RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

West Coast Times, Issue 576, 30 July 1867, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before G. G. FitzGerald, Esq., R.M.) Mondat, July 29. Drunk and Incapable. — Alexander Ballantine, Edwin Clements, Alexander M'Kenzie, and John Silk were severally filled 10s, or to be imprisoned for twenty-tour hours' in default of payment. Dkun k and- Disorderly. —Edward Roberts was fined LI, with the usual alternative. Using Threatening and Obscene Language. — Peter Smith was chargod with this offence, and fined LI, or, in default of payment, to be imprisoned for forly-eight hours. TjAECESY. — John Munro and William Jones alias M'Lauglilan were charged with stealing, from the premises of Max Jaffc, situate ii\ Rcvell street, about three pounds of tobacco, of the valuo of LI. The two prisoners went into the prosecutoi''s (Max Jaffe) shop, on Saturday evening, about half-past seven. Prisoner Jones asked for some tobacco, and whilst tho prosecutor was serving him, the other .prisoner (Muuro), reached over the counter, and took a square of tobacco, weighing about 31bs. Ho then let the shop, and told the other man to make haste and follow him. Another person entered tho shop immediately afterwards, and remained there till the other man was ser7cd, when they both left and joined the prisoner Munro in the street. Mr Jaffc followed them into the street, and informed Sergeant Hicksou of what had occurred. A portion of the tobacco was produced and identified by the prosecutor. Sergeant Hickson deposed to having arrested the prisoners. When questioned, they denied having been into a tobacconist's shop that night. The sergeant searched the prisoners, and found eleven calces of tobacco on the prisoner Jones, who then stated that Munro gave it to him. Jones subsequently said to Munro " Jack, tell the truth, and get me out of this." Munro remarked that he was willing to pay for it, and had only taken it iv a lark. His Worship discharged Jones, and sentenced Munro to one month's imprisonment, with hard labor. Breach of the Peace.— Robert Allen, for assaulting lus wife in the public street, was fined L 2, or in default four days' imprisonment. A further charge of assaulting and resisting the constable who arrested him was preferred against Allen, for winch he was fined L 2, with the alternative of four days' imprisonment. Vagrancy. — William Davis, alias Brummy Davis, was charged under section ii. clause iv. of the Vagrant Act, which states, " The occupier of any house which is frequented by reputed thieves, or persons wh6 have no visible lawful means of support, and any porson found in any such house, in company with such reputed thieves,' or person who do not give a good account of his lawful means of support, and also of his being in such house upon some lawful occasion, shall be liable to imprisonment in any gaol for any time not exceeding three calendar months, with or without hard labor. — Mr Button appeared for the prisonor. — The evidence of Detectives Dyer and Brown and Sergeant Hickson was taken. The police deposed to tho fact tliat the prisoner was well known as a notorious scoundrel, his house being a sort of depot for prostitutes and thieves ; but, as it appeared that when arrested he was employed in re-erecting houses rcmovod from the end of the South Spit, his Worship discharged him. Breach of Police Ordinance. — John Kennelly, Maurice Joyce, and Edward Collins were chained bj r Thomas Homan with destroying property to the value of L 6. It appeared that tho prisoners went into the Horse and Groom Hotel last night and called for drinks. They were served with the drinks, and afterwards refused to pay for them. They called for a second lot of drinks and the landlord refused to servo them unless they paid for the last. They then commenced knocking tho bottles about, and after Homan had succeeded in getting them out of tho house, they returned and burst open both the bar- doors. His Worship fined them L 5 each, and ordered them to pay L 2 each for the property destroyed, or in dofault of payment to be imprisoned for fourteen days. Michael Kennelly, who it appeared was also present but did not* tako an active part in the disgraceful proceedings of tho others, was fined LI, with the usual alternative. Assaulting the Police. — Edward Collins, and John Kennelly, 'for assaulting the police, who arrested them on tho last charge, were each sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment, without the option of paying a fine. A further charge of destroying ; government property, viz., a waterproof belonging to a constablc,was preferred against Collins, for which he was fined LI, and ordered to pay L 2 for the pro perty destroyed, or in default four days imprisonment. The Court was then adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrow.

" What shall we name our little boy ?" said a young wife to her husband — "Ca'l him Peter. — " Oh, no, I never knew anybody named Peter that could earn his salt, — "Well, call him Salt Peter, then !" A Good Motto for an Auctioneer. — Come when you are bid, and bidjwhen you come. In Dublin, a great Methodist orator once attempted io preach from the text, " Remember Lot's wife," and made a failure. He afterwards remarked to Dr. Bond that ho did not know the reason of the failure, when the venerable doctor replied that " he had better hereafter, leavo other people's wives alone." A Question. — Is a recruit supposed to be raw until he is exposed to the fire ? Ex-President Pierco waß once earnestly besought by a neighbor to endorse a bill for him. He oefuse.l, civilly, being a very prudent- man. The neighbor pressed it, saying that it was a Small thing to do, and would bo of much service to him. Again the ex-President declined. The neighbor became urgent. Then said Mr Pierce : " John, look here. If I put my hand to this bill, you will not pay it ; I shall have to do so, and then wo shall quarrel, If you please we'll qurrrql now, while tho uionoy is in my jiookot."