MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2269, 11 July 1881, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

OHBISTCHUBOH. Monday, July 11. [Before J. Ollivier, E. Westenra and J. P. Jameson, Esqs., J.P.’a.] Dbdnkbnnbsb. James Donaldson was fined 5s and cab hire Is 6d. For first offences three men were fined ss. Two other men were cautioned and dismissed.

Yaobancy. —Thomas Murray, on remand from July Bth, was discharged on tho offer of a person in the Court to give him work, providing that he kept sober. The Bench accordingly cautioned prisoner, who then left the Court. Stearins Flowers ybom thb Domain.— John Kay was brought up charged with this offence. J. F. Armstrong, curator of the Domain, deposed to watching prisoner about 10 o’clock on Sunday morning. Ho saw him break off a branch of veronica, put it in his botton-hole, and afterwards he filled his hat with wattle blooms, Witness asked him why he took the flowers. Prisoner offered to pay for the flowers, and on this being refused, he became very abusive. Witness endeavored to arrest him, and he ran away. Witness followed, and did not succeed in persuading prisoner to go to the police-station until after a struggle had taken place, in which prisoner got a blow from a stick that witness had in his hand. The shrubs and blooms produced were picked up in the station-yard, close to where prisoner had been standing. Prisoner had, to witness’ knowledge, been habitually guilty of the same kind ofpilfering. The flowers, shrubs, and seeds taken were worth about 2» 6d. Detective O’Connor gave some unimportant evidence. Prisoner denied any knowledge of anything bnt the sprig of veronica which he had in his button-hole. He said the things picked up in

the station yard must have been dropped to secure his conviction. The Bench commented severely on the behaviour of prisoner on his arrest and on the nature of has defence, which was quite opposed to the truth. He might have been sent to prison for the offence, but for this time ho would be let off with a fine of 40s.

Not Stealing Foubfbnnv worth of Stbaw.—Elizabeth Yates was brought up, charged with having stolen etraw to the.value of fourpence. Philip Arnest, of Papanui, stated that somebody else told him prisoner was going to steal his straw. He went out and finding her at the stack gave her into custody. She had no straw in her possession, but other people had told him she had often robbed their stacks, and ho felt sure she intedded to rob him. The Bench said prosecutor had gone to work in a peculiar manner. Although he had not seen prisoner steal, nor had found anything in her possession, yet he had given her into custody for stealing. The caee must bo dismissed. To prisoner—“ You can go, and mind what you are about.” Assaults.—Amelia Harding was charged with assaulting Mary South at her house, Montreal street, on July sth, Mr Thomae appeared for prosecutor. Mr Joyce for defendant. The parties were neighbors. In the course of a dispute about their children two fights took place, one of which was described as a “struggle,” that lasted half an hour. The evidedee was very contradictory, prosecutrii stating that she had given no provocation, and had been badly beaten. Defendant, however, swore the attack was from the other side, and 'she appeared with a bad black eye and other marks on her face, which were the result of the encounter. Witnesses on each side were similarly contradictory. After hearing them, defendant was fined 10s and costs. Mary Grossman, charged with assaulting Anne Knott, did not appear, and, on the evidence of the complainant, she was fined 20s. H. Miller was fined 20s for using abusive and threatening language to Emanuel Hensley. Pbotbction Obsess. Rebecca Goodey obtained an order for the protection of her earnings against her husband, who did not appear, on the ground of his cruelty and habitual drunkenness. He wes ordered to pay 20s per week for the maintenance of his five ohi’dren, who were given up to the charge of the mother. A similar order, as to her oarniugs, was made in favor of Sarah Upton. The evidence showed that her husband had been guilty of cruelty and drunkenness for some time past. In a case between M. E. Stapley and her husband, complainant deposed to having maintained him for eighteen weeks of his illness, daring the latter part of the time actually begging food for him. The first time he went out after his recovery he returned drunk and abased her. He had often beaten her, and was hardly ever sober. The husband denied the charges, saying she was of drunken habits, and had brought about all the trouble between them herself. The Bench granted her protection for her earnings, without allowance for maintenance. Miscellaneous. —Lewis Smith and W. J. Kerr, oabmsn, for furiously driving, when racing for a fare, were fined each 10s.— Samuel Dennis, for leaving his vehicle unattended, was fined 10s. —James Williams, Charles Lee, W. J. White, and Geo. Wilson were fined 10* each for allowing horses to wander.—A. Burrows was fined 10s for two straying cows, and E. Allen 5s for one cow.— J, B. Steele was ordered to abate a nuisance on his premises within six weeks from date.