MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11692, 19 September 1903, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Messrs A. Scott and E. Skog, J.P.'s, occupied the Bench at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. DRUNKENNESS. One first offender, charged with drunkenness, was convicted and discharged. ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING. George Hunt (Mr Donnelly) was charged on remand with having, on or about August sth, at Sydenham, broken into the house of John H. Wesford, and stolen therefrom a knitting machine, from fifteen to eighteen pairs of iron boot lasts, and two oil lamps, left in a workshop at the back of the dwelling-house, and a portion of a washing-machine, valued at £5. Chief Detective Chrystal prosecuted. From the evidence, it appeared tho accused, who is a rag and bottle gatherer, took the articles from a workshop at the back a dwelling-house recently vacated by Wesford, and sold them to a marine store dealer. Accused, when arrested, denied having stolen the goods, and told Detective Fahey that he had bought them from a young man, who was a stranger to him. Mr Donnelly, for the accused, argued that the case really resolved itself into

one of simple theft. The Bench decided to reduce the charge to one of theft, Detective Chrystal offering no objection. Accused then pleaded "Guilty," and Mr Donnelly asked for probation. Evidence of the man's good character was given, and of the "fact that he has a wife and four small children.

The Bench said that, while desiring to be. lenient, they did not think the case one for probation. Accused would be sentenced to one month's hard labour. CYCLING BY-LAW.

John Lock, Alfred Barrett, William S. Pickles, John Meagher, and Patrick Considine each admitted having cycled after sundown without a lighted lamp, and were each fined 5s and costs. BAD BOYS.

Two small boys, aged 12 and 13 years respectively, were charged with having, on September 3rd, wilfully damaged a cottage, at the comer of Salisbury and Colombo streets, by removing lead from the gutter to make sinkers for fishing lines. Sub-Inspector Dwyer said lie would not press the charge, owing to the tender age of accused. The Bench severely cautioned the boys, and convicted and discharged them, ordering that the damage done be made good by the boys' parents. KEEPING THE PEACE.

Charles B. Massey, City Council Inspector (for whom Mr Joynt appeared), mudo complaint that Henry Box (Mr Donnelly) had used provoking and insultiug language towards him, and asked that Box be bound over to keep the peace. The alleged language had been used in connection with evidence given by Mr Massey in a case against Box, the latter having publicly charged Massey with being a perjurer. After a good deal of evidence, the Bench ordered Box to find one surety of £25, and to enter into his own recognisance of £25 to keep the peace for six months. Costs were allowed against Box. CARELESS DRIVING. Albert Robinson, a 1 mere lad, was fined 10s and costs for having driven a horse and vehicle over a city crossing at a pace faster than a walk. At Lyttelton yesterday, before Mr S. R. Webb, J.P., a first offender, for having

been drunk at the local railway station, was fined 10s, with the alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment. John Crook, alias John (Smith, and James Keegan, alias Fred. Owen, charged with having broken into Mrs Rennie's shop at Opawa, and stolen tobacco, etc., were remanded till Tuesday, to appear at Christehurch.