MAGISTERIAL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9736, 26 May 1897, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH.

Tuesday, May 25. (Before R. Beebham, Esq., S.M.)

Drunkenness, &o. —Christina Lawson for being found drunk was fined ss, or in default twenty-four hours' .imprisonment, and for stealing two £1 notes, from the person of Martin Cahill, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour.

Ai—EGED Assault.—John George Borsfield, alias George Bowes, for whom Mr Donnelly appeared, was charged with having, on the night of May 10-llth, assaulted Alfred Brown. The evidence was that the parties were resident in a house in Bath street, where at the time named they and Brown's wife and a woman named Midgley, who rents the jhousa aud cohabits with the v accused, r were drinking 'together; Brown's wife— went into a room, locked herself in and went to bed. Brown .threatened. to break the door; when the accused interfered and a fight ensued. About half an hoar afterwards Brown was found 150 yards away from the house, lying unconscious on the footpath ; he was bleeding from the mouth, nose and ears, and badly cat about the face. He was taken to the Hospital, where he has been ever since. Brown ran away. After hearing the evidence of Brown and his wife and Midgley, Mr Beetham said no jury would convict on their evidence, and dismissed the case. Maintenance.— John Manson, for failing to contribute to the maintenance of Robert Manßon at Sunnyside, was fined _2, with costs 7s.—Charles O'Malley was ordered to pay to .Emily Rowe 5s per week towards the support of her illegitimate ohild, and to find one surety in ,£SO for obedience to the order. "- '"' ~- ' ""'• Alleged .False Pretences. — Mary Hamilton was charged with" having, on April- 14th and 22nd, obtained l goods consisting of drapery, articles ot clothing, shoes, _c, valued at £8 Is lid, £2 16s, and 14s sd. Mr Loughrey appeared for the accused, who pleaded guilty. Geo. Jameson, Manager Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury, deposed that he reported this case to the police. In connection with the charge he hod communicated with tbe Rev. Mr Wright, of Lincoln, sending him an account for,goods which accused obtained. P. L. Donald, assistant in the Association's employment, stated that the accused called at the shop on April 14th, and made a purchase of articles of drapery, &c, to the amount of £8 Is lid. The accused said she would call back for the parcel in the ajternoon, but on coming back she asked witness to send the parcel to Buggey's, confectioner/ In answer to witness she directed the goods to be charged to the Rev. A. M. Wright, of Lincoln. On April 22nd accused called again, and made a further purchase of drapery to the value of £2.16 a, taking the.parcel away with her, and again telling witness to charge the goods to Mr WrighU Witness next met accused on May 13th on the Papanui tramcar, and he followed her home. Subsequently he went to the house with Detective Maddren, to whom accused admitted having purchased the goods'in the name of Mr Wright, Mary Bradley, assistant in the employment of t>be Association, 1 sai,d she served the accused with a pair, of shoes and a pair of slippers, together valued at 14s sa. Accused told witness to enter them to Mrs A. M. -Wright, of Lincoln, Witness asked her if Mrs Wright .was a shareholder, and accused said she was. Alex. McLean Wright, Presbyterian minister at Lincoln, deposed that he knew the accused for several years. She' had no authority to use his name in order to procure goods. He never saw the goods the subject of the prosecution. He was a shareholder in the Association. Detective Maddren deposed that on May 13th he went with the witness Donald to the accused's residence. When- he told accused the charge she said she got the goods. After a little, hesitation she,gave her name correctly. She said she did not know What possessed-her to do such a thing, adding that the things were in the house not touched. This was all the evidence and, the accused having nothing-to say, she was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court at Christchurch. Bail was. allowed, two sureties in £100 eacb and the accused in £200.