MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3894, 15 January 1878, Page 3

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHUECH.

Monday, Jauttaby 14. [Before A. Lean and P. Hobbs, Esqrs., J.P'e.] Vagbakcy. —Charles Dccc was charged with vagrancy and soliciting alms. Evidence was given to show that accused had visited the Premises of several citizens begging for relief, t wae also deposed that he tried, the doors and windows of other houses' in the absence of the occupiers. Prisoner promised to leave the place if he wae let off this time. He had done nothing wrong, and meant no harm. There had been six previous charges against him, but under all the circumstances, the Bench decided to give him another chance, and dismissed him. Disorderly—Albert Chadband was charged with l>eing drunk and disorderly on Saturday. Six previous convictions had been recorded against him. He pleaded guilty, and was fined 40s. Dbitnkenness.—Two first offenders were fined ss. Another, who had fallen off the Sumner coach, was similarly punished. Breach of Batlway By-Laws.—David Thomas pleaded guilty to having entered a railway carriage when the train was in motion. Bason, guard of the Ashburton train, proved the offence. Defendant stated that he was a new comer, and was not aware of any by-law forbidding what he had done. At the speed at which New Zealand traine travelled he could see no danger in getting on to the train when in motion. He had been in the habit of doing so in Australia, where he had been & contractor for 200 miles of railway. —The Bench deferred their decision till they had heard the next case, and then inflicted a fine of 10a.—William James was similarly charged. The case had been heard by Mr Mellish on a previous day, and adjourned. — The Bench decided to further adjourn the case for a week. Bekach of Police Ordinance.—Mary Hellerly was charged by Ellen Miller with using abusive and insulting, language, calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. Thie was a neighbour's quarrel about a chick, the property in which was a matter of dispute. Both parties made their statements, after which the Bench dismissed the case. Destitute Persons Sbixbf Ordinance. —James Mazey -vras charged with neglecting to support hie mother, Martha Mazey, who ie unable to support herself, f- The mother deposed that she was fifty-nine years of age, and could do nothing but a little needlework. Defendant said he was not the only or the eldest son. Hβ had been paying 10s a week till lately, other sons gave nothing. The mother said that her eldest son had eight children to support. She had five sons, but three of them did not live in Christchurch. Defendant said he had a wife and three children, and did all he could for bis mother. Mrs Mazey said she could manage with 7s a week. The case wae adjourned for a week, for the appearance of the eldest brother. - Municipal Corporations Act. —James Bower was charged with removing a quantity of earth from a street without permission. John O'Malley proved the charge, and the defendant, who did not appear, in consequence of his being at Dunedin, was fined 40s.—[Mr Lean here left the Bench, and his place was taken by Mr Anderson.] Assault.—George Lipsham wae charged with violently assaulting Mary Smith on the 31st ult. Mr Harper appeared for defendant. —Mary Smith said she was picking up some sticks, at Lincoln, when defendant knocked her down, and she believed would have killed her, had she not been rescued. Edward Taylor corroborated this evidence. He could not say on whose land prosecutrix was picking up the sticks. Witness rescued her.—Mark Erley, a little boy, gave similar evidence. Defendant put his foot upon proeecutrii'e chest, after he had knocked her down. Defendant was sworn, and deposed that he had sold the land, and been asked to take care of it for the purchaser. He had seen Mrs Smith cutting gone and asked her to desist. She refused and assaulted him; in defending himself he laid her gently on her back. He had not put his foot upon her

chest. He might have struck her in selfdefence.—Mrs Blair m called to give evidence for the defendant. She had not seen the assault, bat she heard Mrs Smith refuse to leave the ground when ordered.—The Bey. Mr Stocker was called, and deposed to the quiet nature of defendant.—The Bench, in consideration of the amount of costs incurred, fined defendant 20*. Bbkaxius a»i> Estkbhtg. — George Stevens, on remand, was charged with breaking and entering the premises of Samuel Stewart, and stealing thence certain articles on the 7th instant.—Samuel Btewart, pawnbroker, deposed to having a branch eaetblishment in Madras street, of which a Mr Waite was in charge till the 30th ultimo. He (witness) had on that night locked up the premises. He produced a list ef articles which had disappeared between that date and the morning of the 4th instant. On the Saturday witness with Mr Waite examined the premises and found that a back window, which had been left nailed op, had been broken open. The value of the missing articles was about £80. The witness here identified several articles which were produced Edward Waite identified a number of articles produced.— Henry Alexander identified a number of articles.— John Heaven, bricklayer, reeiding next door to Mr Stewart's premises in Madras street, knew prisoner from his lodging in the same house with him. Prisoner had exchanged watches with witness. That was the full extent of their dealings. Witness had just come from Calcutta, and was sometimes known as the "Calcutta Man."—To prisoner: Witness said he did not sell him a watch.—Detective Walker deposed to having gone to Ashburton in search of prisoner, on the sth inst, from information received. Witness saw him there in the scullery of the Boy al Hotel. He wa»|showing a Brummagem brooch and ear-ringe to a man, and was wearing the chain produced. Witness took hold of the chain and said it was a nice one.—Prisoner said " Yes, that's what you are looking for, Walker. —Witness took prisoner into a room where Sergeant Felton was sitting and told him he must be searched.—Prisoner replied " I'll turn it all out," and took f romjhis pocket ten silver watches, three ladies' guards, one Albert a pair of ear-rings, &c. After placing on the table prisoner separated two verge watches and a ladies' guard, with two other guards from the rest, and said these were his own. Witness then charged hi™ with the robbery from Stewart's shop.—Prisoner said he had bought the articles produced at a boarding-house, from the last witness, for £8. Prisoner Had £6 4e 2d in money.—lnspector Hickson, at this stage, obtained a remand for eight days. [After the adjournment, Dr. Back took his seat on the bench with Mr Hobbs.] Labcent. —Bobert William Jones was charged with stealing from the boardinghouse of Mrs Elizabeth Shiels, Oxford Terrace, £16, the property of James Stevens.— He pleaded guUty.—The Inspector said that the amount of money being over £10, the case must go on.—James Stevens deposed to the prisoner lodging in the same house with him. Witness arrived here on Boxing Day. Next day he drew from the bank £62 10s. From the Union Bank he got three £10 notes, the remainder being £5 and £1 notes. He met prisoner about a week after arriving. Witness went to bed about 5 o'clock on the evening of the 9th instant. As well as he could recollect, his money was in his trousers pocket. He opened the purse and saw the money in it. There was £16 10s. Three £5 notes, a £1, and a half-sovereign. No one slept in the same room. At daybreak the next morning he awoke, and prisoner was in the room. In reply to a question from witness, prisoner said, " I am feeling how your head is." Prisoner had his hand under witness's head then. Witness told him to go away, as he wanted to sleep. Prisoner went away, and witness went to sleep in a few minutes. Between 5 and 6 o'clock witness awoke, and found that the purse and the money were gone from under the pillow. Witness called Mrs Shiels, and a few hours later accompanied her to the police-Btation. On the way thither. they met the prisoner, who said, " I hope you don't accuse mc of having taken your money." Witness had not tpoken to prisoner about his loss. Witnese made no reply, and then prisoner offered a pound to Mrs Shiels. Prisoner knew witness had money, but not the amount. Witness had paid for drinks on several occasions, and treated prisoner to the theatre once. — Mrs Shiels, formerly keeper of a boardinghouse in Oxford Terrace, gave similar evidence. In answer to prisoner, witness denied that she had told prisoner of Stevene's loss, but ehe had heard some one tell him. Walsh slept that night in the room of Mr Stevens. Prisoner had paid for another boarder in the beginning of January. He was drunk when he met her and prosecutor.— Henry Allan, licensee of the Golden Age Hotel, deposed to prisoner's calling, between 7 and 8 on last Thursday morning, with three others, and treating them. Prisoner paid with a£s note of the Union Bank. While prisoner was_ at the counter, Detective Walker called him into a parlor and searched him in witness's presence. Prisoner had eight single notes, a £3 notes, and some silver, about 7s 6d. He did not conceal the notes.— Richard Duhrkoop, assistant barman at the Clarendon, deposed to prisoner having called about 7 o'clock in the morning, on Thursday. He had some one with him, and had two drinks, for which he paid Iβ. He then called for seme more, and tendered a £5 note on the Union Bank. It was a new note.—Allan J. Ninar, successor to Mrs Shiele, deposed that prisoner had borrowed 2s 6d from him on the Bth met. Prisoner had been under the influence of liquor, more or less, ever since he knew him. —Detective Walker deposed to having been informed of the robbery about a quarter to eight in the morning. Witness went for prisoner, whom he found at the Golden Age. Witness detailed the result of his searching the prisoner, and his arrest. Prisoner said he could prove that prosecutor had no money. On the way to the station prisoner said, "Is this going to be a Supreme Conrt case, because rather than go to the Supreme Court I will plead guilty.—When Constable Briggs was taking the charge in the lock-up, prisoner said, "Have it off to-day, Walker, and I'll plead guilty." Prisoner was under the influence of arink then, but knew pretty well what he was about.—Constable Briggs corroborated the previoue witness as to the conduct of prisoner at the lockup. Prisoner subsequently gave witness £1, which he said he had "planted." It was a Union Bank note. This was the case. The evidence was then read over, and the prisoner was cautioned and asked what he had to say. He declined to say anything, and was committed for trial at the next criminal sessions.