MAGISTERIAL.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4638, 12 June 1880, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

OHRISTOHURCH. T_u_bday, June 10. [Before J. E, Parker and J. P. Jameson,

Esqrs., J.P.'s.J Dbukk akd Disobdbblt. — Two first offenders were fined 5b eaoh, and in one case Is cab hire was added. Margaret Guerin, against whom forty previous convictions are recorded, was charged with this offenoe. After an appeal for another ohanoe, she was fined 40s, with an intimation from the Bench that her next appearance would entail a long term of imprisonment. Patrick Ryan, an old offender, was fined 40s. Civil Cases. —Beattie v Knight, claim £5 10s; judgment for plaintiff with costs. Judgment went by default in—Clark v Butler, £2 18s; Parsons V Potter, £13 lis 8d; Donaldson v Drury. £4 4s 6d; Garrick and Cpwlishaw v Mowatt, £11 9s: Trustees of Cross and Co. v Barrett, £4 lis; McKnight v Hare, £2; Knapman v Howard, £19 6s 2d; Avon Road Board V Hodge, 18s 4d. In the following contested cases judgment was for the plaintiffs, with costs:—W-lmot v Roud, wages due, £4 17s 3d; Codling v Bucking' ham, wages due, £5 8s; McMunrj, fees as bailiff, £3 5s 6d. In McDuff v Harris, claim for balance of wages dne, 12s 63, verdict for defendant, with costs. The following were postponed till June 17th: —Grieshaber v Parris, Spath v Huttel, Haydon v Smith, Hobday and 00. v Slee, Garrick and Gowlishaw v Abbot, Corriok v Fulton, Bruce v Brown, and Parret v Neilson. Fa-DAT, May 11. [Before G. L. Lee, W. Deamer, and J. P. Jameson, Esqs., J.P.'s.J Alleged Ikeahticide.—Jane Matthews, on remand from June sth, was again brought up. Mr Joyce.appeared for the prisoner. George Harris, son of the Rev. W. 0. Harris, deposed to the discovery of the baby in the river on Friday afternoon, May 28th. Detective Benjamin stated that he accompanied •the last witness to the river opposite the junction of X—more street and Park terrace on May 28th, when he pointed out to him the body of a child in the water. Witness took the body out and placed it in the morgue at the Police depot. Arrested prisoner on June 3rd, at Thomas Shannon's, bootmaker, Victoria street. Told her she was charged with infanticide, and explained the meaning of the charge to her. Accused admitted that she had been prematurely confined. 0. M. Anderson, a duly qualified medical praotitioner, deposed to having made & post-mortem examination of the body, whioh was that of a female child, on May 29th at the police morgue. From the examination he made, he could not attribute the child's death to any cause, nor could he say that it had ever lived. Saw accused on June 3rd, at the police station. Accused told witness that she did not think she was quite right in her mind. Margaret Shannon, wife of Thomas Shannon, gave evidence as to the state of the prisoner during the time she was with her as domestic servant. She taxed her with being pregnant, but prisoner denied it. From what she afterwards saw in the papers she gave information to the police. Mr Joyce addressed the Bench on behalf of the prisoner in an eloqnent speech, during which he alluded in feeling terms to the friendless state the girl was in. He urged that the prisoner Bhould have the benefit of the discrepancies in the evidence, and that a chance should be given her to retrieve her position. The prisoner was committed for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court, the question of bail being allowed to stand over.

Dbtjn_ and Dibobdbbly. — Two first offenders were fined 5s each, and Is cab hire. Wm. Thompson, a previous offender, who was convicted so recently as May 27th, waß charged with this offence. The Bench said as he had just undergone a fortnight's imprisonment, he would be discharged on promising to leave the town. Bbbach op thb Peace.—George MeCullough was charged with violently assaulting and beating his wife, Jane MoCh—tough, on J__e,9th. Mr Joyce appeared for the proseco—ion. Jane McCullough detailed the assault, and said that her husband had repeatedly beaten her. The ease was adjourned till June

25tb, the Bench expressing a hope thatit would be amicably settled in the meantime Bbbach op Lord's Day Act. — Henry Marks was indicted forth—offence on Sunday, June 6th, but failed to appear. Mr Joynt appeared for the prosecution. Constable Coles deposed to seeing Marks sell fruit to one William McGregor on that day. William McGregor, a lad, stated that he purchased three pennyworth of oranges from accused on Sunday last The shop was open, and the stock displayed for sale. Mr Joynt called attention to the previous case against the prisoner, when he was sentenced to pay a fine of ss, but in defiance of the declaration of the law he still exposes his wares for sale on Sundays. He would ask that in addition to the fine, the Bench should impose such costs as would deter him in the future. He would refer to the 34th section of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1866, where suoh course is provided. The imposition of sfine and 2s costs is not a deterrent, and as legally only one offence can be committed in one day, it suited his purpose to be fined in that manner. He would ask that he be made to pay professional costs, as that was the only way to make it so serious a matter as would make him close his shop like other people. He submitted it was not right that the Government should pay the legal fee. The defendant should be mulcted in that 'amount in addition to the fine and Court costs. In answer to the Bench Mr Joynt ;said this was the third prosecution. He gave notice, in the presence of Counsel, on the last occasion, that if it ooourred again he should move in the way he had done. The Bench ruled that Mr Joynt's application should be granted. It appeared, as ho had no solicitor to defend, he evidently thought he should get off with the 5s fine. Fined ss; Court costs, 2s; solicitor's fee, £1 Is; and costs of one witness, 2s; in all £110s. j