MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2428, 17 January 1882, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, January 17. (“Before R. Beetham, E*q , R.M.] Drunkenness. —For a firet offence a man was flned ss. Richard Taylor, on remand from January 10th from Ashburton for medical treatment, was now brought up, and, being recovered, was discharged. Vagrancy. —Alex. Campbell was charged with soliciting alms. James Toppin, gardener to Mr Wilkin, stated that accused had been knocking about Merivalo begging for the last seven weeks. Prisoner had nothing to say for himself and was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor. Alleged Larceny and Resisting the Police, —James Donaldson was charged aa

above. Mr Holmes appeared for accused. A. J. Tndball, butcher of Cambridge terrace, deposed that accused was in his shop on Monday. He left him alone for a short time near a cash-box into which a little while previously one of plaintiff’s men had placed 15s 6d. On the return of plaintiff he examined the box and found there was only 9a lOd in it. The shop lad told him what money had been put into the box, and nobody had an opportunity to take the money but prisoner. Plaintiff did not know himself what had been nut in by the man. Frederick Joseph Simpkins deposed that he counted the money he placed in the box. He described the coin that made up the 15s 6d. Prisoner was sitting near the box at that time. Plaintiff afterwards told witness there was only 9s lOd left. Witness suspected prisoner, and_ “ stuck to him," in the expectation of tracing the money. That evening prisoner dropped, in sight of witness, a new half-crown, resembling one placed in the box by witness. Crossexamined—There was no mark on the half-crown. Albert Ashton stated that ho saw the half-crown in prisoner’s possession. Constable Connor deposed to arresting prisoner, who, when charged with stealing the money named, said that he had not had so much money in his possession for a month. When searched there were a sixpenny piece and six pennies found on him. The Magistrate said he had no doubt jrisoner had stolen the money and sentenced lim to fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labor. The charge of resisting the police was withdrawn.