RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Southland Times, Issue 1773, 29 July 1873, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before H. M'Culloch, Esq., R.M.) Fbiday, 25th July. John Kingsland and John Marshall were each fined 5s and 6s 6d costs, for allowing cattle to •tray. William Birst was charged with allowing build* ing material! and scaffolding to remain in Esk- street on the niglit of the 21st inst, without having a light burning to prevent accident. Defendant admitted the offence, but pleaded that the tight had gone out. His Worship said as this was the first ca«e brought before him under this section of the Municipal Act, he would fine defendant 5s and 6s 6J costs, but as this was a most important provision of the Act, and serious accidents might result from its neglect, any future offjnee would be dealt with summarily. Margaret MChetney, was brought up on remand, charged with infanticide. Mr Wade appealed fo- the defence If r Macdonald said he had been instructed to prosecute, and now appeared to ask that accused might be discharged. The police had received such information as justified them in making the charge, but within the last few days the girl Emily Small, aged 13 years, upon whose statement accused was arrested, had called on Mr Fox at the Police Station, and confessed that the statement which •he had made was a fabrication, having no foundation whatever. This girl had been a fellow-servant of the accused, and had given a most circumstantial account of the details of the alleged crime, and this ■he now retracted. She had made the same retraction to him (Mr Macdonald) as that made to Mr Fox, furnishing a most lamentable instance of juvenile depravity. It was to be regretted that no means existed of punishing the girl. His Worship said the girl's statement bad not been made upon oath, so that she could not be indicted for perjury. He was very sorry indeed for the position in which the accused had been placed, and would discharge her. M'lntyre v. Lout*.— Mr Wade for plaintiff, Mr Harvey for defendant. This was a claim for £22 ss, bring the amount of damage sustained by plaintiff in consequence of the upsetting of his coach at Woodlands on the 18th April last, by defendant* waggon having been, as was alleged, left on the road in front of Grohl's hotel. This case has been fully reported on a .former occasion, when defendant was fined for the obstruction, plaintiff having also been fined for carrying a passenger in excess of the number allowed by his license. Several witnesses were examined, and judgment was deferred until Tuesday, 29th inst. Satttbday, 26th July. AnnU M'Gregor, charged with having no visible lawful means of support, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labor. Robert Greig, charged with drunkenness, was fined 10s. Green v. Adamson. — This was a claim for £7 11s, for theep driving. Judgment for plaintiff for £5 Is, and coats, 13s.