MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2181, 21 February 1881, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

OHBISTOHUROH. Monday, Fbbeuaky 21,

[Before B. Westenra and J. E. Parker, Eaqs., J.P.’s] Dbhhkbnness.— John Blanch, for this offence, and John Gibson were fined 10s each, and for a first offence a man was fined ss. Alleged Fowl Stealing. —John Richards was charged with stealing three fowls, value 15s, the property of John Flynn, residing at Sandridge. Mr Stringer appeared for _aceased. Mrs Flynn deposed to the fowls having been missed from her fowl-house on last Saturday night, and to having afterwards found them on the premises of accused, when, being released, they went straight home to their own quarters. John Flynn gave similar evidence. Constable O’Connor deposed _to testing tho ownership of the fowls by tying pieces of cotton round their lees and turning them loose, when they went to Flynn’s place as described. He further stated that accused told him that he had got the fowls from a cousin, who bad since gone to Dunedin. Accused offered witness a £1 note, “ not as a bribe, but for tho trouble ” he had taken. [On hearing this evidence Mr Stringer declined to go any farther with tho case, this transaction having been concealed from him ] Prisoner said he had bought the fowls, but the man from whom be had bought them bad told him he would deny having sold the fowl*. Accused was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment, with bard labor. Absconding pbom Bttbnham,— Eli Jones and William Derrick were brought up charged with running away from tho Industrial School on last Tuesday week. The constable, who arrested them near Leeston, deposed to Derrick having confessed to robbing a tent on the road of £2 12a 6d and some wearing apparel. The master of the school deposed to tho bad character of the boys. Both of them had previously absconded—Derrick twice—committing theft on each occasion. They were ordered to be whipped at Addington Gaol and afterwards to bo sent back to Burnham.

Dislodging a Bailiff. A charge of unlawfully taking possession of premises held by a bailiff was brought against Nelson McLenahan, Mary Jane Morris, Edwd. Hooper, Arthur Gregory, and John B. Garden. On the application of Mr Button, the case was adjourned to a date not fixed. Assaults. —Thomas Snelling wae fined 20«, and 9s costs for assaulting Mary Ann Ellis by striking her in the face. Alice James, far assaulting Armanilla Gaskin, was ordered to pay costs ss. Obublty to Animals. —George Edmond and Joseph .Radford were changed by Henry Eorgusaon with having driven, in a baggy, into a mob of sheep, injuring some of them, and of having used abusive and insulting language to informant, Mr Stringer appeared for the prosecutor. Henry Ferguson stated that he was driving a mob of 3500 sheep on the Akaroa road on the sth inst., when defendants came up and deliberately drove among the sheep, which were hemmed in at a narrow part of the road near McQueen's valley. The sheep were from off a long Journey, and the proceeding of deendants damaged them considerably, one of them at least having its legs broken. On being remonstrated with, defendant Edmond offered to fight witness, used most abusive language, and again drove into the mob. Witness, in attempting to hold back the buggy horse, received some outs of the whip from Badrord. Defendants wore not sober. J. G. Tosswill stated ho was helping to drive the sheep, when defendants ran into the mob, until their buggy wheels were jammed by the sheep. This witness also corroborated Mr Ferguson’s statement as to the bod language and challenge to fight. He saw several of the sheep limp away, each on three logs, after the buggy bad gone over them. J. Gordon, another driver with the mob, corroborated all the previous witnesses had said. There wore eight short of the proper number when the mob arrived that night at their destination. Witness believed tbs missing sheep had been lamed by the buggy and horse, and had crawled into the bush and were thus lost. Defendant Edmond, being sworn, stated that, driving round a corner, he got into the mob unexpectedly. Ferguson was very abusive, and some bad language ensued on both sides. Badford admitted having •truck Ferguson with the whip. Prosecutor was very irritating in his language, and tried to make bis horse kick tne buggy to pieces. Mr Stringer said the case was a very aggravated one, and asked for severe penalties. The Bench agreed with him, and fined them, on the cruelty to animals case, ss, the coat of one sheep, 22s costs, three witnesses at 15s each, and solicitor’s fee £1 Is, in all £5 3s. For tho abusive language defendants were ordered to pay costs. Miscellaneous. —A case against James Tait, for not keeping a light burning on s hoarding, was dismissed. John Garland, for allowing a horse to wander, was fined ss. J. Smith, charged with neglecting to contribute to the support of his two children at Burnham, was ordered to pay up eleven weeks arrears at 5s per week in a fortnight, or distress warrant to issue Frederick B. Dunsford, for riding a bicycle on a footpath, was fined Ss and coats 2s. Oases against Charles Hunter and Alex. Merritt, carriers, for allowing vehicles to stand where there is no proclaimed stand, were dismissed with a caution to defendants. A similar case against Charles Hunter was adjourned for a week. F. Hoffman appeared to answer a summons for having been found smoking in a railway carriage, not a smoking carriage, and with having used abusive language to the guard when required to desist. Mr Joynt appeared for the railway authorities. Defendant was fined 40.1 for the abusive language, and 5s expenses of one witness. The other cate against him was dismissed with a caution. LYTTELTON. Monday, Fkbbusby 21. fßefore Joseph Beswick, E-q., B M., and T. H. Potts, E»q , J P J Lunacy fhom Dbink. —William George Wolf was remanded for four days upon this charge. Dbunkbhnebs and Obbcbnb Lanouaob.— John Casey was found in a drunken state in the railway yard by the p-.lioe. He had previously assaulted Robert Connell, the night-watchman on tho railway, while the watchman was endeavoring to see him on board his vessel, the Pleiades, and made use of some vile epithets towards him. Tho accused denied all knowledge of the circumstances. Fined in all 50*. Bobert Burns went on board tho schooner Bona on Sunday in a drunken condition, and fell overboard. CTpon being rescued out of the harbor, he assaulted the man that saved his life, and used foul language towards him. Fined 20j on each charge, in default sixty hours’ imprisonment. William Clarke was found drunk also on Sunday afternoon, and was fined 20«. Tho Bench questioned each of these defendants as to where they got the drink on Sunday, and they each with singular unanimity declared it wua given them by some men who brought it from Christchurch.

Thb Doa A or—Charles Rich, who had been summoned for being the owner of on unregistered dog, which had boon found in the possession of a boarding house keeper named Talbot.. Talbot ocoupiod premises owned by Mr Rich, and the animal had been there when ho wont int.- occupation of the place. Mr Rich was willing to take the dog and pay the license fee, and this being agreeable to the Bench, the charge was withdrawn.

A Liobnhkd Pohtbb’b Oasb —George Brown and "Edward Thompson were charged with assaulting George A.ar. Mr H. N, Nalder conducted the case for the complainant, and Mr J. Joyce for the defendants. The comuluinunt stated that ho had held a porter’s license ever since licenses had been issued by the Borough Council. He favo evidence to the effect that ho ad been instructed to get the luggage

of a passenger by the s s. Bingarooma, he was prevented from complying wtth the passengeis’ instructions by the forcible interference of the defendants. He was not wearing the porter’s badge at the time, but the defendants ware fully aware that the owner of the luggage had given him orders to take charge of it, they being present when the orders were given. W. Salt, a carrier, heard the orders given. The defendant, Brown, denied assault having been committed, and testified that the luggage in question was handed to him by the steward of the steamer. Fined 10s each, and costs, lls. The complainant in this case now pleaded “ Guilty ” to a charge of not wearing a badge, and was fined 10s. [Left sitting.]