MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1967, 14 June 1880, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, June 14. (Before B. Westenra, J. E. Parker, and J. L. Los, Esqs.,"J. P.'s] Deunk and Disorderly. Five first offenders were fined ss. James Brown, for being drunk and leaving his dray in charge of a small boy, who left it untended in the street, received 14 days imprisonment without the option of a fine. Bridget Ferrick, who presented a loathsome appearance, and against whom there are numerous convictions recorded, wss sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Bbeach of the Peace.—George Lowry, charged with assaulting Bridget Ferrick in Hereford street on Sunday night, was fined 10s. Neglected Child.—William Ralph, who haa been before the Court on tvro previous occasions, wasegdn brought up. A telegram ■from from the Inspector of Police was read, stating that the Governor’s warrant had not yet arrived for the boy’s release from the Oaversbam Industrial School. Remanded again for one week. Vagrancy.—Wm. Benson, whose name was called on this charge, did not appear; the police stated that ho had cleared out of the town. No Light.—S. Smart, for having no light on an obstruction in Cathedral square, was fined 10s. Miscellaneous. —James Spence, for having a horse at large, was fined ss. Frederick Brown, for riding on a footpath, was fined 10s and costs. Francis Emerson, for the same cffsace, was fined 10s and costs. Francis Ell, for driving cattle on a footpath, was fined 10s and costs. Frederick Tatton. for furious driving, was dismissed. Nelly Ross, for the same offence was fined 10s." Henry Thorpe and James Reynolds for removing night soil daring prohibited hours were fined 10s each. For having unregistered dogs in their possession, Robt. Pepperill, Geo Moore, Edwin Jones, N. J. Suckling, and Joseph Nock, were Seed 20s and costs. A. C. Josling, Wm. McGee, Thos. Poole, Patrick Carr, and Joseph Wollries, were fined 5s and coat, 7s each. Jos. Young, for using abusive and threatening language to Mary Ballantyne ; case dismissed. Mary Ballantyne was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Bolton ; no evidence being produced the case was dismissed. Labbikinibh. Robert Alford, Henry Clark, William Jones, William Askew, land Maurice Flavell, all lads about fifteen or sixteen years old, were brought up charged with riotous conduct and breaking windows of the shop belonging to George Wilson, storekeeper, Heatlo-"tej Val'“T, cn the night of the 9th inst. George W Iscn deposed to the commission of the offence, and to capturing three of the accused whom he chased. Agnes Minifie, servant to the previous witness, and Mrs Wilson, gave corroborative evidence. Maurice Flavell, against whom the charge had been withdrawn, was called by the police, but denied any knowledge of the occurrence. Sub-Inspector O’Donnell said the accused were part of a band of larrikins whose conduct was the annoyance and terror ■ of the neighbourhood. It was morally certain that the accused had committed the offence they were charged with, and he had ■elected for better proof of it the witness Flavell as being the most innocent looking boy of the lot, but wos sorry to say ho had made a mistake. The Bench said the evidence had broken down as regarded the particular offence the accused wore charged with, but there could be no doubt that they were actually what they were represented to be, rowdies of the worst description. They would be discharged, but might rest assured that ■their appearance on this charge would not assist them if ever they were brought up again.

LYTTELTON. 1 c Monday, Jonh 4. 1 [Before J. Beswick, Esq., R.M., and T. H. Potts, Esq., J.P.] ' The Sunday Disturbance. —John Walsh E was charged with behaving on Sunday in a * way whereby a breach of the peace took placo, • and with assaulting Constables Oleary and J Henry. Constable Oleary testified that he 1 saw the accused fighting, and when he attempted to arrest him he ran away. Subsequently the constable saw him strike another man, and when witness came up he struck at him and ran to the wharf. Willliam i J. Simmonds, proprietor of the Lyttelton f Hotel, saw the accused strike the man t and afterwards strike at the constable. Con- £ stable Henry said when he arrived on the < scene at the wharf Constable Oleary was * trying to take the prisoner in charge. The ' prisoner was very violent, and attempted to ' bite the witness. There was a| great dis- ( turbance, an immense crowd having assem- ( bled. The prisoner was not intoxicated. At ] the request of Sergeant-Major Mason, the j Bench took the evidence against the other < prisoners. Edward Cronin and James Cronin ] were then charged with obstructing the con- i stables and with assaulting Constable Henry. > Constable Henry said the accused kicked j bim and succeeded in releasing the prisoner Walsh from custody twice, j They tried to incite the mob and shouted out that’ they, the police, would , never be able to take. Walsh into custody. , Thomas Robinson, a resident of Christchurch, ( on a visit to the port, said he saw the two i frisoners striking constable Henry and were ! ioking him. The same prisoners and John ' Curry, John Stirling, William Lindsay, Thomas Glencross, and William Thompson j wore then brought up, charged with wilfully obstructing the police. Sergeant-Major Mason addressed the Bench upon the disgraceful scene which had occurred on j Sunday afternoon. The police had al- ( moat been overpowered by the mob , that collected around the prisoner Walsh. To some of the better class of on-lookers from ' Christchurch, and some residents hero, and ( the captains of the vessels, the police wore . indebted for helping to quell the riot, but there were a great many civilians present whom he was sorry were not now in the prisoner’s box in their stead, so unwarrantable was their conduct on the occasion in inciting the men to resist. Constables Cleary and Henry then gave evidence of the resist- , anoe of the prisoners, and identified them individually as having obstructed them in making arrests. Prisoner Thompson was very violent, and the Cronins and Stirling were most violent. Constable Henry could identify all the prisoners but Curry. Thomas Robinson, called, said—The crowd around at the time were doing all they could to prevent the police making the arrest. He never saw a man used worse by the crowd than the constable was when he was endeavoring to arrest Walsh. He never saw a more unsympathetic )crowd in his life. The constable was not using any unnecessary violence; so far from that, he was extremely cool and self-possessed. At one time, the crowd had so jostled the constable that he was in danger of being pushed over the wharf. The captain of the Aminta was called, but said he was too far away to testify to the identity of the accused. He saw a most disgraceful disturbance, bnt could not say what it was about. The prisoners then made a statement denying the charge. Sergeant-Major Mason said that the constables informed him that the obstruction caused by Lindsay was not a bad case. It was a slight obstruction at the end of the proceedings. The Bench adverted to the evidence about the conduct of the bystanders. The resistance to the police had been most determined, and they were determined to put such disturbances down. It was all, they thought, brought on by drink. The prisoner Walsh was then sentenced to one month and fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labor ; the two Cronins each to twentyeight days’ hard labor ; Thompson, fourteen days, and Carry and Glencross forty-eight hours each. Lindsay and Stirling wore discharged. The Bench expressed their satisfaction at the action of the police, against whom ■no evidence showing that they had used unnecessary harshness had been given. On the contrary it had been shown that they used every forbearance, such as did them credit under the circumstances. Larceny on a Flagship. —William Cook was charged with larceny of a gold watch and chain, the property of John Hunt, the larceny being committed on Regatta Day at Auckland, Prisoner was then the steward of tne flagship, the s.s. Taiaroa, and he was now arrested on board the ship Gareloch. The police asked that he be remanded. Remanded until Tuesday. Larceny on the Tbetelyan. —Henry Jennings was charged with stealing a number of articles belonging to Captain Roberts, of the Trevelyan, where he had held the position of steward. He was remanded until Friday next. Neglecting his Family. —Robert Park was charged with this offence, and was remanded in custody until next Friday.