MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2233, 25 April 1881, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, April 25. [Before Messrs C. Whitofoord and J. Boswick, R.M.'s, J. Ollivier, G. L. Lee, and J. B. Parker, J.P.’s.] Drunkenness. —James Harrison, Elizabeth Price and John Smith were fined 10s, and John McElroy was fined 20s each for the above offence.

Thh Totalisatob Case.— ln the matter of an information laid by Alfred .Drake against George Hobbs and William Goodwin, who were charged with, on the 18th of April, 1881, "in a certain open space and public place, to wit, the racecourse near Christchurch, having played with a certain article known as the totalisator, and used and placed the aforesaid as an instrument of gaming at a game of chance, contrary to the Vagrant Act, in such cose made and provided," Mr Joynt, who appeared for the defendants, applied for an adjournment. He said that the summons in the ease bod only been served on Friday last, and had only reached his bands on Saturday. Ho believed there was to be a great deal of law used up in this action, and from the short timo he had bad the matter in hand he stood at too great a disadvantage with bis learned friend the oonnsol for the prosecution, who had been getting his case up for more than a fortnight, and by the appearance of the load of law books on the table seemed to have made a good deal of it. In answer to Mr Whitefoord, Mr Stringer, who appeared for the prosecution, said he objected to any adjournment, because, if the use of the machine was now [decided Jto be illegal, bis clients doaired to prevent any more profit being mode by defendants or others out of it. The Timaru races come off in this week, where no doubt, if its proprietors were not restrained, the obnoxious contrivance would raise its defiant head ; for this reason he would press for an issue at onoo. Mr Joynt said the question really to bo tried was whether the public were to bo fleeced by the bookmakers or accommodated by the totalisator. He ■certainly should not like to be forced to go on sow. Mr Whitefoord thought the request made by Mr Joynt for an adjournment was reasonable, and his colleagues agreed with him that it should bo allowed. The case was accordingly adjourned till Monday next, May 2nd. Using Abusive Language. Nicholas Colombus was charged with using abusive and threatening language to Wa. Lotford in Sydenham, on April 16 "b, on the occasion of a 'dispute about impounding horses. Ho was fined 10s, with court costs and expenses of one witness ss. A similar ease brought by B. H. Shirley against Wm. Cronin also referred toja row about impounding, A variety of very foul language was detailed with apparent relish by plaintiff and two witnesses, who could hardly bo restrained from further amplification. Defendant was fined 20s, and expenses of two witnesses. Protection Order. —Mary Ann Hablett applied for an order protecting her earnings from her husband, whom she described as a habitual drunkard. The ease was adjourned for a fortnight to give time for defendant to join the Good Templars. Assault. —David Mason charged _ Wm. Weston with assaulting him. The evidence showed that the parties had been involved in a common bar-roomrow, in which complainant was really the one most blamable, at the Commercial Hotel. Mr Loughrey appeared lor plaintiff, Mr Joyce for defendant. The ease was dismissed, and the police were to make enquiries into the manner in wbioh the house in question is conducted, as it appeared that drinking, &0,, had been going on at two or three o'clock in the morning of the alleged usault. Miscellaneous. —Frank Mulholland, for not keeping the lamps of bis cab alight, was fined ss; Henry Marks, for obstructing a footpath, wos fined 10a ; Mary Roberts, for tethering a horse on a footpath, was flood Ss; B. Drew, for being drunk while in charge of a horse and cart, was fined 20s and expenses of one witness 5a ; B. Drew, for allowing two horses to wander in the streets, was fined 6s ; J. Herrin, for allowing six head of cattle to be at large in a thoroughfare, was fined 10s. In all the cases, costs of Court were allowed.