MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2296, 12 August 1881, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH, Fbidat, August 12. [Before R. Weatenra and J. E. Parker, Esqs., J.P.’s.] Drunkenness.—Elizabeth Lynch, a frequent offender, was fined 10s for being drunk, and 20b for using obscene language. Another woman, for a first offence, was fined 6s. AN ODD CASE. Mary Gibson, alias Annie Hamilton, a young woman of rather pleasing appearance, was brought up charged with having no lawful visible means of support, and with having obtained money on a pretence of poverty. Sergeant Mason stated that accused had been arrested on the representations of persons residing at Biooarton, who complained that she was in the habit of loafing about the gravel pits there in the day time in the company of men, swaggers, &o. It was also alleged that she bad imposed on a clergyman, obtaining 10s from him, on the pretence that her husband had just died, and she had no means of burying him, Carlitt deposed that be resided at Riccarton, and knew prisoner as having been for the last ten days in the habit of knocking about a gravel pit near his house. She used to accost swaggers and others, as he thought, for immoral purposes. Had seen her under h’> hedge one evening. Cross-examined by prisoner. Had seen her in the pit, but not in the company of men. Had seen her going in that direction and returning from it with swaggers. Did not know that it was wrong to speak to a man on account of his carrying a swag. Did not know that she had anything to do with tho swaggers beyond talking to them. Had never seen prisoner begging or on hie property. Had never seen her about at night, J. E. Hanson, a storekeeper at Biooarton, deposed that ho had seen prisoner bringing men in the daytime into the gravel pit. Some other person had told him that she went about begging. Prisoner sharply cross-examined this witness also, and he then said he had never seen her in the pit with men. He knew nothing of his own knowledge except her loitering about the pits. O. Bowen, a clergyman, stated that the prisoner was not tho person of whom he had complained as having obtained money on a certain represention. Constable Henry deposed that he knew prisoner in Lyttelton some six months ago, where, for ten days or so, she wandered about the Fort hills and the shipping, going on board ships lor immoral purposes. Cross-examined—He was positive that prisoner had passed at least one night on board of a ship. Had seen her knocking about the wharves with drunken sailors—five or six at a time. She used to lie about on rubbish on the wharves in fh# day time, and disappear at nights. She had been compelled to leave Port by the police. At that time she went about in rags. She had scarcely a shoe to her feet. [Prisoner, though rather untidy after being in the lock-up all night, was now not badly dressed.] Prisoner, in defence, denied being either an immoral character or being without means of support. She obtained money from her friends at home, and living on that surely was not a crime. She had sat in the gravel pits reading sometimes, and had spoken to persons, passers by, whom she knew, but she had never been there after dark. The Bench enquired if anythingSmore was known about the prisoner. She had an alias; how did she come by that ? Sergeant Mason said the fact was she refused to give her proper name. She answered to any or none. He might say, of his own knowledge, that he had often seen her going about the streets,and he looked upon her as rather eccentric in her ways, but beyond that knew nothing wrong of her. After what Mr Bowen had said, the charge of obtaining money would be withdrawn. Magistrate to prisoner name ? ” Prisoner—“ Well, sir, I have made up my mind not to give my name, and I decline to give it.” Magistrate—“ But your withholding your name tells against you.” Prisoner —“ I suppose it does, but I have friends, and for their sakes I will sot have my name published in the public prints.” Magistrate —“ Well, there seems to have been a mistake in one charge against you, and the proofs might have been better on the other. Now, look here, the case will be remanded till August 22nd, and, in the meantime, if you are found knocking about, you will be arrested.” Prisoner—“ I shall certainly not bo found knocking about; that is not my practice.” Prisoner was then discharged. She had been quite self-posseaesd through the hearing, conducting the cross-examination of the witnesses with great acuteness, fluency, and correctness of language.