MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2150, 15 January 1881, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Satttbday, Janttabt 15. [Before R. Westenra and J. E. Parker, Esqs , J.P.’s ) DaUNKBHNEaa. Ellen Jordan, found " blind” drunk in Tuam street on Friday afternoon, was described as an habitual drunkard. A long list of convictions are recorded against her. Tho Bench, to give her a ohonoe to leovo the town, adjourned the cose for one week, promising to punish her severely if she bo brought up again. John Fitzgerald was charged with being a lunatic from the effects of excessive drinking. John Smith-Brown deposed to finding the prisoner in his stable at Lincoln the evening before in a demented state. He had evidently bean in the river. Ho was taken to the look-up by a constable, who stated that, after arrival there, prisoner stripped himself, and behaved in a violent manner. He was sent to Lyttelton Gaol for medical treatment, to bo brought up in eight days at ChristchurchAs.‘iAtrr.TiHO thb Polio e.— Matt. O’Brien, Peter Walsh, and Patrick Higgins wore charged with this offence, committed at Lincoln on tho IGbh inst. Mr Loughnan ap- § eared for prisoners. Constable Mo Au eland oposed that, on account of prisoners creating a disturbance on tho night named, he aid Constable Weathorley attempted to arrest them. They turned on tho police, and after knocking Weatherley into a ditch, by whioh he received a cut on the head, they got away. Constable Weatherley corroborated tho evidence of the previous witness. He described the behaviour of prisoners before the assault os more like that of maniacs than of men in possession of their senses. They howled out the most disgusting language at the top of their voices, making a greater row than he hod over heard in tho township before. He ■nccooded in arresting Walsh, but the others attacked witness and McAusland, and Walsh joined the fray, and tho whole got clear off, 'Next day they wont to the look-up and expressed their regret for their conduct, offering to give themselves up. They were, however, not arrested until a warrant was procured. Mr Loughnan addressed the Bench for tho prisoners, urging that the assault was a very ■mall matter, the result of exoitement. Walsh was fined 10s, or a week’s imprisonment ; O’Brien and Hivgins wore fined 40s, or fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labor.