MAGISTERIAL.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10536, 23 December 1899, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

_ » :— ""''■ j CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, December 22. (Before E. Smith, J. Stewart, and (_. B. Simms, Esqs., J.P.s) DatmKENNEss.—Elizabeth Ferrans was fined 10s, or forty-eight hours; Mary Herbert was fined ss, or the usual alternative. Alleged Attempted Stxicide.—Annie Bradshaw, sixteen years of age, was charged with having, on the 18tb December, attempted to commit suicide by throwing herself into the Avon. Sub-Inspector O'Brien explained that the girl was discovered in the river, near the boat-sheds, early on the morning of the 18th. He was not very clear from the facts that the girl intended to destroy her own life, and it appeared to him that at the time she was discovered she was rather glad to get out of the river. He, however, would place the facts before the Bench. The mother of the accused said her daughter suffered from her head, and in the past six months had been seized by fits. The Bench having heard the evidence, and a statement as to her prospects, the accused was dismissed. { Thb Stamp Act.—Julia Smith was charged on three informations—December 27th, 1897, and February 21st, 1898, and April 18th, 1898, with having, at Lincoln, | committed a breach, of the Stamp Act, by S'ving certain receipts not stamped. Mr yrne appeared for the defendant, who pleaded "Not Guilty." Sub-Inspector O'Brien | said the case was laid under the 153 rd Sec- '< tion of the Stamp Act, 1882. The brief facte were that the defendant let a cottage, and received the rent in sums of £2 and upwards, for which she gave receipts without duly stamping them. In defence, Mr Byrne | said that after Mrs Smith knew that stamps were necessary, she stamped the subsequent receipts. The case, he asserted, was one of contemptible spite, the informations having' been laid, after the tenant had been given notice to quit. After hearing the evidence for the prosecution, and that for the defence in mitigation of any penalty which might be imposed, the Bench inflicted a fine of 5s and costs in each case, and expressed their strong disapproval of the conduct of the person responsible for the laying of the informations. Prohibition Order.—An order of this t description was granted against Henry Pope. | (Before R. Beethain, Esq., S.M.) Crra. Casks.—F. H. Brittan v Nimmo' and Blair, claim £67 7s, for potatoes grown for. Mr Harper appeared* for the plaintiff, and Mr Harman for the defendant, whose case was opened. As Mr Harper had to attend the Supreme Court, it was found necessary to adjourn the case sine die. J. R. Cairns v F- Nance, claim £11, money paid for a horse which did not come up to guarantee as to quietness. Mr Hoban appeared for Kippenberger, for the defendant. A large number of witnesses were examined on both sides. His Worship gave judgment for the plaintiff for the amount claimed with costs. Mr Byrne asked his Worship if he would give Mr Kippenberger leave to appeal, and, his Worship replied that he would not.