MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2334, 26 September 1881, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTOHUEOH. Monday, SEprsMBBB 26. [Before J. Ollivier and J. E. Parker, Esqs., J.P.'s.] Dbunkbnnbss. —Michael Lynch and Alfred Piper, who had been locked up sinoe Saturday night, were admonished and discharged. Henry Howard was discharged on a charge of drunkenness, but fined 10a for indecent exposure. John Ireland was fined ss, and a man for a first offence was also fined ss. Wilful Destbuction to Pbopbbty.— John Gibßon was charged as above. Daniel Fronkl'n, keeper of a restaurant in Manchester street, deposed that accused, after obtaining a meal at his place on Saturday night last, refused to pay for it, and on rising from the table broke a lamp and a cruetstand, value 255. Prisoner pleaded that he was so drunk that he fell over the table. He was fined 10s, and ordered to pay for the damage or go to prison for ninety-six hours. Assault with intent to Bob.—George Maslin was charged with committing the above offence on the person of Henry Francis Poore, on the night of September 21at —22nd. The police stated that another man was concerned in this affair who had not been arrested, and applied for a remand. The prisoner said he hoped this would not bo granted. He would be able to provo an alibi if his witnesses were in Court. Henry Francis Poore deposed that about 3 a.m. on the 22nd, when returning home from tho artillery ball, and being near Gloucester street bridge, he saw two men ; ono stood a little way off, the other asked him to shout. Witness said he had no money with him, and if he had, there was no house open. Prisoner was the man who spoke, and he said " We will see about that." Witness again said that he had no money on him; nothing but his piccolo. Prisoner then struck him two or three timeß, on which proseoutor got away and went home. Ho was quite sure that prisoner was the man who attacked him. Prisoner again stated that he could prove that he was not in Christcurch at the time named, and he was finally remanded till September 29th, tho police being instructed to give him every facility to procure his witnesses. Cbublty to Animals. —B. Savage was charged will illtreating a dog. Two witnesses deposed to seeing prisoner, in Montreal street, on Sunday afternoon, ahockingly beat and illuse a dog without any apparent reason. He finally took it by the hind legs and battered its head on the asphalt path, leaving it for dead. Information was given to the police, and prisoner was arrested. The dog was not quite killed. Prisoner said that aB the dog would not follow him, he gave it " a bit of a hammering." His Worship—"lt is a pity there wrb not somebody there to give you a bit of a hammering." Wm. Langdown, by whom the prisoner has been employed for years, spoke to his good character. He thought he was far from being a cruel man. The Magistrate saying prisoner might thank Mr Langdown for the lonienoy of the sentence, ordered him to pay 40s fine and expenses of two witnesses, or go to gaol for fourteen days.

DISTTJBBAHOE AT THR RAILWAY.—D. M. Chapman was charged with using ?° ÜBl 7' e language to a railway gatekeeper, with odstruoting him in the performance of his auty, and with assaulting and b«ating him. Mr Stringer appeared for defendant. Arthur Lilly, in charge of the Colombo street oroßs ing, deposed that on the evening of September Ist defendant wanted to cross with a vehiole while shunting was going on, and just as the north train was signalled. Defendant was aotually on the traok, and witness asked him to baok off, which defendant refused to do- Wlt t ess then tcok hold of the horse and forced it Daok. Prisoner then made use of bad language, and lashed him across the hand with his whip, afterwards threatening him with the butt of it. Defendant admitted having wished to cross, but said he behaved in a perfeotlj civil manner, and denied navmg struos at tne gatekeeper at all. He swore also that there was not a train approaohing or signalled. Two witnesses corroborated the statement of defendant, and the case was dismissed. The Bench expressed the opinion that the gatekeeper had exoeeded his duty, and said they were sorry they could not give witnesses their expenses. They, however, requested Sergeant Mason to represent the oaae to the railway authorities, who, they thought, should pay the witnesses their expenses. Exrosmo Goods fob Saiiß. Sydney Williams, draper, of Colombo street, was charged with having exposed oertain articles of drapery, including straw hats, ladies' stays, &0., on or over the footpath in front of hie shop. Sergeant Mason said the police had searched in vain among the city by-laws for power to proceed in the abatement of what had grown into a considerable nuisance. Not only were the streets disfigured by the exhibition of large portions of tradesmen's stocks-in-trade, but every facility was given to thieves for the carrying on of their profession. The convictions that wore daily being obtained for thefts from Bhop doors and fronts was quite evidence enough of that. There had been a by-law made by the City Csuncil to meet such cases, but that had been deolared ultra vires, and this information was laid under sub-section 4> of section 5 of the Canterbury Polioe Ordinance, 1858._ Mr Button appeared for defendant. He aaid that the goods had been hanging under the verandah some eight feet clear of the ground, and there really was not any obstruction. His'olient would have pleaded guilty, but he desired to have the point settled whether shopkeepers were debarred from exhibiting their goods in any manner they thought proper, so long as they caused no actual obstruction. Ab to the temptation, in this case they were too high to be reaohed. Sergeant Mason pointed out that with a stiok any of the things might be hooked. The Bench said they thought the question raised was an important one. They would reserve judgment for fourteen days, in the meantime they would advise defendant to oomply with the wishes of the police. MIBCBM.ANBOUS. —Mr Stringer, on behalf of Mrs Hawker, applied for an increase to the allowance from her husband, from whom she was separated, for the maintenance of her children, she having had an addition to her family since the last order. Mr McOonnel, for the defendant, questioned Mrs Hawker, and elicited the fact that she was willing to go back to live with her husband. The Bench congratulated the parties on this termination to an unpleasant disagreement, and dismissed the case.—John Dowlan and Thomas Dalton were each fined 5s for allowing cows to stray. James Dermott for leaving his oab unattended at 3 a.m. on September 15th was fined 10a. John Anderson was fined 20s for leaving his vehicle unattended. For similar offences, Obed Oaygill, Benjamin Bulmer, and John Hall were eaoh fined 10s. Edward Lough, for carrying a ladder along a footpath to the obstruction and danger of pedestrians, was fined ss. Oharleß Barford, for working a horse with sore shoulders in his baker's cart, was fined 10s and 5s for one witness. For keeping an unregistered dog, Samuel Graham was fined 20s.