MAGISTERIAL.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8583, 9 September 1893, Page 10

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCKURCH. Friday, September. 8. (Before R. Beetham, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness.—Robert Dale was fined 10s or forty-eight hours imprisonment. G. E. Bentley was charged on remand for this offence. He handed in a letter to the Bench which he asked the Magistrate to read. His Worship asked accused what he had to cay, and Bentley said he complained about the treatment he received at the gaoL The gaoler and warders treated him well, but it was the medical treatment of which he complained, asserting that proper and nourishing food was not given him. In fact a prisoner had simply to wrestle with alcoholism as best he could. He had not tasted either beef-tea or milk. Mr Beetham : In your letter you complain of being " subjected to disgraceful and inhuman treatment." On the other hand yoa say the gaoler and warders treated you welL We will do what seems best for yon, but I must i now deal magisterially with you. The I maintenance cost is 12s 6d. Bentley That's where I think the injustice, comes in —charging for what you don't get. Mr Beetham—Now, don't you grumble; you are better now than when you went in. People snatched you from the aims of death, and then you grumble. Bentley—You misunderstand mc, yonr Worship. Mr Beetham —No, I don't, and 1 don't want to argue any more with you. You will be fined 10s or forty-eight hours for drunkenness, and j ordered to pay the cost of your maintenance, in default forty-eight hours, sentences to be cumulative. Neglected Children.—Agnes, eleven years, Wm. Arthur, nine, and Edith May Grubb, seven, appeared before the Court as neglected children. Sergeant-Major Mason explained that the children had been arrested in the house ia St. Albans of an habitual drunkard. The children were committed to the Industrial School until they each attained the age of fifteen years, and to be educated in the Wesleyan religion. Hawking without Licxnsxs.— For thia offence E. W. Christiansen' and James Edmund* were each fined 10s and costs.