MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2004, 27 July 1880, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHEISXOIUECH. Tuesday, July 27. [Before J, Beawick, Esq., R.M., and G. L. Lee, Esq., J.P.] Bbuni: and Disordbbly.—A first offender was find 10s and cab hire la. Laeoeny.—John Lister was charged with stealing a taupaulin, the property of the New Zealand Government. Mr Joyce appeared for the accused. James Lane, painter at the railway, deposed to having charge of the tarpaulins at the railway, Christchurch. He recognised the one in Court, numbered 46, as belonging to the Government. It was new in 1878. It would be worth about £4. It had passed through his hands once or twice. Condemned tarpaulins are not sold or given away. Last saw the tarpaulin in August, 1878, when a small patch was put on it. George Cronin, head storeman in the goods department, Christchurch, knew the accused as a fellow workman. Had never given the accused a tarpaulin. Detective O’Connor arrested accused on the 26th at his own house. Found the tarpaulin produced covering a stack of straw in the paddock adjoining. Accused said he got it from the painter, about eighteen months ago. He afterwards said he got it from Cronin, but when confronted with Cronin he denied having said so. Mr Joyce said accused about fifteen menths ago tried to obtain a condemned tarpaulin from Mr Cronin, who referred him to Mr Lane, and while his enquiry was going on he found in an old cask the tarpaulin produced, and, supposing it had been put there for him, he had caused it to be taken away. Mr E. A. Bishop and Mr O. Bain spoke to their knowledge of the good character of accused during the last four years. The Bench thought the defence was not a very good one, especially noting the equivocation as to Cronin and Lane. Perhaps there might have been some idea in accused’s mind that the tarpaulin had been condemned and had been given to him, and, taking into consideration tho Vouchers as to his character, the moderate sentence would be inflicted of two months’ imprisonment with hard labor. YAdßAN'cr.—Thomas Gordon and Joseph Aiken were brought up on remand charged with having no lawful means of support. Aikin now proved his engagement as groom by Mr Moritz Bowron, and Goodwin stating that he had work to go to, both were discharged, with a recommendation to abstain from frequenting houses of ill fame in future.