MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2530, 18 May 1882, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, May 18. [Before li. Beetham, Eiq , B.M.] Vagrancy.—Q-eorge Barker wan charged with soliciting alms. B. Jones stated that prisoner accosted him in Colombo street on Wednesday, solicted alms, and when refused ho presented three copper tokens, asking to hare them changed for good coins. Witness would not do this, and prisoner became abusive. Sergeant Pratt said he had arreited prisoner in consequence of complaints made to him by one or two persons. Prisoner was the worse for liquor. Sergeant Mason said that prisoner was well known to the police as a bad character. He was sentenced to

fourteen days’ imprisonment with hard labor. Robert Oarlylo was charged with a similar offence. He had gone while drunk into Mr Oandy'o shop and begged for assistance. Ai the police knew nothing else against him he was discharged with a caution. Lmraor fbom Dbink. —Ohae. M. Swan, ston was charged with this offence. Accused denied that he had been drinking to excess. Sergeant Mason said that when brought to the depot accused seemed rather wild, but appeared all right now. Mrs Swanston, wife of the accused, stated that he had been dri king heavily for years. She had five children, whom she supported, as he had for a long time neglected to provide for them. He often ill-used her. On the night of hia arrest, he had taken out a r«z >r and threatened to out her throat. She was very much in fear of him. H. A. Davis stated that on Wednesday prisoner had offered him a watch for pawn. Witness refused to take it in, as prisoner was then very drunk. His Worship said he could not deal with prisoner under the present information ; he would bo discharged. Mrs Swanston could, however, take other proceedings against prisoner it she thought fit, Robbbbt from the Pbbson. John O’Connor, on remand from May 11th, was charged with stealing from William Shead a watch and chain, a purse, a bunch i f keys, all valued at £lO 14s; and also about £1 iu silver. William Shead, a bricklayer, residing at Addington, deposed that about 11 o’clock p.m. on May G:h ho went into an oyster saloon in Cathedral square. He had been drinking. To the best of his belief, he fai then in bis possession the articles enumerated. He had some oysters and porter, after which a row took place. He was knocked down, and remembered nothing more of what occurred in the saloon. Next morning, when at a house in Armagh street, he came to himself, and the articles were missing. Ho had not been in or near Ashburton for a long time. He had never seen the prisoner to his k lowledge before. H. A. D r i, pawnbroker, High str;et, Christchurch, deposed that on May Bth prisoner went into his shop. Detective benjamin happened to bo in the shop at the time. Prisoner iffored the watch produced for pledge, and witness lent him 28s on it. Witness handed the watch to the detective, who called out its number Prisoner gave the name of James Fitzgerald, and said the watch belonged to him. Detective Benjamin corroborated the evidence of Mr Davie. After the prisoner hi.d pawned the watch, witness went to the rtetec ive office and found that the watch had been reported as stolen. He arrested prisoner, who said that he had bought the watoh from a man at Ashburton, bnt could give no particulars as to the man. This was the ease for the prosecution. Prisoner, in reply u» the usual question, said what the detective said about the man at Ashburton was false. It was not likely, moreover, that he would steal a watch and pawn it in the same town. He was committed for trial at the next sessions ot the Supreme Court to be held at Christchurch.

Oirin Oases. Avon Road Board v Matthews, claim £1 9s 44. Defendant pleaded that he had sold the property before the rate was struck. There was also a ques tion as to proper application for payment having been made. Hia Worship ruled that an application sent by post was not sufficient, it should be served direct on the ratepayer, or at the promises rated. Plaintiff nonsuited, with costs. City Council v Wilcox, £1 3> for rates, was a similar esse to the above, with the exception that the notice of claim had been properly served. Judgment for plaintiffs, wi'h costs. Green v Johnston, claim for £6 lOi, balance said to be due on a contract for paperhanging, Ac. Defendant, in reply, said that the contract had not been finished. Adjourned till May 25th. Wallace v Trusoott, claim £5, for damage to crop and fences by trespass ot sheep. Mr Thomas for plaintiff, MrLouehrey for defendant. Judgment for plaintiff for £2, each party to pay their own costs. Judgments wont by default in Garrick and 00. v Harper, £2 2» ; Avon Boad Board v Brooker, £4 15* lOd; Hopper r Bisman, £1 3i lOd; and Eili* v Pateman, 12s.