MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2299, 30 July 1880, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

TDIAKD-THIS DAY. [Before B, Bectham, Esq., UAL, E. G. Stcrickor and T. W. Hull, Esqs., J.Ps.] FA 11.1 Xt i TO ri!OVIJ)K. Patrick Kane was charged with neglecting to comply with an order of the Court ordering him to contribute to the support of his, infant child. The woman in whose charge the child had been placed, stated that there was a sum of £7 2s due to her. He had not contributed a farthing since his last appearance in Court. The accused pleaded that he was unable to obtain work. The Bench remarked that it was a disgraceful thing that the accused should allow a poor woman to be at the expense of maintaining his child. He would have to iinil good and sufficient sureties that he would comply with the order of the Court, failing which he would be committed to gaol for three months with hard labor. He would be liable for his child up to the age of 14 years. TJIF ALL FOE I) TIM Alt U JEWELL Ft! Y FI!AUI»S. Charles Evans Jones was charged on remand with obtaining goods under false pretences to the value of between £3O and £4O, the property of Messrs Gibson and Cockcroft, jewellers, of Timaru. M r Tosswill appeared fo defend the accused. Inspector Pender appeared to prosecute. Joseph Cockroft, of the firm of Gibson and Cockroft, jewellers and dealers in fancy goods, Timarn, deposed that he know the accused, and recollected seeing him on June 2(5 hist, and he believed on previous occasions. On June 2(5 (he accused visited the jewellery establishment of the (inn, and obtained a diamond ring of the value of £lB, which he returned mi the same day in exchange for one valued at ,£lO. He selected, at the same time, a maltose cross price £2 10s. He afterwards went to their fancy goods shop, which is distinct from the jewellery establishment, and selected three meerschaum pipes and a. cigar-holder. The the things were supplied to the accused inconsequence of Ids representing that he had £4OOO coming out from Home. Tins money was to arrive either on July 12 or July 21. The accused added that Ids solicitor and agent was Mr Wynn Williams, of Christchurch, who had just sent Home a telegram costing ;£t) 14s about the money. He made these statements more • than once, and witness believed him. on June 29, the accused came in again and got a diamond buckle keeper ring, valued at £l2, and a sot of multou-fish shell sleeve links and studs, valued at £4 15s. Ho was also supplied with cigars from time to time. By Mr Tosswill—The things were to bo paid for as soon as the money arrived from Home. The keeper ring at £lO, the Maltese cross, and a pawnticket for another ring, valued at'£l4, were returned by the accused before the informations were laid. On June 12, the accused said the money had not arrived, but added that it was sure to come on (he 21st. On the 2lst witness saw the accused and said to him, “ Now bo candid, can you show mo any way by which you can get money from Home.” Ho said, “No, I cannot.” Witness then said, “ You had better give back my goods then.” By Mr Tosswill —Accused made no statement which led me to believe that he did not expect this money. Benjamin Gibson, a partner of the last witness, stated that the fancy goods shop was under his charge. The accused came into (he shop on June 26, and selected a pocket knife, a stick, a cigarliolder, and four cigars. He did not pay for them. He said that somebody had died at home and left him £15,000, and that £IOOO of it was coming out in a few days. He mentioned Mr Wynn Williams as his solicitor. On June 29 he obtained three meerschaum pipes and some cigars from witness. He said that as soon as ho got his money out he would come and spend £2OO or £-500. On June 30 he had half a pound of tobacco, a pocket book, a pocket knife, and l(3s n orth of cigars. Thomas Bevan, accountant to Mr Wynn Williams, solicitor, Gated that there was no other solicitor of that name in Christchurch. The odlce books had been thoroughly searched, but there was no record or mention in any of them, of (he name of Charles Evans Jones. All eonsnlations are recorded in the books. If the sum of £0 14s had been expended on the accused’s or anyone’s else account, it would have been found in the books.

By Mr Tosswill —The accused might have consulted Mr Williams, but there is no record of it.

Edward Hamer, shepherd, at present residing in Timaru, said he had known the accused at Home. He had a cousin in England who was a rich man. Could not say whether anyone had sent him any money from Home. Met accused on July id. He asked witness to tell anyone who might ask whether he (accused) had had any money out from Home that he had. The accused took witness on the following - day to Mr liichmond’s. Witness then told him that he was not aware of any money coming to accused. The name of the rich uncle was Henrv Marsh.

Tin’s conclned the case for the prosecution.

The accused, who reserved his defence, was then committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, bail being accepted for his appearance, himself in TIOO and two sureties of TTb each. The Court then adjourned.

TEKRIBLE STEAMBOAT DISA STEPS.

The first was the collision at New York between the steamers NarraganIctt and Stonington, amongst the argest of (he passenger vessels playing between Long Island Sound and the city. The Narragansctt started from New York at five o’clock in the afternoon. Several hours later the Stonington left the Stonington. There was a dense log in the Sound, and the steamers came together with a frightful crash off the s outli of the Connecticut Paver at little before eleven o’clock. The bow of the Stongington was thrust with tremendous force into the starboard side of the Narragausctt. Loth vessels wore badly

broken, but the hole in the Stonington diet not extend down to the water, while that of the Narragansett was far larger. The vessels quickly sprung apart, and the Narragansett began to sink at once. At the same time a fire broke out on both vessels, which were heavily loaded with passengers. Aboard the Stonington the panic was allayed when it became certain that she was in no danger. On the Narragansetfc, however the peril of the situation drove a large number of people wild with terror. There was a general impulse to put on life-pre-servers, and to get them there was not only riotous scrambling, but actual hand to hand encounters. As the steamer settled and lurched it was evident that it would sink immediately. Nothing could be done under such circumstances to allay the excitement. The passengers ran to I lie upper docks in wild disorder. Within live minutes after the collision a fire broke out on board. This new danger completed the demoralisation, The extinguishment of (lie lamps by the shock had lolt the boat in darkness, but now a lurid glare was more torryfing. The flames spread rapidly in both directions from amidship,driving the passengers before them. The life-raft was lowered, but so eager were the people to get on it that (hey dropped from the railings of the upper deck into (he water and several were drowned. Three more rafts were launched and floated away ladcncd with human beings. Small boats were also let down and loaded. There was the greatest confusion, and instances of rank cowardice were numerous. Strong men pushed women aside to save themselves, A man and his wife leaped from the deck into an already Hik'd boat, almost swamping it. If everybody had remained on the top deck there would have been no loss of life, for the water was shallow enough to leave that part of the steamer uncovered. Women •md children madly Hung themselves overboard, and were drowned. The narratives of person on hoard the Narraganset(: complete, onraccount of the disaster: —George Stevenson ; I was in my bunk with my hands clasped round my head, when I. was suddenly thrown out. I then heard a loud crash, and jumped from my berth and ran to the how of the host. Catching hold of an axel cut down the Hag,staff. As I did so, a man wild with excitement, came running up to me with two little hoys. He said '■ C;m yo'i save them?” I lashed the little ones by their wrists and tied them to the flagstaff, and was about to launch them and jump overboard, when the man screamed “ God bless you, my darlings!” At the same moment [ heard the sharp report of a revolver and the man fell (town. A woman at the same time came running, exclaiming “ .My children,” and she sprang overboard. The children were so lashed that they could not get away from tho llagstatf. Just before I launched the flagstaff there was a cry of “ tire.” I looked and saw flames bursting through tho bunkers. When about to launch (he polo another man, wild with excitement, rushed up saying, “My God, I can’t swim,” and at the same time I heard another pistol shot. Immediately after I saw the father of the two hoys lire his pistol. 1 threw the HagstaH: over, and was about to leap overboard myself when I saw a colored man and woman come on deck. The woman’s dress was on lire. The man had her by the waist ; doth were screaming wildly and both leaped overboard. I then leaped into the waiter and swam to (he llagstatf, and with, the children was saved, after being two hours in tho water. "William King, freight clerk of the Narragansett, said: “Soon after tho accident there were nine boats and three rafts at work, picking up (hose in the water and carrying passengers. I counted as many as thirty in some of the boats and fifty on the rafts. I saw one woman in the water, calmly lying on a cork mattress. Another woman jumped into the water and swam to tho Stonington.” Clarence Leonard, an actor, and his wife, known on the stage ns Miss Minnie Leonard, were passengers on the Narragansett. They saved themselves by clinging to (he ropes on a life-raft. Leonard says that the deck hand, who was in the lifeboat, was sent to strike the lingers of a white-headed old lady, who was clinging to the side of the boat and begging to be saved. The deck hand, Leonard says, forced her to let go. She was probably drowned. “Onr raft.” he continued, “ Honied towards the boat. We endeavored to get the old lady, but the deck hand kept her oil: with an oar. Another old lady unis clinging to the wreck, and when an attempt was made to save her, she refused the proffered assistance, saying ‘Nevermind me, I am an old woman ; save the J-'oung folks.’” Numerous passengers repeat with great variety the same slorijes-df. frightful disorder and needless dciith,"

The other disaster was to'the steamer Savanaka, which was burnt off liandallo Island, Xew York, on June 28. A despatch from that city gives the following particulars : —Thu lire commenced by an explosion in the engine-room, and the middle of the steamer was soon in Haines. Captain Charles Smith remained at his post until nearly burnt to death, and succeeded in beaching his vessel on a sunken meadow adjoining the island. Many sprang overboard, but were drowned. .Many others on the stern of the vessel would not get off, and were burned to death. Of the bOO persons supposed to have been on board bO are believed to have perished. Charles A. Hell, a lireman : “ I heard a noise, ami on looking saw lire pouring out of the tire-room. I got up and tried to make my way into the fire-room, hut the flames were too much for me. We were just oil; liandallo Island and running forward. I called to the captain who was at the wheel to head for the shore, but he shouted back (hat he could not. I then ran into the cabins forward and urged the steward and passengers to save themselves. They did not suspect that the vessel was on lire then, as no smoke or flame was blowing iu their direction. At that lime the woodwork of the vessel, about her centre, was burning like tinder, and the Humes were making their way towards both cuds of the boat. Probably there was •SCU persons on board. Men wore jumping from the hurricane dock into the water, and a large number of terrified women and children were huddled near the stern of the boat. I clambered over the rail near the bow, and several men almost jumped upon me before I took to the water to save myself. I found a life-preserver floating near me, and was going to put it on when a man clutched it. I knew I could swim, and thinking that lie could not, I let him have it and swam towards the island, which I readied. 1 then helped a man in a boat, ami assisted iu picking up (he passengers in the water.' Another passenger says : '■ The vessel burned like powder after

the flames were started. It was a terrible ■ scene. Shrieking women and children were huddled aft, nnti 1 their clothes caught lire. Those on the forward part of the boat were * the men, who were cut from cm - munication .with and from going to the rescue of their families, relatives, and friends by the flames, which burned fiercest about the centre of the boat. A reporter saw a child floating on its back, and was going to jump over to save it, when a frantic woman clutched his arm, saying, ‘You arc a strong man, and I a woman without any friends on hoard, for God’s , sake help me.’ The reporter left the child to itself, and, I believed, saved the woman. A lady was climbing down the ladder leading from the promenade deck to the main deck ; but, as the ladder is a pretty hard thing for a man to get down on at any time, she Ml into the gangway amid the flames. ] and about a dozen others succeeded in rescuing her from her perilous position.”