RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Kumara Times, Issue 421, 31 January 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Thursday, January 31. [Before M. Price, Esq., E*M.J Drunkenness.— Ernest Natty, Wm. Callaghan, and J-as. Wright were each fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Larceny. James Kainane was charged with stealing two half-crowns fiom the. till of the National Hotel, Dillman’s Town, on the 18th inst. Mr Perkins for accused. Charles Peters, the landlord, deposed that on the day in question he went out of the har for a minute, leaving accused alone in front of the counter. On his return he found him l>ehind the counter in the act of robbing the till. The matter was mentioned to the police, and Inspector O’Donnell ordered an information to he laid. Cross-examined; When he (Peters) caught accused at the till he said he was lo'king for half a-sovereign. The evidence of the ai resting constable was t« the effect that Kainane was three parts drunk at the time. The statement of accused, through his counsel, was to the effect that he thought he had paid away half-a-sovereign by mistake between two shillings, and was locking for it in the till. Mr Gilbert Stewart, who had known Kainane for several years, gave him a good character. Sentenced to 14 days’ hard labor in the Kumara Gaol. A Nuisance.— This was the case of Patrick Foley, charged at the previous sitting of the Court with having bis slaughter-house in a filthy condition. Sentence had been post poned for a week in order to allow defendant to remove the nuisance in the meantime. Mr Perkins for the la pector of Nuisances j Mr Hawkins for defendant. Evidence was given that little or nothing had been done to abate the nuisance, ancl that the place was in a “ fearful” condition. Fine# £5 and^d^s ; in default one month's inr-risoument. Selling Without Licences. Catherine Ryan of the “ Miners bakery,” Main road, was charged with selling on the 13th instant to rDaniel Graham and John Cordial two of beer, and receiving one shilling for them. Defendant pleaded “ Not Guilty.” Mr Perkins appeared for the prosecution, He said that though' these proceedings were taken nominally by the informants, they were really instigated by a section of the community who thought it was high, time that

<these sly-grog 'shanties .should be put 'down •, he was credibly informed that •something like a hundred of these ■places were known to exist in Kumara. 'Cordial and Graham, the informers, /gave evidence that cm Sunday evening •they had two glasses of beer, • and Graham paid a shilling for it; Two female witnesses deposed that they did not see any money pass. Inspector .‘O’Donnell proved that the house is unlicensed. J udgment reserved. John Henderson, Main road, was "charged with selling brandy to Cordial and Graham, on the 13th instant. The ■charge was folly proved, and the Bench inflicted a fine of £25 with costs •and professional costs ; in default, •distressful default of distress, three months’ imprisonment. Ann Wilson, Main road, was charged ■with selling two glasses of brandy on 'the 13th instant No appearance of ■defendant. Service of summons was proved. Mr Perkins stated that defendant had absconded. Constable Hatton deposed to seeing defendant leaving by the tram for Greyznouth an hour after the summons was served. Inapec*tor O’Donnell said that he had received a telegram from Inspector Feast stating “that he believed defendant had left by 'the schooner Gleaner for Melbourne. The case was then. proceeded with and fthe offence proved. Fined £25 and' ‘costs; in default of distress three ‘months’ imprisonment. Margaret Swords, Main road, pleaded •guilty to the charge of selling a glass of beer and of brandy to the informers on *the 13th instant. Mr Perkins said 'that the place was -one of the worst •'shauties in Kumara, and Inspector ‘O’Donnell corroborated the statement. Defendant pleaded that she was acting Hinder >the orders of an employer. Fined £25 ; usual alternatives : Magaret Stevens, occupying a pie'fihop in Seddon street, pleaded guilty l to a charge.. Fined £25; msual alternatives.