MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2464, 10 February 1881, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

SECOND EDITION

TIM A HU—THIS DAY,

(Before P. Beetham, Esq., E.M.) DEONK AND DISOEDKEIiT. Three inebriates, first offenders, were fined 5s apiece. John Williams, for drunkenness and indecent exposure was fined 5s for the first, and 10s for the second offence. DEINK AGAIN ! Thomas Wood, better known as “ Yorkey,” was charged with the larceny of a swag valued at £3, tho property of Charles Wedge. C. Wedge, laborer,deposed to having left the swag produced in the bar of Stone’s Hotel, yesterday morning. During the afternoon it disappeared, and witness next saw it at Wood’s house. It was lying open on the floor, none of its contents being missing. Thereupon informed the police.

Mrs Stone remembered the swag being left at the Hotel yesterday, and also seeing the accused leave the house in the afternoon, with a swag on his back. Did not take particular notice of it at the time.

Inspector Pender gave the accused a good character, and said that this was the first charge of the kind that had been brought against him. He was a bricklayer, earning 14s a day. The accused, in answer to the Bench, said he had been drinking all the week, and was too drunk at the time he removed the swag to know what he was

doing. His Worship said that lie believed what the accused said to be true, but that drunkenness must not be urged as an excuse for crime. Treating this as a first offence, the accused would be sentenced to fourteen days with hard labor, and he trusted that the punishment would be a warning to him to knock off Ins drinking habits. The Court then rose.