MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2111, 29 November 1880, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTO a URGE. Monday, November 29. (Before J. E, Parker and 8. Hewlings, Esqs., J.P.’s.) Deunkbnese. —John Q-osstredge, who hod been remanded on the 26th for medical treatment, now pleaded guilty of this offence, and there being no previous convictions recorded against him, he was allowed to go after being cautioned. John tTrquhart, who had been found drunk while in charge of a horse, was fined 10s. Labceny.— Robert Grant was charged with stealing £ls, the property of William Say, who stated that prisoner occupied the same room with him at a house where they lodged. Witness bad a belt containing £ls in gold locked up in a box in the room. On the 27th inst. he found that the money was gone. Some notes, also in the box, had not been interfered with. Witness called in a policeman, and prisoner confessed to having taken the money. Three witnesses deposed to hearing the confession of accused. Prisoner said he had done it when under the influence of drink. He was committed for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court, to be held at Christchurch. WILED! DbSTETJOTION OP PROPERTY.— William James Nankarvis alias Major alias Bowdon, pleaded guilty to smashing windows in the houses of G. Thmpson and W. Pengelly, which he said at the time he had done in order to be sent back to gaol. Prisoner now said that he was drunk at the time, and he hardly knew what ho had said. The police said there wore previous convictions against him. He was fined £5, or to be imprisoned for one month with hard labor. Bbbaoh op Public House Obdinanch.— Thomas Dorn, of the Commercial Hotel, was charged with keeping his house open during prohibited hours, namely, between 11 and 12 p.m. of November 22nd. Mr Stringer appeared for defendant. Two constables deposed to having seen the front door of the hotel open at the time named, and persons going in and out. They went in and found nine persons in the bar, which was lighted up, and the barman was in attendance. All the persons said they were lodgers, but to the knowledge of witnesses there were three or four of them who resided in or parts of the town. Joseph Brown, a commercial traveller, said he engaged a bed at the hotel on the night named, but he could not say whether that was before or after he had seen the police come in. He did not sleep at the hotel. Thos. Milner, a horse breaker, corroborated the evidence of the police. Thos. Dixon, a tailor, said he slept at the hotel on the night in question, but was too drunk to know much about what took place. Mr Stringer submitted that there was no such offence named by the Act as keeping a publio-house open during prohibited hours. If there had been any sale of liquors there would have been an offence, for which a penalty is provided, but there was no evidence to that effect. The Act says that keeping a house open “ for the sale of liquors during prohibited hours” may be punished. This, however, was not the charge, and the two elements necessary to constitute the offence could not be separated, as it would bo clearly impossible to settle what amount of punishment should go to either of the two ; he therefore asked for the o»so to be dismissed. Thomas Dorn stated that the house was kept open merely for the convenience of his lodgers. There had been no liquor served to outsiders. The Bench did not think the offence named in the Act was proved, and, without choosing to give an opinion on the point raised by Mr Stringer, dismissed the case. Robert Fenton, licensee of the Heathcote Arms, admitted having

illegally sold liquor on a Sunday. He was final £5. Miscellaneous. —Nicholas Columbus, for obstructing with his fish cart a public thoroughfare and refusing to move on when requested to do so by the police, was fined 10a and costs. P. Culliford was charged with leading a horse across a footpath. A witness brought in support of the charge said he could not swear that defendant was the person who took the horse across the footpath, but he knew that defendant owned the horse. Defendant denied having led the horse on the day named. The case was dismissed. Thomas Murray admitted having tethered a horse so as to allow it to stray on a footpath, and was fined 10s and costs. A. Cutler, Jos, Waite, and Wm. Collins, were fined each 5s and costs, for allowing horses or cattle to wander at large. The case against Victor Roy, for failing to provide for his illegitimate child, was adjourned tor one week. In the matter of Pat Wynm, charged with abusing John Pin, the case was dismissed. William Duke, summonsed for assaulting Maria Mxdgely, did not appear, and the case was adjourned to allow of enquiries being made about defendant by the police. Charles Woodham was charged by Hugh Gray with having used abusive and threatening language to him. The case was dismissed. A similar complaint by James Archer against George Allen, met the same fate.