MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2469, 6 March 1882, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHBISrOHUBOH. Monday, Maboh 6. [Before B. Btetham, Esq., B.M.] Dbt/nkbH'NßSß.—Henry McShea was fined 10s; Mary Kennedy was sent to gaol for forty-eight hours. Four men for first offenoes were fined each 5s j one man was dismissed with a caution. J. I. Byan, for using obscene language, was fined 10s. Bbeach oi? Bbbr Duty Act.—Charles Louisson pleaded guilty to having, by the negleot of his servants, failed to properly affix a duty stamp to one cask of beer. Another similar charge was withdrawn. He was fined £lB, with £2 4i lid ooits and expenses. OMTBTTOTiNe A Footpath.—Fred. Willis was charged with having obstructed a footpath in Colombo street on February 17th by standing thereon. Mr Stringer appeared for defendant. Constable Jeffery stated that on the date named he requested defendant, who was with five or six others, to stand on one side to allow passengers to pass. Defendant refused, and remained to the obstruction of traffic The defence was that defendant was merely standing for a few minutes talking to a couple of friends, and there had been no obstruction. The Magistrate thought the action of the constable justified, bnt, as the case was not a serious one, defendant was oautionod and discharged. Far Tan.—Ah Nim and thirteen other Chinese, were brought up on remand from Feb. 27th, charged with keeping a gambling, house, and with having been found playing at the game of fan tan therein. Mr McConnel appeared for defendants, and objected to the men being charged with the offences collectively. The information was amended, and Ah Nim was then charged with being the keeper of a gaming-house. Detective J. Neil deposed that on the night of February 26th, at 1215 a.m., he entered the house occupied by prisoner in High street. There were a large number of Chinese there ; thirteen were round a table on which were the paraphernalia used in playing the game of fan tan. Prisoner was not then in the room, but entered shortly afterwards. The men at the table were secured and searched. Prisoner, who was known to witness as Fung Naine admitted being the owner of the house. Witness had been watching the house for a month; it was frequented by numbers of Chinese. Witness had often seen played there a game with dominoes called " Good Pi," but had never before seen " Fantan" in it. He produced a complete set of apparatus, whioh, together with other gambling material, had been seized in the house. He then described the game, and showed how it is played. Detective O'Connor gave corroborative evidence. There was money and counters representing money on the table. Mr McConnel said that the house did not belong to the prisoner, and that the men had not been playing for money. He called Ah Ching, who deposed through an interpreter that he was presant when the police entered. He saw four or five men playing fan tan for something to eat. The game was to provide things for a spree for the festival of their New Tear. There was no money on the table. They were, however, playing for money to buy things for the feast. There were counters on the table, representing sums of money, but witness did not know their value. Ah Tong corroborated the previous witness. He had been playing at fan tan for money to buy something to eat (for the feast). He was not a professional gambler. He did not throw away money when the police entered. There was no money on the table. Mr McConnel addressed the Court. Inspector Pender said the polioe had no wish to press for a heavy penalty; what they wanted was to put a stop to a pernicious praotice which was making its appearance here. Prisoner was fined £5. Ah Sam, Ah Tong, Ah Fun, and Ah Lun, the prisoners identified by one of the witnesses as players, were fined each 20s. The rest were discharged. The apparatus was ordered to be confiscated. The fines were paid at once. Miscellaneous.—William Eastriok, J. Gee, Walter Hogg, and John Stinson were fined, the first three 5s and the latter 10s, for negleoting to light at night building materials left in the streets. Alex. Bountree, for driving a horse on a footpath, was fined ss. Jas. Hamilton, for allowing a horse to wander, was fined ss.

LYTTELTON. Monday, Mabch 6. [Before J. Olivier, Esq., B.M.] Stbaxing Boots. —William Croton, fifteen years of age, on remand for larceny of a pair of boots, was brought into Court, surrendering to his bail. W. Marshall gave evidence for the prosecution, to the effeot that the accused was bathing at the same time that he was, and when he got ashore his boots and socks were missing. Afterwards he went to Mrs Croton's house, having been told that the acoused had taken them. He was told by Mrs Croton that if he did not clear out she would throw him over the bank. The boots (produoed) were idontified by the witness, and were valued at lis. Sorgaant Morice testified to having found the boots at Mrs Croton's house, and to having arrested the acoused there, who admitted taking them, as he said, by mistake for his own. His own, it appears, were in shreds and tatters, while the stolen property was almost new. The Magistrate, as the offender was for the first time before the Court, sentenced him to the mitigated penalty of seven days' imprisonment. _ . , MISCELIANEOUS.—Thomas Henry, a colored sailor belonging to the Perthshire, was found intoxioated on Saturday night, and had amused himself by cursing and swearing in a I publio thoroughfare. He was fined sj. A youth was oharged with using obscene language The oomplaintant testified that he was out on Saturday night, near midnight, and he fell into companyfwith defendant, who ÜBed very foul language towards him. Sergeant Morice gave evidence as to the language used, and tho Bench after lecturing the defendant upon his larrikin propensities, fined him 20s Smuggling Tobacco.—Ah Tut, a Monaolian on remand, was charged with smuggling ashore a package of tobaceo on which no duty had been paid. T. Snoswell said that on Saturday he saw the accused leaving the B. Webster an American barque, with his box of what'seemed to be a chest of clothiDg. Upon examining the suspected box, six and a-half pounds of tobaoco was found in it. The tobacco (produoed) did not bear the requisite mark to show that the Customs duty had been paid upon it. Ah Yut said he "No sabee," but the Benob, seeing that he spoke very fair English, condemned him to pay £6 16s 6d and costs. Civil Cask.—Philp v Crompton, claim £2 2s- iudgment for plaintiff. "Lyttelton Times "v J. Fenton, claim £ll2s 8a ; judgment for plaintiffs.