MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1439, 22 July 1865, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH.—Friday, JOLT 21. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) Forging and Uttering.—Thomas Biyon was brought up on this charge. Constable Hams stated: From information received by me, I arrested the prisoner on Thursday, in Kilmore street. I told him the nature of the charge. Before I could caution him, he said that he had been riding all over the town and out to Dilloway's, looking for the friend who had given him the cheque. I then cautioned him in the the usual form. He was under the influence of liquor. I took him to the watch-house. George Brooker, jun.: I keep an hotel in Cashel street, the Earl of Zetland. 1 know the prisoner. He was in my house on Monday evening, and said that he was very hungry, and asked for some tea. I prepared him a meal. He wanted to sleep at the hotel, but I informed him that I could not accommodate him. I lent him 2s 6d to pay for a bed elsewhere. On July 19 he again came, and tendered me a cheque in payment. I lent him 2os on the cheque. The barman, by my orders, gave him the money. He had somo luncheon. The same night, after I was in bed, he came to inv bedroom, and asked me for £2 more. I replied that I had not so much, but I let him have 20s in silver. I gave it to the barman to give it to him. I sent the latter to the Bank of Australia with the cheque in the morning. It was returned with the announcement that there was no account there of that name. I went myself to the bank, and found that there was no account there. He did not say where he got the cheque. He told me that it was all right. Tho cheque produced is the one. By the prisoner: Iknow you at St. Kilda some years ago. Ido not remember that you told me -that you got it from a person who owed you money. George Gunn, a lad in tho employment of Mr. Brooker, corroborated the evidence of the latter with reference to the money paid to the prisoner, and also as to his going to the bank with the cheque now produced, payment of which was refused. Edwara G. Tims produced the watchhouse sheet, signed by the prisoner. The ledger-keeper at the Union Bank was examined, ana stated that the cheque now produced was presented at the Bank; it was signed Thomas Horton. There is no account of that name at the bank, dated July 20. There nover had been an account of that name at the bank. The cheque is at least for a year previously to the present date. Nc account of that name has since been opened at the Bank. Detective M'Elroy stated that he had been stationed in Christchurch for somo time, but knew no one of the name of Horton in the place or in the neighbourhood. On tho application of the Inspector tho case was remanded, in order that a further examination of the writing of the chequo might be made by an export witness. Selling Liquor without a License,—ln tho cases of John Wilson and Nathaniel Hart, his Worship observed that, in order to put thom both on tho same footing, he should allow tho latter to withdraw his plea of " Guilty," and should dismiss the case. He had carefully considered tho matter, and had como to the conclusion that tho cases were exceptional ones. At the time that tho offences were committed many persons w ro s ®,"' i n ff|K ro g without a license, acting in ignorance ot the law, thero being a groat rush to the diggings. He was willing to behove that tho dofendnnts had not been actuated by any desire of wilfully infringing the law. But, by noting as they had done, they had rendered themselves liable to a penalty of £60. Ho should dischargo the defendants with a caution as to their conduct for tho future. The defendants thanked his Worship, and lelt the Court. r Assault.—Adolpho Brink was charged with having assaulted Mario Hoft. After hearing tho evidence, his Worship observed that tho conduct ot the prisoner had been very roprehensible, and he would bo fined £1.

LYTTELTON.—Friday, July 21. (Boforo A. W. Shand, Esq., J.p.) Tho only business before the Court this morning was to dispose of two cases of drunkenness. drunk ? r ° ft charged with getting drunk, liowas brought to tho Police Station

last night, by one of the -* WM diiehJ»*|f«d with a roprimand. ' 1, U, Tbft notonous Mary Ann 1t0bin,,,,, , ' with a similar offence. She made a toi iar "'(l peal to be let off on this occasion to ti J aPwMdiMbwgeS 8 nCVe '" to get drunk t'