CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3415, 2 December 1879, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

Last night

A monster picnic of the combined Catholic schools will be hold on Boxing Day on tho race course. The excursionists are to be taken to the race course by train. In the JR..M. Court this #orning Geo. Green, an executor in nn estate, was called upon to answer a charge of failing to send in the returns of duty to the Stamps Commissioner as provided for in th« lOSth section of the Stamp Act. The defendant did not appear mid the penally of £10 was imposed. The Magistrate pointed out that a line of £'s<!o could be imposed for a breach of the act. In future cases of tho kind tho full penally would bo pressed for.

AlbortPinkstones, who has hithertoheld a respectable position, was charged under Offences Against Person Act, upon three charges of aggravated assault upon females. lie pleaded tfuilly, expressing contrition and threw himself upon the mercy of the Bttich. Tho Magistrate said " there was only one reason that he could see why tho mat ter should have been dealt with in the Superior Court, and that was that more appropriate punishment, viz., flogging might be inflicted ; however, by his dealing with it the feelings of delicate young girls would be saved. He would send the accused to gaol for the longest terra allowed, viz., 6 months on each charge, to run consecutively, and at the end of the time he would have to enter into Im own recognisance of £50 and find a surety of £50 for his pood behaviour, or again go to prison ■ for G months. These cases iiro becoming quite startling, the defendants in sevoral, us in ibis case being men of presumably good character, and the last to be suspected of such crimes as these.