MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 71, 24 March 1884, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

This Dat. (Before Messrs. Hutohison, Wallace, and J. S. M. Thompson.) WANTID AN OWHIR. Benjamin Chenery was charged with the larceny of several knives, forks, and spoons, ,the property of some person unknown. He pleaded Not Gnilty, saying that he had p»id » man 2s for them. Constable Boaoh deposed that on searching the acoused at the Police Station on Saturday night, after ho had boon arrested for drunkenness, several knives, forks, and spoons, were found in his possession. Butter waa on the knives, and it appeared as if they had been recently used. Sergt. Anderson also gave evidence. An application for ft remand until Wednesday, to enable the police to find the owner of the artioles, was granted. DRUNKINNKBS. James O'Connell denied a oharge of having been drunk at Johnsonville this morning. Constable Hiokey stated that at 1 o'olook this morning he was oalled in to ejeot the man, from tho house of » woman at Johnsonville. The accused was drunk and refused to leave the premises. Witness ejeoted him and the man becoming violent ho handcuffed him. Constable Harnett gave corroborative evtdenoe, the defendant was muloted in a penalty of 20s and costs. For having been drunk and disorderly in Wellington, Benjamin Chenery and Robert Hilton were each fined 20s, in default of payment to undergo three days imprisonment. Richard Dunholra. John Donscombe, Joseph Williams, John Williams, Thomas Browne, Wilham Palmer, Thomas Brookes, and Charles Hansen, were eaoh fined ss. OBBCXNI liAHaUAOS. James O'Connell was oharged with having made use of obscene language at JohnsonvOle this morning. He pleaded Not Guilty. Constables Hicker and Harnett proved that wter thp accused had been ejeoted from the house of a washerwoman at 1 a.m., he made

nge of bad language in a loud tono of voice Both witnesses paid thut tho inmates of the dwelling were of good character. The Bench fined the defendaut 20s. A BKFAACTOBT SEAMAN. John Danscombe, a coloured man, with a quaint sense of humour, was placed in the dock, chargod (1) with having absented himself without leave from the Sophia R. Luhrs, and (2) with having disobeyed the lawful commands of the master of that vessel. Ha admitted tho first oharge, and pleaded Not Guilty to the second. Captain Hudson deposed that the accused hod been shipped at Newcastle two months ago, coming to him with a good recommendation as cook and steward. During tho time ho had beep on the artioles, he hod been four times times before the Court— twice in Newcastle and twice in Wellington— and was proving suoh a souroe of annoyance to him that he intended discharging him. He was frequently getting drunk. He refused to work yesterday, and the men oa board hod been obliged to go and got their meals at tho hotel*. The Bench ordered the defendant to undergo 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour, or to be placed on board tho vessel when she sails. CIVIL CASES. Judgment for plaintiff.— Colonial Land Settlement and Endowment Company v. P. A. Martin, £12 10s. Judgment summons. — Georgeson & Co. v. Wills, £7. Mr. J. H. Shaw, for the plaintiffs, consented to accept £1 wookly, and an order to that effeot was made. (Before Mr. H. S. Wudell, 8.M.) F. Martin v. F. KUch. — This was an action brought to recover £50, £10 paid as deposit In connection with the proposed sale of the defendant's goodwill and shop fittings, and ' damages alleged to, have been sustained by the plaintiff, a pork butcher, through the defendant's breach of aarreement not to carry on business in hi* neighbourhood. Mr. Fitzherbert applied for on adjournment, whioh was granted, He. FitzCvta.ld appeared foe the plaintiff.