MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 116, 14 October 1874, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, Oct 14, (Before C. O. Bowen, Esq., R. M.) EMBEZZLEMENT. Thomas Rowley, who had been charged the previous week with embezzling some small sums of money from A. J. Hulme, baker, appeared to answer to his bail. Mr Joynt appeared for the prisoner. A second charge of embezzling 3s 5d on the 14th September, was preferred against the prisoner. After evidence had been given, his Worship said he would dismiss the case, though the prisoner had certainly been careless. Mr Joynt desired to say that the conduct of Mr Hulme in this matter had certainly been very questionable, as he had endeavored to crush the defendant at the outset, knowing he was starting in business for himself. The understanding between them was that

the accounts between them were to be settled up on the Monday, and before that day Hulme had the defendant arrested. His Worship said it was to be regretted that this action of the prosecutor had been taken after the quarrel with defendant. LARCENY AS A BAILIE. Wm Rich was charged with the larceny of a horse, saddle, and bridle, the property of John Hills, Akaroa. Detective Benjamin deposed to the arrest of the prisoner at Chapman’s Hotel, Hillsborough. When arrested the (prisoner) said he thought he had sold a horse. He (witness) subsequently took possession of a grey mare then outside the Court, and saddle and bridle, at Little’s Hotel, Tai Tapu. John Hills, who lives on the Akaroa road, said he let the prisoner have a grey mare, saddle and bridle on the 3rd October to go down to Little river. When leaving he (prisoner) said he wouldn’t be longer than two or three hours. The prisoner did not return. He (witness) next saw the mare at Judge’s Hotel. The mare and bridle were his property, and the saddle belonged to Mr Burton. Prisoner had no authority to sell the mare. The value of the mare and saddle and bridle would be about £22. The mare was then outside the Court.

John Judge stated that the prisoner came to his house at Tai Tapu on the sth. He was riding a grey mare, and said he came from Christchurch. He offered the mare to him for sale, and he (witness) bought her. He paid the prisoner £7, and got the receipt produced from him. The receipt is witnessed bp Robert Little, landlord of the Ellesmere Arms Hotel. The mare is at present outside the Court, and he understood she had been taken possession of by the police. The prisoner left shortly after the sale. Prisoner said he hired the mare to look for work, and as he had some clothes on the road he went down to get them. He came on to Christchurch, and intended to pay for the time he had the mare. The butcher called him into the hotel at Tai Tapu, and gave him a di-ink. He had been a little the worse for drink before, but on taking this one he remembered nothing more until he found himself in a flax bush. Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next session of the Supreme Court. LARCENY. Eliza Padget was charged with the larceny of a pocket-book containing four cheques. _ John Williams stated that he was in Christchurch in July last, staying at the Warwick Hotel. On the night of the 2nd July, while staying there, he had four cheques and one £lO-note in his possession. The cheques were all on the Union Bank of Australia. He was intoxicated that night, and next morning missed his pocket-book and cheques. When he awoke next morning he found himself in the stall of the stable at the hotel. The cheque (produced) and pocket-book were those he lost that night. Had not seen the cheque before since he had lost them. Had authorised no one to cash them. He reported the matter to the police at the time.

Thos F. Baldwin, ledger-keeper at the Union Bank of Australia, remembered the cheque marked A being presented on the 12th September by the accused. It was initialed aand returned to her. The cheque was not cashed, as payment had been stopped. Detective Feast said that when the loss of the cheques was reported, he left particulars at the bank. On Satnrday, 12th Sept., he went to the bank, and saw the accused in the act of handing the cheque marked A to the teller. He (witness) seized the cheque, and took the accused outside the bank, and asked her how she got possession of the cheque. She said she had got it from a man named Smith in Timaru to take some money out of that he owed her, and that her name was Smith. He told her the cheque was stolen, and that she would have to come to the office with him. On the way down she said she had told him a lie, that her name was not Smith, and that her son had picked the cheque up with three others in Cobb and Co’s yard, and that he had written the name of John Murray on the back of one of them, and that he would find the other three cheques in a pocket-book in a box in her house. When he went to the house he found the cheques in the place mentioned by the prisoner, and he then let her go to her husband until that morning. From enquiries he had made he learnt that the cheques were found as stated by the accused. The accused said her son had found the cheques, and she took them to the bank by direction of her husband to see if they were good, as he intended to advertise them. She first told the detective a lie, but immediately afterwards told him the truth.

His Worship said that it was a very dishonest thing for the accused to do, but under the circumstances he would dismiss the case, and he hoped it would be a warning to her. Case dismissed. TRANSFER OF LICENSES.

The application for the transfer of the license of the Garrick Hotel, from C. G. Dann to Edward Maples, was granted until the next quarterly sitting of the Licensing Court. LYTTELTON. Tuesday, October 13. [Before W. Donald. Esq., R.M., and H. R. Webb, Esq. J.P.J DRUNKENNESS ON RAILWAY PLATFORM. James Flynn, arrested by Constable Maguire, charged withtheaboTe offence, was fined 20s. CREATING A DISTURBANCE IN A PUBLIC PLACE. Hornby and William Sinclair were charged upon the information of Constable Wallace with this offence. Mr Nalder appeared for Sinclair. The evidence of Sergeant-Major O’Qrady, Constable Wallace, and Mr Peter Cameron was taken, and the Bench said as there was some little doubt in the case it would be dismissed, BREACH OP STAMP ACT, Robert Belgrave was charged upon the information of John Hilton with issuing a receipt for the sum of £5 without first affixing a stamp. The complainant stated that he received the receipt referred to from Mr Belgrave without a stamp. Mr Nalder called the defendant, who stated that the receipt was properly stamped when given to defendant. Robert Cole and J. C. Allan were also examined for the defence, and the Bench decided to dismiss the information. APPLICATION FOE TRANSFER OF LICENSE. The application to transfer the license of the Lyttelton Hotel from Mr Belgrave to Mr Cole was allowed to stand over for a few days at the request of Mr Nalder,