MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2075, 18 October 1880, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

OHEISTOHUBOH. Monday, Octobbb 18.

[Before GK L. Hellish, 8.H., J. F. Jameson and B. 'Westenra, Esq* , J.P.’s] Drunkenness.— James Patrick, for being drunk and assaulting constable Doogan, was fined 20s; for a first offence a man was fiued ss.

Btjbquley. —James Bobinson, alias Pearce Matthew McCullim, alias Smith, and Bobert Jameson were brought up charged with breaking into the house of Herbert Medley, Oxford terrace, on the night of October 11th and stealing therefrom one bat and two coats, valued at £2. Prisoners were undefended. Florence Halston deposed to hearing a noise on the premises on the night of the 11th, and on examining a lower room she found a cap (produced), which she recognised as one she bad seen the prisoner Bobinson wearing. Bobinson was a baker, working at Mr Walker’s the next door to Medley's. Herbert Medley stated that on the night in question he was awakened by a noise at about 11.30 n.m. He found the window of a lower room had been forced open. Three coats and a hat had been removed. They were found by a policeman, who had been sent for, on the premises of Mr Walker next door. Jas. Mariner deposed to finding the three prisoners lying in a room oyer the bakehouse at the i ear of the premises which had been broken into. The coat, &c., were near them. Constable Dougan deposed to arresting prisoner* under the circumstances detailed. Jameson appeared to be asleep, the others were not. They were all dressed, lying about the floor. On telling them the charge, Bobinson said that witness had made a mistake, the others said nothing. Detective O’Connor knew all the prisoners, particularly Bobinson. Had v seen the latter often wearing the cap found in Medley’s. In answer to Jameson witness said he had never seen him except in respectable company. After hearing the evidence read over, Jameson made a long statement, saying he was authorised by one Tanner, who rented the bakehonse, to occupy it during Tanner’s absence in the country, where he had gone to collect money. This authority was given in the presence of the prisoner Bobinson. That was how he came to be on the premises. He had no connection with tho other prisoners, and knew nothing as to their movements. On the evening of the arrest Tanner came into the bakehouse about 9 o’clock, and had some conversation with him. He did not know what time Bobinson and McOallnm returned); they came in some time in the night and lay down without striking a light. McOallnm also made a long statement denying any knowledge of the burglary. Bobinson had nothing to say. Prisoners were then charged wilh burglariously entering the nremises of Samuel Stewart, pawnbroker, Lichfield street, and stealing therefrom five gold watches and one gold brooch, valued at £6O. Constable Dougan deposed to finding, in the course of a search made in the former case at the bakehouse, a biscuit tin, in which were the watches and brooch produced. They were stained with fresh blood. A large pane of glass in the window of Mr Stewart’s shop had that night been broken and these articles taken out of it. Witness charged prisoners with this burglary, but they all denied it. At the watchhoues found Robinson’s left|hand freshly ent or scratched. There were fresh spots of blood on the cuff of McOallum’a shirt and a slight scratch on the back of his right hand, freshly done. Prisoner did not account for the scratches and stains. The tin in which the watches were found, originally had a glass front, it was broken, and the fragments were in tho box with tho watches. S. Stewart stated particulars corroborating previous witnesses' account of the robbery at his shop. He heard a noise about 10 o’clock, and on going to his shop front found it broken in ; the shutters had been prised out, the glass smashed, and the articles were missing. Ho knew Jameson for some years, and always thought him to be a respectable man. This was the case for the prosecution. After the evidence bad been read over, the oases against Jameson were dismissed, the Bench remarking that there did not appear enough to warrant his committal. Bobinson and McOollam were committed for trial on both charges at the next sessions of the Supreme Court at Christchurch. Labcbny. —Kobt. MoMillen, fourteen, and Alex Thompson, fifteen, pleaded guilty to two charges of stealing books from shops of the aggregate value of 16s. The police said that both boys had been up before for stealing fruit, when they were allowed to go without a conviction. They were sentenced each to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor.

LYTTELTON. Monday, Octobeb 18,

Before J. Ollivier and H. Allwright, Esqre.,

J.P.’e.J “ Being Up xoub Childeen, &c.”— George Duke, J.imea Duke, and Edgar Foster were charged with stealing firewood from Peacock’s wharf, the property of Mr 0. E. Ourtis. The throe, the eldest of whom was fourteen years of age, pleaded guilty to the charge. The sergeant-major of police asked the Bench to send the two Dukes —the cue to the Training School, the other to the Indiatrial School. The Bench was unwilling to do this, and ordered that the younger Duke bo locked up for the day, and to get a sound birching before ho was liberated. The other two were discharged with a caution. Wanted His Clothes. —P. Cain was again brought up for being inebriated and noisy last Saturday night. He admitted the accusation, urging in extenuation that it was ou his own doorstep, and he was asking for his clothes. The Sergeant-Major said defendant had no business to be on the premises. He had leased the bouse to another, who since had re-leased to defendant’s wife, and defendant persisted in creating a disturbance. Cautioned and fin'd 20s. An Ownbe Wanted.—John Brown, alias Jackson, alias Wilson, the man of subscription list celebrity, was charged with stealing

an overcoat. The garment wee produced in Court, but the police had not been able to find the rightful owner. The accused stoutly averred that the o at waa his to the Bench, a statement which did not carry with it much convincing power, however, as he was remanded until Friday next. If anyone has lost a double breasted Melton tweed overcoat, not very much worn, he had better apply to the police here before Friday.