MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 79, 1 September 1874, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday, Septeiireu 1.

[Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M., and Launcolot Walker, and W. D. Carruthers, Esq’s

J.P.’s.] OBTAINING MONEY BY FALSE PRETENCES,

James M‘Gill was charged on remand with obtaining money by false pretences. Henry Marks stated that he was afruiterer in High street. On the 21st of August last, prisoner came to his shop and asked to be supplied with some confectionery and fruit to the amount of 4s. He tendered the cheque produced for £2. He (witness) asked prisoner if it was his signature that was attached to it, and he said it was. Then asked him whether he was a resident at Ashburton, and he said yes. Asked him if he was a farmer at Ashburton, when he said “ No, I am a publican.” On the siionjrh of that statement he (witness) cashed the cheque Gave prisoner £1 16s change. Wouldn’t have cashed the cheque unless he thought he was a farmer or publican. By Prisoner —You replied when I spoke that you were not a farmer but that you were a publican. You did not say that you kept the livery and bait stable at the back of the public house. Sergeant Greenwood, stationed at Ashburton, said that he knew the prisoner. He has not kept a public house in that district since he (witness) has been in the district— May, 1872. He kept stables there at one time, but ceased to rent them since May, 1872. To the Bench—l mean when he ceased to rent them that he ceased to occupy them at that time. J. W. Smith, licensee of the White Horse Hotel stated that in July last he was in possession of two cheques signed by the prisoner on the Bank of New Zealand, Ashburton. The cheques were not paid, and he got a notice from the Bank that the cheques were dishonored. Informed the prisoner of this on the 29th July last. By Prisoner—l told you that I paid them into my account. I did not tell you that I wou'd hold them over until you went up to Ashburton. Re-examined by Detective Feast —I told the prisoner that he ought to be careful and give no more cheques after this. Thornhill Cooper, agent of the Bank of New Zealand at Ashburton, stated the cheque produced had been presented at the Bank. It was not paid as there were not sufficient funds. To the Bench—Nothing has been paid into the Bank by prisoner since 27th May, and about twenty cheques of his have been dishonored. Examination continued —The prisoner had no right to suppose that this cheque would be honored. By the prisoner—You have had au overdraft at the Bank. From the 17th April to the 27th of May you were overdrawn £9 13s Gd. After receiving the usual caution, the prisoner said that he would not have issued one of the cheques had he not thought that Mr Buddie would have honored them. That was the arrangement between Mr Buddie and himself. The prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court. A second charge of receiving £8 from Mrs Sarah Mitchinson was preferred against the same prisoner. The evidence was similar to that given in the previous case. ’ The prisoner had gone into Mrs Mitchiuson’s shop in High street on August 22nd, and purchased a basket for ss, saying that he was an hotel-keeper at the Ashburton, and also owned a number of horses. He tendered a cheque for £3, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, Ashburton, and received the change in cash. The cheque when presented at the bank was returned dishonored. After the evidence had boon read over, the prisoner was committed to take his trial.

A third charge of a similar nature against the prisoner was then gone into. The evidence showed that he had gone into the shop of Mr John Percy, bootmaker, High street, on the 24th August, and purchased a pair of slippers for 6s fid, tendering a cheque for £3 on the Bank of New Zealand, Ashburton, and receiving the change. The cheque was dishonored by the bank. After the evidence had been taken the prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY, William Galvin, a sailor, arrested for drunkenness, was dismissed with a caution. LYTTELTON. Monday, August 31. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.] NEGLECTING DUTY. Robert Busbank was charged with neglecting duty and using insulting language to the master on board the brig Sea Waif. After hearing evidence, in which the offence was fully proved by several witnesses, the Bench sentenced the accused to one week’s imprisonment. MUTINOUS CONDUCT. James Furlong, Christian Funk, Wm. Rourke, and George Brown were brought up charged with combining to resist the lawful authority of the master of the ship Gath* cart. The prisoners asked for a remand till Wednesday, in order that they might procure a solicitor to defend them, and the evidence of further witnesses. The Bench granted the request, and the case was adjourned till Wednesday next.