RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4400, 27 April 1875, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Monday, April 26. (Before J. C, Crawford, Esq., 11,M.) LARCENY. : John Breed was charged with stealing a pair of boots, valued at 325., the property of William Collis, of Wainuiomata. Mr. Moorhouso appeared to prosecute. The circumstances of the case, and the mode in which the theft was traced to the prisoner, were somewhat singular. It appeared that about seven months ago the prosecutor ordered the boots from Mr. Brandt, of the Hutt, and that during their conveyance home Mr. Charles. Collie, father of the prosecutor, met with an accident which overturned his cart and spread its contents on the road. Prisoner came up, volunteered to assist in re-loading the cart, and, it would seem, rewarded himself by walking off with the boots. At all events, they were trussed when Collis, sen., got home, and were eventually given up for lost, after being searched for in vain. A few days ago, a man named Mudgway brought the identical boots to Mr. Brandt’s shop to be mended. They were, of course, at once recognised by Mr. Brandt and detained, and, from information given by Mudgway, the.prisoner was arrested. According to Mudgway’s statement, he bought the boots from prisoner the day after the accident to Collis’s trap. Prisoner told him he had bought the boots from a man at Whitewood’s hotel, to whom he paid 15s. for them, and that Mudgway could have them for 125,, as they were “ too flash ” for him. In answer 1 to the charge, .prisoner said ho bought the

boots from a cross-eyed man who worked a few days at Riddiford’s.. Ho had only been in the colony twelve months, had never had a key turned on him before, had never “ thieved nothink” in his life, never previously saw a magistrate, and was an honest, hardworking man., Mr. Crawford said the charge had been most conclusively proved, and sentenced the prisoner to three months imprisonment 'with. hard labor, drunk and disorderly. Peter McGuire, a disorderly drunkard, was fined 10s, DRUNKENNESS and vagrancy, Hannah Mendoza, a depraved harridan of the worst type, was charged under the above heading. For years past Hannah has given infinite trouble to Sergeant; Monaghan and His legion, and ever and anon disturbed the placid quietude of Te Aro pa, where Hannah and her boon companions most do congregate. So was it even on Sunday morning last, at the hour of one o’clock, when Hannah, surrounded by a number of jovial “shellbacks,” made night . hideous, the consequence being that the amazon was marched off to “ quod.” His Worship committed her for three months. THE DELIGHTS OP ORIENTAL BAY. Sarah Mitchell, another charmer, was brought up on the information of Mr. Masters, a resident of Oriental Bay, who complained of the sportive practices of the lambkins of whom Sarah is facile prlnceps. The capers of this band of feminines can scarce be whispered to ears polite. Suffice it that they are rude and unbecoming and anything but exemplary, ffhe case was remanded to Thursday, Mr. Masters not being in attendance. AN INTRUSIVE CUSTOMER. Chas. Claridge was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and with assaulting the police in the execution of their duty. It appeared that on Saturday last, the prisoner was passing the house of Mr. Parrant, builder, and asked a person standing at the gate for a match. Sundry impertinences ended in prisoner attempting to force his way into the house, which was stoutly resisted by the owner, and a scuffle ensued, during which Mr. Parrant’s coat was torn. A policeman was sent for, and Constable Buchanan promptly appeared on the scene and took prisoner into custody. The latter hit out vigorously, and Buchanan was at last compelled to knock him down, handcuff him, strap his legs, put him under his arm, and walk him off to the lock-up. Prisoner was fined £5, with the alternative of a month's imprisonment, which was accepted in the absence of the “ needful.” The same prisoner was charged with wilfully damaging Mr. Parnmt’s coat, and was ordered to pay 205., in default seven days imprisonment, to begin at the expiration of the previous term. DESERTION. Bobt. Barnsley was charged with deserting from the ship Carnatic, but as no prosecutor appeared when the case was called on, it was dismissed. This concluded the business.