THEATRE GAMBLERS IN COURT.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2297, 28 July 1880, Page 2

THEATRE GAMBLERS IN COURT.

[l3v Ti;ni:c.i{Arn.] Duxkdix, July 27. A singular dispute in connection with the Diorama and gift distribution, now taking place in the Queen’s 'Theatre, and which has been attracting crowded audiences, has occupied the*’ .Resident Magistrate’s Court for several days past. A carter named Sullivan and his wife, accompanied by a servant girl named McElhcnny, went to the theatre one evening and purchased a number of envelopes. All were blanks with the exception of one, and this turned up a trump, for it drew an album lirst, and subsequently drew a new suite of furniture valued at |A2O. The furniture was removed in an express to Sullivan’s domicile, but next morning Miss McEHienny and her mother appeared on the scene, took forcible possession of the cabinetware, and carried the articles away. A summons was now taken out by Sullivan against Mrs McElhenny for wrongful conversion and detention, and this was adjudicated on by Air Simpson, R.M., while an information for assault was referred to the well known Police R.M., Air I. IN’. Watt. L Of course the evidence was exceedingly conflicting, A 1 iss McElhcnny declaring that the nude Sullivan, obtained the money from her with which the lucky ticket was purchased, and acted throughout as her agent, while the Sullivans emphatically swore that they borrowed the money from the girl, and the ticket consequently was their own property. In the civil case Mr Simpson, R.M.. has ordered the return of the furniture to the Sullivans, with damages to the amount of £2 for its wrongful conversion and detention. In the assault case, the evidence of Mrs Sullivan was that in addition to calling her all the names they could lay their tongues to, the elder defendant had pushed her up against the furniture and inflicted bruises upon her bead with blows from her fist ; and that the younger defendant had broken an umbrella over her, pushed her down and kicked her. Airs M'Elhonny was lined ss, and 7s costs, for her share in the disturbance ; and Miss M'Elheuuy 10s, and AL I3s costs,