MAGISTERIAL.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5680, 1 December 1883, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

m CHRISTCHURCH. Fbibat, Novbmbkb 30. [Before C. Wtoitefoord, Esq., B.M.] Dbunkknnbss. —Wm. Higgins, a man with a wooden leg, who had been up rather frequently of late, was charged with this offence. He pleaded hard for lenient treatment, as he now had a chance for a job. Ho was fined ss, or to be imprisoned for twenty-four hours. Vaobanct. —Charles Stephehsonpleaded guilty to having no lawful visible means of support. . The poUce stated that he had for a long time been loafing about public-houses, although he was a painter by trade, and perfectly able to earn his _ring. He was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment with hard labor. FonoxD Obd-BS.—Henry Ferris was charged with having obtained by means of forged orders goods valued at £7 ss, the property of B- Bale and Co. Mr Loughrev appeared for the prisoner, who already stood committed for triad on two similar charges. Henry Johnson, manager for B. Hale and Co., taupaulin makers, Ac., of Cashel street, Chriatchurch, deposed that on March 15th last he received a letter si-ned G. Wright, Cheney's Corner, ordering three horse covers, one pair of plough reins, and two dray covers; the horse covers and reins were to be forwarded at once. They were sent at once, by raU, carriage paid. On AprU 2nd another letter was received asking that an additional horse oover and the dray tarpaulins might be sent up immediately, the letter went on to say, " as the weather has broken and it wiU be eight or ten days before I can cart my grain to Kaiapoi, I -haU not be in Christchurch until after deUvery. The things were sent forward on the day tiie letter was received. Witness after this forwarded the account to the address given, but hearing no more about it, caused Inquiries to be made for G. Wright without Buccess. Witness did not know the prisoner, never having, to his knowledge, done busineßß with him before. A. P. Tutton, auctioneer for Messrs Matson, Buss, and Co., Rangiora, stated that on March 20th the prisoner had entered for sale two horse coverß and some I harness. He said he was a saddler and bought harness partly made "up and finished the goods bim^lf.

The horse covers were sold at 16s and 13s, one to George Kerrison, farmer, of Mount Grey Downs, and the other to Mr Elkin. He could not identify those produced. Thomas Gaffney, constable at R-ngiora, stated that he obtained the four horse covers produced, two on September Ist, he took from tiie backs of horses at the prisoner's farm at Swanneuoa, one he got from Mr Kerrison on October 3rd, the remaining one from Mr Elkin on SeptemI ber 12th. Wm. Elkin, former andbntcher, of Kaiapoi identified one of the horse covers in Court aa one he had purchased at auction from Messrs Matson, Buss aud Co. at Rangiora, on March 20th. James Wright, farmer, of Kaiapoi Island, said he was the son of Wm. Wright; their place was a mUe and a quarter from Chaney's Corner. They had Uved there the last fifteen years. He did not know any person Uving in the district named George or G. Wright. Charles RusseU, warder at 'Addington Gaol, stated that the letter produced was written in the gaol on September 30th. It was handed to him in the usual manner to be forwarded. W. T. 'I wining, cashier at the Bank of New Zealand, stated that he had had considerable expeiience in the comparing of handwritings. He beUeved that all the letters produced had been written by one person. James SwindeU, a watchmaker, deposed that he had been an inmate cf Addington Gaol in September last. With reference to paragraphs which appeared in the papers, the prisoner asked him would he be committing forgery if he affixed imaginary 1 names to documents. Subsequently the prisoner said to witness that he had confessed to Detective NeU hi 3 guUt in three cases of obtaining goods by means of forged orders. This was the case for the prosecution. The prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court to be held at Christchurch.

SUPERIOR

12-1 2088

AGENTS,