MAGISTEEIAL.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10480, 19 October 1899, Page 3

MAGISTEEIAL.

CHRISTCHUBCH.

Wednesday, October 18.

(Before W. H. Cooper, E. Curry, and J.

Hamilton, Esqs., J.P's.)

Drunkenness.—Elizabeth Ferrans was | fined ss, or twenty-four hours' imprisonment, j . Allegku False Pbetences.— Bertie Grenvilie, ,on remand, was charged with having, by means of false pretences, obtained £4 3b 8d from. James Leckie, on September 30th. Mr Byrne appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Donnelly for, the .accused, who elected, to be dealt with sumßQiiriJy. The facts'the prosecution Mcd evidence to prove were that the accused lived in Sydenham, next door to the prosecutor. Upon representation in writing that he 'had money in the j Bank of N«w.Zealand, Out could not lift it, i until 'he received some duplicate papers, prosecutor advanced accused £4 3a Bd. Qα thw 9th October, prosecutor learned that accused had gone to Wellington. . He made inquiry and found there was nothing in the Bank, though previously some email sums bad passed through it for hem. From Wellington the accused wrote an acknowledgment of the debt, and promised to pay as socm as possible. The letter, however, came after the information had been taken out. Had it come sooner, Mr Leckie would not have instituted the proceedings, and now he had no wish to press the charge._ Mr Donnelly said tpaatr in view of the statement of the prosecution, the case might be withdrawn. Apart, however, from that, crime had not been technically proved. First, the prosecution had to prove the false statement; seconoiy, that the money was obtained on ths strength of false representation; and thirdly, that the .man intended to defraud. The whole thing appeared a debtor and creditor matter, and not one for criminal prosecution. In view of the fact that the prosecution did not wish to press the charge, and wiat ,fche man wrote an honest letter from Wellington, undertaking to pay as he earned money, the case was not one in which a conviction of dishonesty should be entered against the man. Mr Byrne said that were it in the power of the prosecution, they would withdraw tins case. The Bench, after consultation, decided to give the accused the benefit of the doubt, and discharged him. Unkbgistebed Dogs.—J. Warren, W. Chapman, and W. Hodge (Mr Beattie) were each fined 5s and costs, for having unregistered dogs in their possession. Mr Byrne appeared for the prosecution, and a fee of 10s 6d was allowed in each case.