MAGISTRATES' COURT.

Press, Volume XX, Issue 2304, 19 December 1872, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, December 18

[Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.] Drunk and Disorderly—John Baker was fined £3, and E. J. Wakefield and Jacob Cos, 20s each. James Donaldson waß dismissed with a caution.

Stealing from the Person—William Noon was brought up on remand from the 17th instant, charged with stealing on the morning of the 16th instant, a ten pound note, the property of James Webster, who, on being recalled, stated—When I first reported the robbery I told the police I did not know what bank the note was on. On Monday I was trying to call to mind what bank the note was on, and I remembered having seen the word " New Zealand ,, on it, so 1 concluded it was on the Bauk of New Zealand. I believe the ten pound note produced, which is on the Bauk of Australasia, is the one. Arthur Plank stated the prisoner called at the Britannia Hotel on Monday morning last about six o'clock, and paid a pound he owed. He tendered a ten pound note in payment, and I gave him back the change. The note produced on the Bank of Australasia is the one. Antil Alfred Adley deposed—Prisoner came to the Oxford Hotel on Saturday night and called for a glass of beer, for which he paid with a three-penny bit. Ha said that was £-11 he had. He afterwards asked mc to lend him five shillings, which I refused to do. He said he owed 4e 6d at the Golden Fleece hotel, and he would go and pay that. He said if I refused to lend him the money he would have to put his hand to paper again. I understood him to mean that he would forge. Edward Hiorns stated—The prisoner stayed at the Central Hotel on Thursday night. He left on Friday after tea without paying his account. I asked him for payment, and he produced a shilling and a fourpenny bit, and, that he said was all he had. He said he would go out and get the money, and 1 last saw prisoner on Monday morning when he paid mc the amount he owed with a one-pound note. Sergeant Willis deposed—When I visited the prisoner in the cellu, on Tuesday morning, prisoner asked mc what the prosecutor had said about it. I told him the prosecutor had accused him of stealing a ten pound note. Prisoner replied that he had not stolen it, but had found it on the floor. The prisoner (an old offender) pleaded guilty to the offence, and was sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labor.