MAGISTERIAL.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4576, 1 April 1880, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

• CHBISTCHUBCH. Tuesday, Mabch 30. [Before G. L. Melliah, Eaq., B.M.J Dbunk and Disobdbbly. — One first offender was fined ss. Lunacy.—John Thompson, who had been remanded for medical treatment, was now brought up and discharged as convalescent. Fighting in thb Stbkbt.—James Byan and Bobert Braze! were charged with committing a breach of the peace. Mr Neck appeared on behalf of Byan. Constable Briggs said he arrested the men for fighting on the Hereford street bridge last Sunday morning. From the evidence of witness it appeared that the fightißg arose out of card playing, in which one party claimed to have won the stakes, and the other took possession of the money. As Brazel appeared to be tbe aggressor, be was fined 10s, the case against Byan being dismissed. Embezxlbmbnt. — Edgar Barringer was brought up on remand charged witb embezzling the sum of £30, the property of the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Cowlishaw appeared on behalf-of the Bank, and stated that there were three other charges against the prisoner, as well as the one for which he was brought up. He would ask tor a remand. The prisoner was remanded until Monday, April sth, bail being allowed in two sureties of £250 each,. and the prisoner in one sum of £500.

Cheating a Disiubbanck —Amos Bond wan charged witb creating a disturbance in the Empire Hotel, and also with assaulting tbe landlord, Richard Bichardaon. Mr Bicbardson stated that the accused came into the oafe the previous evening, aud conducted himself in a very disorderly manner. He used very bad language, and refused to pay for his tea, and refused to go out when requested. Finally he (accused) struck the witness and gave him a black eye. A lad who acted as cashier in the cafe corroborated the evidence of ' the previous witness. Accused, in his extenuation, said the landlord tried to put him out. He had been refused another, cup of tea which be had asked for, and the treatment he had met with exasperated him. The Magistrate said an unprovoked assault had been committed, aud fined defendant 40s for the assault. A charge of drunkenness was dismissed,

Stbeet Distubbancbs.—William Henry Murray was charged with creating a disturbance in Cashel street on the 29th instant. Sergeant Morice said about ten o'clock the previous evenicg a mob of Naval Brigade men bad assembled in front of the drill-shed and tried to force their way into where the ball waa going on. The defendant was in the centre of tho crowd, rushing about and creating a disturbance. Witness, at the request of Lieutenant Appleby, took the defendant into custody. Fined 10s.

Stealing a Window Blind —Findiey Campbell was charged with stealing a window blind, value 7s, the property of J. L. Fleming. Constable Bayes informed the Bench that, at shout five o'clock in the morning, he saw tha defendant carrying the blind. Be asked bim where he had obtained it, and, as he could give no satisfactory account of how it came into his possession, he took him into custody.

J. L. Fleming identified the blind as his property, and said that it had been removed ironbis premises. Accused said in defence that he had found the blind in the street. He had made a mistake in not going up to the police, but he had not stolen it. As he had attempted to hide the blind, and told the constable who arrested him that it was his blanket, the Bench disbelieved his statement and sentenced him to seven days' imprisonment. Obimihai AsßA_xt.—William Bkedgewell alias Plymoth, remanded from the 29th inst, was charged with assaulting Elizabeth James, with intent to commit a rape. The prisoner was remanded to Ashburton, where the offence was committed. Labobht.—Amy Dowson was charged with stealing a watch, the property of E. L. Morgan. Detective M. O'Connor stated that, in company with the female searcher, he went to the house of prisoner, and told her that she waa suspected of stealing a watch from a drunken man the previous evening. They denied all knowledge of it, and witness searched the premises while the female searched the prisoner. The former handed

witness a pawn ticket, whioh she said she had found on tbe prisoner. The ticket was for a watch, and the description corresponded with the one stolen. Witness then arrested the prisoner, and subsequently got the watch from Samuel Stewart, pawnbroker, who identified

the accused as the person who had pledged it. Accused told witness she had pawne . the watch, but she did not steal it Catherine Walsh, female searcher at the Police Depot, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness as to finding the pawn ticket upon the person of the accused. Ed ward Lewis Morgan, sworn, remembered going to a house on th 6 night of the 26th. He was not sober, and could not recollect what bouse it was. Bemembered seeing the prisoner and another woman. He missed his watch au hour before be left the hou.e. He asked the prisoner for his watch, and she said that if be gave her £1 she would give it to him. He refused, and left the house without it. The watch (produced) was worth £3 lOj, and an Albert chain worth four or five shillings attached to it. Had not seen the guard since. The accused, in her defence, said the prosecutor came to her house with a woman named Wells the previous night. He wanted to etay all night, but she (accused) refused permission and told him to go away. He refused to go and she had to send for a constable to put him out. She afterwards found his watch, whioh he had left behind on the mantelpiece, and pawned it, but she did net take it from the prosecutor. Samuel Stewart, licensed pawnbroker, said the acoused pawned the watch at his shop between eleven and twelve last Saturday. She said another woman gave her the watch to put in pledge. McDe.itt being sworn corroborated accused's statement as far as that she requested him to remove the prosecutor ; but the latter had accused the prisoner of having taken his'watch, and she did not produce it. Mr Mellish thought there was very little doubt of the prisoner having stolen the watch, but as there was no previous conviction against ber he sentenced her to the comparatively light term of three weeks' imprisonment with hard labor.

Wednesday, Mabch 31. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., B.M.] Dbvsk. and Disobdebly.—A female, an old offender, was fined 60s. A man was fined 10a.

Embbzzushent.—Wan. Carter Webb, who had been arrested the previous day in Lyttolton by detective M. O'Connor, was charged witb embezzling £1 17s, the property of the New Zealand Insurance Oompany at Nelson. He was remanded to Nelson, where the al* leged offence was committed. Labcbny.—Wm. Cook was charged with stealing £10 from the person of James Smith. On the application of Sergeant Morice the accused was remanded until Friday, the 2nd instant.

Bbbaoh oi thb Peace—Wm. Hyndman was oharged with drunkenness iv Cashel street and committing a breach of the peace within view of a constable. The offences were admitted, and a fine of 20a imposed. KAIAPOI. Mabch 31. [Before G. H. Blackwell, Esq., Mayor.] Obsoenb Language. —J. Moody, for being drunk and disorderly and using obsoene language, was dismissed on tbe first charge, and on the latter fined 10s.

Vagbanoy.—James Williams, an old offender, was brought up in custody. G. P. Milsom stated that on thp previous evening accused tried to effect an entrance into his house. Constable Johnston deposed that accused bad been loafing about town Since Sunday. Accused replied that he was not aware that be had tried to enter Mr Milsom's bouse, as he was the worse for drink. Sentenced to one month's imprisonment.

Injuby to Pbopebty.—Michael Hennessey, in custody, was oharged with maliciously cutting a saddle girth. C. Moody stated, on tbe previous eveniog his horse was tied near the Kaiapoi Hotel. His attention was drawn to accused, who was then cutting the saddle girth, value 15s. G. H. Wearing, lioeusee of the hotel, stated he had refused to supply accused with a glass of ale,'and was watching him off the premises when he saw him go to Moody's horse and cut the girth. Accused, in defence, said he had done the aot accidentally with a sharp knife which he had. Fined 20s and ordered to pay damages 16s.

Assaulting A Bailiip.—A. McMillan and J. Brett, on bail, were oharged with assaulting a bailiff put in charge of McMillan's stock, in the suit of B. Evans v. A. McMillan. As this was a case which arose on March 25th, it bad again to be adjourned for the attendance of a Besident Magistrate or two Justices of the Peace, bail being accepted.

AMBEBLEY . Satubday, Mabch 27. Before J. S, Wood house and T. Douglas,

Esqs.] Publiohofsb Obdinan c b.—G. Brown and J. Stevens, oharged with creating a disturbance in the Star and Garter Hotel, Waikari, and stealing a coat, were fined, the former 40s or one month's imprisonment, the latter 60s or six weeks in gaol.