MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1989, 9 July 1880, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

LYTTELTON. Feiday, July 9. [Before J. Beswick, Esq., E.M.; T. H. Potts, Esq., and J. T. Bouse, Esq., J.P.’g.] Labcbny.—William E. Bradley, a boy about twelve years of age, was charged with stealing from several shops a number of articles of wearing apparel, the whole value of the same being £2 14s. Mr J. Joyce appeared for the accused, and, in stating the circumstances of the case to the Bench, said the taking of the articles was admitted. The boy, however, it would be shown, had not taken them for his own use, but for his sister,, some years his elder, and under whose coercion the whole of the articles were stolen by him. Constable Beaumont gave evidence as to making the arrest, alter which the folfollowing evidence as to the lad’s character was given :—W. Eeed said he had known the boy since ha was a child, and for the past eighteen months the lad had been entrusted with moneys belonging to a juvenile society and no more correct boy could be desired. The boy had bad opportunities to be dishonest had he chosen to be so, but witness i had carefully gone through the accounts kept by the lad and found them scrupulously right in every particular. He felt sure that soma very strange influence had been exercised on. the boy to induce him to commit theft. Thomas Bradley, father of the boy, said the lad was full n£ spirit and harmless mischief, but be had no idea he was so much under the influence of his sister Kate. Of the latter, witness said that for the last thirteen years ha had done all he could to cure her of kleptomania. She had coat an immense deal of money in reimbursing funds of the family for what she had from time to time taken. The girl knew her dreadful complaint, but she did not appear to have the slightest control over herself. Witness was quite unaware that the boy was being influenced by her. After further evidence, Mr Joyce said his chief motive was to make the real facta known to the Court and the public, as it might be supposed that Mr Bradley, who held a responsible position, publicly wished to screen his boy. Kata Bradley was then charged with receiving the articles stolen by her brother. J. T. House, surgeon, testified that he never been in attendance on the girl, but Mrs Eeed had told him of her propensities some years since, and ha was convinced she was a kleptomaniac. He hsd known a child affected in a eiinilar way, the result of illness, and had it not been attended to medically early it would have become permanent, as he believed it had in this girl’s case. Kleptomania could be treated successfully, but whether any treatment would be any use in this girl’s case now bo could not say. The gaol, he thought, would not be a suitable place to put such a person. There certainly ought to be a place to which the girl might be taken, and treated and confined. As to kleptomania extending as far as to prompt the person affected to induce others to commit theft, he thought that it would. Finally the Bench said they were disposed to remand the accused until next Friday, to see what the father thought could be done with the girl. The disease was no doubt an exceptional one, but as magistrates they had a duty to perform to protect society. The case was a moat painful one, and the Bench would like to consult with another magistrate upon it. Incapable fbosi Dbink.- John Downey, on remand from Avnberley, and who had been up for lunacy from drink twice previous within the last three months, was brought up. The Bench cautioned the defendant not to come up again, and discharged him. Straying Cattle. —Walter Hc-dgeman was lined 10s, W. Edgar os, W. Oldfield 10s. Labceny. —Alexander Simpson, on ramaud for stealing a coat from Mr Philp’s shop, and who had then given himself up to the police, was discharged, an offer of employment having been made to him. Civil Business —Worley v Perham, claim £22 15s. Mr Nalder for plaintiff, Mr Joyce for defendant. Plaintiff’s counsel asked for an adjournment, and stated be had found hie client under the influence of drink, in company with the defendant, and he thought the man was being kept from the Court. The case had been previously adjourned, and counsel for the defendant now insisted it should be struck cut. So ordered, with costs. Peters v Gray, claim £3 16s. Mr Nalder for plaintiff. The evidence of the defendant was arranged to be taken at Wanganui on the 22nd July, and the case bs heard on August 3rd. OHEISTCHTJROH. Friday, July 9. [Before C. Whiietoord, Esq , E.M., and J. K. Parker, Esq , J P.] Drunkenness.— Fanny Alice Parkes, William McKay, and Mary Hall were each fined in the minimum penalty of 5t for drunkenness. Mary Walstesd, an old offender, was fined 40s. Trespass. —Hubert Reuben, on remand from the previous day, was charged with having been illegally on the premises of Mary Allen Jones, Allen street, and further with assaulting her. Prosecutrix said accused came to tier house early on Friday morning, and got in through the kitchen window. He would not leave when ordered to do so, and became abusive. Cress-examined by accused —Ho did not maintain her and her child

•when in Dunedin, nor did he pay her passage to Christchurch, and continue to contribute towards her support. He had not, to her knowledge, been in any employment in Christchurch, and she had never passed as his wife. Prisoner, who addressed his Worship as “ My lord,” informed the Court that prosecutrix had stated directly contrary to accused. Nathaniel Needle, landlord of the house in which complainant lived, said accused and her called together, passed tb/.mselves off as man and wife, and the forn/er paid a fortnight’s rent in advance. They addressed -each other as man and wife in witness’s presence. Anne Fraser, who lived with complainant, gave evidence as to accused getting into the premises through a back window. Sergeant Hughes deposed to arresting accused at the instance of complainant. Accused in defence said he had, for a long while past been living with prosecutrix as her husband, and had pawned everything in his possession to keep her. Prosecutrix was recalled by His Worship, who proceeded to descant upon the nature of her evidence. The Court had no doubt whatever that they were living together as man and wife, as the independent evidence of the landlord had proved, while hers was quite untrustworthy. There was no doubt her business was false from beginning to end. Prisoner may have believed that he had a right to go on to the premises, but he could not do so without the consent of the complainant. Under the circumstances the cose of trespass would bo dismissed, and on the charge of assault accused would be fined 10s and costs. Nbolectins Wipe and Child. —Peter Watkins, arrested on warrant, was charged with neglecting his wife and child at Bangiora and leaving them without means of support. Defendant, a man of respectable appearance, said he was perfectly destitute and had no means to contribute. The Court remanded him to Bangiora, and bound him over in his own recognisance of £25 to appear there on Tuesday next. Prisoner appealed to the Bench to send him to gaol, as he had no means of subsistence. His Worship said he could not make him a burden on the State. Bailway Obobsino Tbbspabs. —Alexander Foley was summoned for driving a team of horses over a railway crossing while a train was appearing. His Worship described the case as a bad one, and inflicted a fine of 40s and costs.

Uksbgisteeed Dog. —Joseph Hanam was fined 20s and costs for having an unregistered dog in his possession. Oabeiagb Regulation. —Frederich Wm. Tatton was fined 10s and costs for leaving his cab unattended, and Henry Pollock was fined 10s for carrying more than the lawful number of passengers. Larobnx pbom a Hotel. —Honora Rounding was charged, on an amended information, with stealing two towels and three pillows from the British Hotel, the property of Sarah Ann Hill. Prosecutrix said accused was in the habit of visiting the hotel in the way of business. Witness had missed the two towels produced, and which she recognised as her property. Cross-examined —Witness had never quarrelled with accused or given her leave to take the towels. Mr Spackman, counsel for accused, admitted that ehe may have taken a portion of the articles, but she was under the influence of drink at the time, and had borne a most respectable character hitherto. Witnesses were called as to character. The Bench considered counsel had acted wisely in not disputing the offence. Accused could ascribe her position to the baneful effects of drink and bad company, and this was a greater disgrace because her husband, who had spoken on her behalf, was a hard-working and respectable man. The Court wished to take a lenient view of the case on that account, and because there was nothing previously known against her. A conviction would be entered, and her husband's security of £25 accepted, she to eome up when called upon for judgment.