He was talking to his mate the other day, but Detective Benjamin told him not to talk to me. It was not allowed. Sergeant Morrioe explained that this occurred in the roar of the Court, where communication is not allowed. Had he asked to get his witnesses, every help would have been afforded him to do so, but he never mads any request to that effect. The Bench said the case was very suspicious, but as there was not sufficient evidence to convict, he would get the benefit of the doubt. Dismissed. Dbivins Aoboss the Railway Line.— William Tibby was charged with attempting to drive over a level crossing on the railway in Colombo street when the train was approaching. D. McOulium, gate keeper, deposed that on the 22nd May, at 7 a.m., when the Sonth goods train was near the crossing, accused attempted to drive over; the enginedriver whistled to him, and he shouted to him, and had ho not prevented accused, he would have crossed at his peril. As it was, he ran over one of witness’s feet, and he had to be attended by Dr. Townend. The Bench said this kind of thing must be stopped. Accused had rendered himself liable to a penalty of £SO. If not prevented, some serious accident would happen, and lives bo lost some day. Accused said his horse was very fresh, and it was the witness’s fault that the wheel went over his foot. Fined £2, and costs 2s. Leaving Hobse and Oabt Unattended. —Ah Ting was charged with leaving a horse and cart unattended on the 29th May. Tha constable stated that the horse and trap was passing along Lichfield street with no one in charge. Ho went np and stopped it. Afterwards accused came up and said it was his. Fined 10s, costa 2s. Hobse Tktheeed on Footpath. —Thos. Goodman was charged with having a horse tethered to a fence on the footpath in Cashel street east, and was fined 10s, and costs 2s. Wandebing Cattle. —Cornelius Connell and Cornelius Hickey were each charged with having two cows wandering at large in Park road, Addington. A fine of 5a and 2s costs was indicted in each case. James Spence was charged with allowing a horse at large. Adjourned till June 14th.

OatTBLTY to Animals Act. —Albert Truscott, on remand from May 31st, was charged with driving a horse suffering from a sore shoulder. Joseph Wade stated that on the sth May the constable brought a horse and trap into the saleyards where he was stableman, and showed him a large wound on the shoulder. It was an old wound. Accused took them away in the afternoon, he being the owner. By accused—lt looked like an old wound. Constable Bullen deposed to taking the horse and trap to the caretaker at the saleyards. It looked like an old wound ; but still an open one—as large as the palm of one’s hand. Thomas Herrick, a lad about fourteen years, stated the horse had been resting for a month. On the day it was taken out the horse had no sore, but had a tender neck. He had had a bad sore some time before, but had got well. By the Bench—lt was bad about three weeks before, but was healed up on the morning he was putin the trap. By Sergeant Morriee—lt wasn’t such a big wound. I had treated the horse for some time for it, but did not bathe him that morning, nor for three days before. The next morning I noticed it was raw. A false sheepskin collar was made and put on the horse’s neck before he started for Christchurch, the distance was about sixteen miles. Accused said he got a new collar staffed for the horse during the day, and it did not hurt it whilst going home. The only load was two horse collars. Bench said, as accused had taken some procautions, the fine of £1 only would bo inflicted, and one witness’s costs, 10s. XTnebqistbbed Dogs—H. J. Parker, A. McKinnon, Charles Fisher, and Joseph Nook were each fined 20s, and costs 2s, for being the owners of unregistered dogs. Damage to Footpath.—Archibald Hammill was charged with damaging the asphalted footpath in Madras street North by drawing a loaded dray across same. Accused admitted the offence. Ho said he was carting gravel and sand for Mr Mair, who had erected a temporary bridge over the channeling, Mr Mair deposed that accused had crossed the footpath in several places. He accounted for that by his wishing to ease his horses, Mr Smart deposed to the damage done. The asphalte was dented, not broken. About 13 yards were damaged. It would cost £l2s 6d to make it good. Fined 10s, costa Bs, and damage done £1 2s fid. Bbkacii op thb Peace.—Walter Harper was charged with throwing a stone at the door of Thomas Saunders. Accused said it was only in fun ; he }■ 1 no ill intention. Thomas Saunders stated that before daylight on the morning of Friday, May 28th, he was aroused by a sound like the blowing of a horn, and whilst looking out of window to see what it was, a big stone was thrown against the door. He believed it was only a lark. Accused was always well-conducted, civil, and obliging. He did not lay the information : thatT was done by the police. Fined 10s, costs 2s. Peotbction op Animals Act.—Edward Bell, R. H. Bell, and M. Smith were charged with trespassing in pursuit of game on the property of Thomas Patterson, Fendalton. Thomas Patterson deposed that on the 22nd May the three accused were pursuing game on his property in Fendaltown road. He did not see them start a hare. Accused said their dogs started a hare on the adjoining property, and followed it across the road into Mr Patterson’s land. They called the dogs, but they would not return. No hare was started on his property. Mr Patterson said it was not so, the three were following quietly, and not calling off their dogs. He wished the practice of indiscriminate coursing to be put a stop to. They crossed the fence, not through a gate. The Bench said the two statements were at variance. Fined 20s each, and costs ISs.