CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 3224, 31 December 1875, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

Thubsixay, Decembkb 30,

(Before G. L. Lee, Esq, and Col Packe, J.P.s) Drunk and Disorderly.—The following inebriatesweredealtwith:—William Beverly, fined 5s ; James Brown, 10s; Snsan Colling, 103, and Sarah Jarvin, 10a and cab-hire.

Dbunk and Usinc Obscene Language. —Alice O'Neill, charged with being drunk and using obecene langaage, was fined 20b or 48 hours. Sarah Hamill charged with a similar offence, and also- with committing a breach of the peace in view of a constable, was fined 20s or 48 hoars.

Horses and Cattm: at Large.—For permitting horses and cattle to wander in public thoroughfares, the following persons were fined 5s each: —Thomas Wheeler, H. Ford (two informations), John Goodman, E. Mitchell, James Smith, James Neweombe, J. Kearney, J. Gear, Robert Beattie, H. Knowles, W. C. Drene, Jae Stepheaeon. TetheßxNG Horses.—Julia Clark and William Deamer, summoned for tethering horses in public thoroughfares, were each fined 10s.

Obstructing a Thoroughfa»e.—Geo. Tibbs and Antonio Jnris, summoned for obstructing a thoroughfare with their fish carts, were each fined 103.

Absent from Horse and Vehicle.— James Maher, for this offence, was fined 10s.

Fire in Open Air.—Joseph Brown, charged with lighting a firs in his back yard, was fined 10s. Cruelty to a Hobse.—Joseph Kingston was charged with cruelty to a horse in Cashel street on the 14th instant. James Kingston deposed to defendant being drunk on that occasion and violently striking a horse he was driving on the head. Fined 20s.

Cruelty to a Calf.—Wm Rountree was charged with cruelty to a calf. Constable Creighton stated that on the 9th December, defendant had a calf in his cart coming down the Papanui road. The animal's head was hanging out of the cart, and striking violently against the side. Fined, £1. Ferocious Dog at Large.—Norman Haines was summoned for allowing a ferocious dog, his property, to be at large. In the absence of a witness the case was adjourned until Friday; Fighting in the Streets. —William Alloway and Thomas Dennis, two lads, charged with fighting in the Whately road on the 18th December, were each fined ss.

Carrying Excess of Passengers.— Thomas Wheeler, charged with carrying three passengers in his hansom cab from the railway station, was fined 10a. Driving Without a License.—George Marshall, charged with driving a 'bus on the Ferry road without having a licence, was fined 10s.

Plying off Route. — Alfred Smith, summoned for driving his 'bus off his licensed route, was fined 10s.

DBIYIHG WITHOVT Beins,—Wm. Chapman and John Thomas, charged with driving horses and carts without reins, were each fined 10s. Causing an Obstruction at the Bailway Station. —F. D. Luckie was summoned for obstructing the thorouehfare at the railway station. Mr O'Neill "appeared for the prosecution. Constable Davis gave evidence of defendant having obstructed the road at the cabstand with his private trap, and being asked to remove from there went behind the cabs, causing a second obstruction. When asked to leave there, he (defendant) would not do so, and when asked for his name he would not give it. He (witness) then took hold of his reins, and defendant called out, " Let go my reins, you scoundrel," and struck him with his whip while he was using it on his horse. When asked a second time for his name and address be would not give them, and told witness that "he might summon and be d d." Mrs Luckie afterwards gave the name and address. In cross-examination by defendant, the witness acknowledged that he was asked by defendant where he could put up his vehicle, and Mrs Luckie was-coming down the passenger steps when defendant turned his trap round. When defendant was striking his horse an omnibus was backing on to his trap. Two other witnesses gave corrobcrattive evidence. The defendant called Mr H. Sawtell, who stated that on his return from Lyttelton by the late train on the 28th inst, he saw Mr Luckie's trap near the steps. He went towards it, and afterwards heard the constable ask him to move to some other portion of the stand. Mr Luckie did so, and where he~went to did not seem to satisfy the constable. Mr Luckie seemed to be anxious to get away, and then the constable asked for his Christian name and address. Mr Luckie gave the former, and said he lived at Addington, but this was not sufficient for the constable, who wanted to know the exact spot he lived at. The constable then took hold of the reins, and Mr Luckie whipped the horse to prevent Kearney's 'bus backing on to his trap. Mr Luckie gave his Christian name, and he (witness) did not hear tLe word scoundrel used. He (defendant) did say to the constable that he knew who he was and might summon him. In answer to questions from defendant, the witness said he considered it a shame for the constable to have taken hold of the reins when he did, as with Kearney's heavy 'bus backing it placed him (defendant) and his wife in jeopardy. He (defendant) could not have driven anywhere else but in the position where he was when the constable took bold of the reins. A second witness called corroborated the evidence of the previous witness, and said he distinctly heard defendant give the constable his name when asked for it. A charge of misconduct as a police constable, preferred by Mr Luckie against constable Davis, arising out of the previous case, was then heard by the Bench before giving their decision. Mr Luckie stated that on that afternoon he drew alongside the stand in front of the steps. The constable called out that he could not remain there, and he asked where he was to go, and Davis pointed in a direction at the back of the stand. As he was going to go there, Mrs Luckie came down the steps, and he turned to allow her get into the trap, when the constable came up and asked him for his name. He gave it and his address, but this did not satisfy him, and Davis took hold of the reins, and nearly allowed a heavy 'bus to back on to his trap. If the 'bus had not been backing so close to him he would have given the particular spot where he resided, but he was anxious to prevent an accident. It was witness, and not Mrs Luckie, who had given the constable his address. In crossexamination by Mr O'Neill, the witness said that he might have told the constable to summon and be d . He could not say whether he had used the word "scoundrel," but he was very much annoyed at the time. Mrs Luckie called, said it was not her but Mr Luckie who gave the address when asked for it. She saw her husband strike the horse, and not the constable. The condnct of the latter was very disgraceful. Mr O'Neill called a witness named Hay ward, who stated that defendant was obstructing the thoroughfare, and would not go where told to by the constable. He (Mr Luckie) would not giye the whole of his address when aeked for it. Did not hear Davis nee any insulting languaee to Mr Luckie. The Bench said they did not consider the charge of misconduct against the policeman had been proved, and it would be dismissed. Mr Luckie would be fined 10s, on tbe charge of obstructing the thoroughfare. Breach of Public-house Obi>inance —W. F. Warner was smnmoned for keeping open and selling drink in hie licensed house, the Commercial Hotel, during prohibited hourp, on the 19tn December. Defendant admitted the offence of liquor being sold in the house, but explained that the night porter, when letting in a lodger, forgot to close the door, and a cabman, eeeing it open, came inside. Fined JBS. :

Drunkenness.—Joseph Kingston, a defendant in a previous case of cruelty to a horse, was fined 20b for being drank on that occasion. ;

Assault.—Robert Dnnn was charged with assaulting H. C. FraDsden on the 23rd December* Mr Thomas appeared for defendant. The charge arose oat of some " scrap" timber, which, complainant had

purchased from a contractor, who isbuildin. a hone for defendant. The aratult cou££f of only one blow, and the evidence sho»«2 that the assault hasj been provoked by co« plainant. Case diamiseed. A case of aawmu" P. Ball against Chris. Dalwood,waT?> journed for a week. " a *