RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 534, 1 May 1878, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Tuesday, April 30. ; (Before J. C. • Crawford, Esq., E.M.) i DRUNKENNESS. ~-,{•■] \ John Edwards, who said ho had only had one glass of beer, was fined 55., or ~ i hours’ imprisonment, for being drunk and disorderly, ’ . r . VAGRANCY, Eliza Kenny, an elderly female who appeared in the dock, with a black: eye and (he other partly closed up, was charged ,by tho police with being a vagrant and . a disorderly person. Sergeant Smith informed the Benfch that she had been nine times before the Court during the last seven weeks for drunkenness. His Worship said that she would be kept sober for the next three months, and ordered her to be imprisoned for that period. THE BOY THIEVES.

Alfred Carver and Leonard Handoook, who we - have before described as two youngsters, were charged on remand with stealing from the Wesleyan Chapel, Webb street, money to the amount of 17s. in silver and copper. Both the boys pleaded guilty. George Bnrke, one of their associates, was called as a witness, and deposed that he was playing in. Webb-strect, and saw the two prisoners. He saw Handcook , take the key of the chapel from behind a fence and open the door. The two prisoners then went inside, and stopped there for about half an hour. By Sergeant Smith/ Witness also wont into the chapel, and came out with the prisoners. He saw them break open a money-box which had 17s. 6d. in it. There were two handfuls of copper and some silver. The boy Carver on being asked by his Worship if he had anything to say, replied that the witness Burke helped to break open the box. This was all the evidence in the first case.

Tile same boys were then charged with stealing from the Te Aro : school 7s. in money and two fifes. , • ’

Both boys pleaded hot guilty. W. H. .Holmes, master of the school, deposed that on Easter Monday on entering the school he found that the contents of his desk were scattered about the room. He discovered that a small money-box had been broken open and money taken from it. He also misse l two, flutes, ; -

The boy Carver said they never saw any flutes.

The witness Burke was again examined, and deposed that he was playing with the prisoners, when Carver said, “ Let us go into Holmes’ school.” Witness then left them. He did not know what they did.

By Sergeant Smith : Wo all went round towards Holmes’ school together. Saw the prisoners go round to the back of the school. Handcock was then charged with breaking into Mrs. Jarvois’ dwelling-house in Taranakistreet, and stealing. 15s. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. His Worship here remarked that he had received a letter from one Ellen White, giving the boy Carver a very good character. Mrs. Eraser deposed that she knevy the boy Handcock. She saw him go into Mrs. Jarvois’ house., ‘ .

His Worship dismissed this case. ‘ ; Mrs. Carver, mother of one of the hpys, said that her son had no bad example set him at home, and it was only since his father had been away from home that he had been in thej habit of straying about at night. ' '. Sergeant Smith remarked that the boys 1 were allowed to stop away from home and sleep in outhouses and stables.. 1 . , His Worship said that the smaller boy: (Carver) appeared to bo the ringleader of the; lot. If there were State institutions in the colony the proper course would be; to send the boys to a reformatory for two or , three years, so that they might be properly treated—taught some trade whereby they might earn an honest livelihood. As there was-no such place to send them to, the only course that remained for him was to use his own discretion. He did not like sending them to gaol for a lengthened term of imprisonment; he should commit them both to gaol for seven days, and order them to be whipped ; and it they came before the Court again they would have a very severe sentence; Mrs, Jarvois made application to the Bench to have her money returned. The police stated that there was only 2s. ■ found on the boys. : His Worship remarked that it would bo hard to find out who was the owner of tho 25., as the boys had stolen several lots of money. BREACH OP CITY BY-LAWS. Alfred George Johnston was fined ss. for emptying rubbish at a place other than set aside for that purpose. CJVIL CASES.: ,• Te Aro Theatre and Public Hall Company (Limited) v. John Mclntosh : Claim, £l6, unpaid calls. Judgment by default for the amount claimed and costs. . . Same v. Charles Moody ; Claim, £lO. Judgment by default for the amount claimed and costs. Same v. S. Parks : Claim, £5. Judgment by default for the amount claimed and costs. Same v. Morton Quin : Claim, £lO. Judgment by default for the amount claimed and costs. - : The Court then adjourned.