CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8476, 6 May 1893, Page 9

CHRISTCHURCH.

Friday, May 3. (Before'R. Westenra, 15. Joneg, and W. Jacques, Esqs., J.P.s.) Trespassing' With D<xr akd Gcx.—; Stephen. Laka. was charged with this offence- - Mi? Deacon appeared to prosecute. John Ferguson, a farmer at Halswell, stated that his stock Lad been much! disturbed and injured by people shooting; over liia land. George Irving deposed to being, on 26th April, in company with defendant and a man named Hayes. Defendant' had a gun,Hayes had a dbg and a gun. Hayes ehot six hares, defendant did nob shoot.' Defendant pleaded ignorance of any offence. One of Mr Ferguson's sons, who, however, was only eight or nine years old, saw the party and did not interfere. Hugh Hayes, similarly charged, had nothing further to say. Mr Westenra said that Mr Ferguson did not press for a"'feevere penalty, bat to put a stop U> an annoying practice. Defendants were fined each 10s with costs. Makxkg a Bad Start.—Agnes Slater and Theresa Dixon were charged with stealing about£22. Inspector Brohajn conducted the Srosecuiion, Mr Donnelly appeared for the efenee. Andrew Twitching,.* carpenter, stated that he arrived here from England by the Doric, reaching Lytteltoa on May 2ud. He opened an account with the Post Office Savings Bank, retaining £24, all in half sovereigns excfipfe. one sovereign, which was new, having been issued in the present rear. He met Slater about 9 p-ffiu in Manchester street, and went with her into the Railway Hotel. They had one or two drinks. They took a cab, went to the Star aud Garter, and had' two

drinks there. He then accompanied her to where she lived in Salisbury Grove, arriving at about ten o'clock. They had some beer and brandy with them, he paying for everything. He then had £22 in gold, including the sovereign mentioned ; it was io a purse and a four-annas piece loose in his left side trousers pocket; in the other pocket there was some silver. He retired to rest, placing his trousers under hia pillow. Towards morning he heard the jingle of money, and reaching out he seized Slater's hand, in which he found, five half-sovereigns. He then examined his tKxsketa, from which the purse and the four anna piece had been abstracted. Slater asked him not to have her arrested. He said he would see about that, and made his way to the Police Station, returning with two officers- They found Slater at the door with the empty purse in her hand ;*a new sovereign and the four annas piece was also fouud. The purse bore his name, and he believed the coins to be his property. On the 3rd inst. he, with Chief Detective O'Connor, found two half-sovereigns on the wall plate of an outhouse. lhe prisoner Dixon came in about midnight and asked for some tobacco, which he gave to her. In cross-examination prosecutor said that before meeting Slater he had had several drinks. Chief Detective O'Connor deposed to finding the empty purse in Slater's hand. She called Dixon, who auswered her from the outhouse. Witness fouud in Slater's pocket eighteen half sovereigns, oue sovereign, one four annas piece, and eight shillings and sixpence in silver, now produced. She said she had found the purs* and money uuder the pillow after prosecutor had gone; including the money taken by prosecutor oub of Slater's hand £13 18- 6d had been recovered. This was the case. The accused Dixon Was discharged, Slater was committed for trial. Miscellaneous.—Arthur McMahon, for attempting to get on a train in motion, was fined 10s with cosbs.-—Henry, Ball was, charged wibh illtreating a horse by driving it while it was suffering from a pimctured wound iv the near fore-leg. Mr Joyce appeared for the S.P.C.A. After hearing evidence the Bench considered that no cruelty had been shown and dismissed the case.—A case against Annie Murdock for threatening to beat Daisy Dale was dismissed.—Raphael Portelii, for jumping on a hat belonging to Charles Claxton and using abusive language, was fined ss, with costs 7s and expenses of two witnesses 10s.