MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1271, 15 April 1878, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, April 8. [Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M.] Drunk and Disorderly.—Margaret Guerin was fined 20s; Henry Jones, 40s ; Mary Client, 20s; and Johanna Gallagher, 20s. A first offender was fined ss. City Bye-Laws.—Alfred Foster, summoned for driving on the wrong side of the road in Cathedral square, thereby causing a collision and throwing the occupants out of a trap, was fined 10s and witnesses' expenses. For driving beyond a walking pace at the intersection of main thoroughfares, first informations were dismissed against W. J. Mulholland and H. R. Bennett. P. Howard, for a similar offenoe, was fined 10s. A. J. Nimea, for allowing his chimney to catch on fire, was fined 10s. A case against H. B. Sorensen, for storing kerosene on his premises without a license, was remanded until the 25th instant. Horses and Cattle at Large.—For permitting horses and cattle to wander at large, the following persons were each fined 5s : -M. Craddock, John Tetley, G. L. H. Cunningham, S. K. Bennett, W. T. Berry, W. Gardiner, J. Millan, J. R. Proctor, J. Hackett, N. Sale, Samuel Ward, B. Sheppard, F. McSherry, W. Dixon, and J. Morrison. J. Corkin, on two informations, was fined. 10s. Breach op Cab Bye-Laws.—A case against Thomas Lester for refusing to give the number of his cab to the railway constable was adjourned until the 25th instant, at the request of Mr Gresson, to allow of a summons against the constable being heard at the same time. Fighting.—William Hayes and Richard Sparkes were charged with fighting at the saleyards at Lincoln. From the evidence of Mounted-Constable Carttnill, it appeared that Sparkes was the aggressor. His Worship fined him 10s, and dismissed the charge against Hayes. Abusive Language.—Nathaniel Vale, summoned for using abusive and profane language to a constable when asked for his name, was fined 10s. James Archer was charged with using abusive language towards Charles Restall, on the sth instant, at Knightstown. Mr O'Neill appeared for complainant, and Mr Thomas for defendant. According to complainant's evidence the offence did not happen on the date named, and, Mr Thomas objecting, the case was withdrawn. Obstructing a Road.—Frank Mulholland, summoned for obstructing the Ferry road, by allowing his cart to remain thereon, was fined 10s. House of 111-fame.—Henry Lewis was charged with being the master of a house of ill-fame in Salisbury street, and with also allowing thieves to frequent it. Sergeant Beck deposed to visiting the house on the 30th o' March, and gave the names of notorious characters who were present at the time. Detective Benjamin gave similar evidence, and several witnesses who reside in the neighbourhood deposed to the place being a nuisance to everyone, and was daily and nightly frequented by the worst class of characters. Fined €5. Assaults.—Margaret Fowlke was charged with assaulting Mrs Burden. Defendant did not appear, and it was stated that she would not appear without a warrant was issued. His Worship ordered the woman to be brought up. The case, Anne Geogehan against William Hawkins, was adjourned until the 25th instant. Protection Order.—Mrs Emily Jane Guise obtained a protection order against her husband, Richard Henry Guise, on the grounds of habitual drunkenness and cruelty. Wounding. John Tamouski was charged on remand with stabbing Richard Beale with a knife. Inspector Hickson told the Bench that up to last night it was understood the prosecutor would be able to attend that morning. Since the weather had changed he declined to allow him to leave the Hospital for two or three days. Remanded until Thursday next. Robbery from the Person.—Emile Huskisson, alias Charles Husmussin, alias Alfred Hutchinson, alias German Charley, and Arthur Fredk. Wilson, alias A. F. Voletti, were charged with forcibly robbing Michael Leary in Worcester street, Christchurch, on the night of 6th April. At the request of Huskisson all the witnesses were ordered out of Court. The prosecutor called, stated that he is residing in the Ferry road, Christchurch. Bettween eleven and twelve o'clock on the night of Saturday, 6th inst., he was drinking in the Palace Hotel. At the time, and while he was standing alone at the bar, both of the accused came in— Huskisson first, and placed himself alongside of witness. Wilson, when he came in, stood alongside of the other man. Huskisson asked witness what he thought of the war, and said his opinion was that Russia could double the other Powers up. Witness asked them if they were connected with the circus. They replied yes, and he theu asked them to have a drink, and when paying for the liquor took out his purse, which contained nine sovereigns and a cheque on the Bank of New Zealand for £1 10s. Witness took out a sovereign. The accused saw the purse, and from their position must have seen the money in it. Witness broke a couple of glasses by accident, and while he was paying for them they all had another lot of drinks. Huskissen then proposed that they should go to the Central Hotel, and after finishing their drinks they went out to go to this hotel. Witness was a stranger in Christchnrch, and though he had seen the Central Hotel he did not know whereabout it was situated. While walking along they went over to the merry-go-round and had a ride, witness paying for it. They remained there for about seven minutes, and came out together. Huskisson said he would show witness where the Central Hotel was, and while they were walking there Wilson used to fall back now and then, and afterwards come up to them. Huskisson then led witness down a street, which he now knows to be Manchester street. While going round the corner Wilson again fell behind, and when about two chains from the corner he again came up. Immediately that he did so Huskisson laid his arm round witness's neck, pulled hiui back on his knee, and commenced to choke him. After about half a minute witness heard him say to WiJson, " Now then, put your hand in and take it." WiJson, who was standing hear the fence, came round to the other side, put his hand into witness's right hand pocket, and took the purse, which contained the cheque and eight sovereigns, when the purse was taken out. Huskisson threw witness on to the pavement, and they both ran back in the direction they had come up. About a minute after witness was free, and when he could speak he called out for the police. Where witness was robbed was dark, and under the shade of a number of willow trees. Witness ran down the street after the men, and continued to call out " police," and told several persons and a constable what had occurred. Witness never saw the men before meeting them at the Palace Hotel. Witness next saw Huskisson at the police depot on Monday morning, and picked him out from about seventeen men. Later in the day (Monday) witness accompanied Detective Benjamin to the circus. He went insida leaving the detective outside. Witness had a look at the men, and when he came out he rehired with (he detective and pointed out Wjjsoa as ihf wwnfl im wty? m f?#flj

him. By accused Huskisson—"Witness said he' would swear that he (accused) did not pay for any of the drinks on that night. Would swear that he had money on him, and did not lose it at the Palace Hotel. It was about twelve o'clock when witness lost his money, and it was between eleven and twelve that they were drinking at the hotel. _ C. F. Todhunter called, stated that on the night in question, a little after twelve o'clock, he was crossing over Manchester street. from G-loti-cester street, when he heard a man calling out "Police." The sound came from near Dr. Prins's gate, as if coming round _ the Worcester street corner. At the time witness heard the call he saw two men walking very fast along Manchester street, towards the back of the circus tents. When witness got to the corner they had disappeared. The man who was shouting out came up and said he had been garrotted and robbed. An elderly lady and gentleman had come up, and witness made a general complaint to all. Recognised the man (prosecutor) in Court who stated he had been robbed. This was only about a minute after witness had seen the two men previously spoken of, who came in the direction the man did who was shouting out. When witness saw the men walking fast he observed that one wore a moustache, but was otherwise clean shaved. He also seemed to be wearing a black felt hat. That man was similar to the accused Huskisson. Could not recognise the accused Wilson as the short man, and he was walking outßide the other man. In reply to the accused Huskisson, witness said the two men he saw that night were half a chain from him. Would not positively swear they had come from the same direction as the man did who was shouting police. George Beattie, licensee of the Palace hotel, stated that he had an extension of his license on Saturday, 6th instant, up to 12 o'clock. Kemembered seeing the prosecutor that night in the bar. He broke some glasses, and witness asked him for payment for them. The accused Huskisson came up and said witness was charging the man too much for them. The other accused also took part in the remarks made. Supplied both the accused with a drink, but would not give Leary any. Leary took out a handful of silver to pay for the glasses, and witness observed the top of a purse, with a clasp, in his left-hand pocket, and told him of it. Did not see the men go away, bnt if they did not leave together they must have been separated only a moment or two, as witness was in the act of closing the bar at the time. Thomas Hooper, who was staying at the City Dining-rooms with the prosecutor on the 6th instant, deposed to seeing him at Beattie's Hotel after eleven o'clock that night. Asked him to come home. Accused, Huskisson, was there. As Leary would not come home, witness had a glass of beer and left. Identified the accused afterwards at the Police Depot from among fifteen or twenty men. Witness did not remember having seen the other accused before. Kate Q-rant,residing at Phillipstown, gave evidence of Beeing the prosecutor at Beattie's Hotel, between eleven and twelve on last Saturday night week. Both of the accused were in the bar and drinking with him. Huskisson asked her to have a drink and she refused. Leary was very drunk and the accused Huskisson seemed to be sticking to him all the time. Identified him afterwards at the police station, from among a lot of men by his moustache, hat, and velvet collar on his coat. Knew the accused Wilson before, but not the other man. Never knew any good of him. In reply to the accused Huskisson, the witness said she had had a drink or two that night. Observed that he (Huskisson) was drunk. Detective Benjamin deposed to arresting Huskisson on Monday night, Bth inst., in G-loucester street from a description given him by the prosecutor. When witness explained the charge, accused said he had not robbed or assaulted any man. Next morning accused was identified at the depot by the prosecutor. The witness also deposed to the arrest of the accused Wilson on Tuesday morning, and his identification by the prosecutor as the second man who had robbed him. Wilson denied the charge, and said he was in bed at ten o'clock that night and heard the cries of police while in bed. He also said that he had not seen Leary before the morning he identified him. Constable Daley gave evidence of hearing the cry of "police " about midnight on the night of 6th instant. He went in the direction, and at the Bank of New Zealand corner saw the prosecutor, who was tiia worse for drink, who complained that he had been garroted and robbed. Prosecutor gave a description of the men, which witness handed to Detective Walker on the same morning. After the evidence had been read over, the accused Huskisson said he did not remember being in the prosecutor's company that night as he had been drinking, but he was certain he had never robbed the man. He accused (Wilson) said he knew nothing about the offence and was in bed at the time. Both of the accused were committed for trial at the next criminal session.