MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1763, 14 October 1879, Page 2

MAGISTRATES' COURTS.

OHRISTCHUBOH. The following is the conclusion of the business done at the Resident, Magistrate's Court yesterday. In the case of Albert Pillow, charged that being armed with an offensive weapon he assaulted Mr H. E. May, with intent to rah him, Mr May proceeded as follows: —

Before giving the coat to Detective Benjamin, I noticed a scorched mark, which must havo been done by the second shot. It was not there previously. I examined the revolver before giving it to Detective Benjamin, and found two chambers discharged and four loaded with cartridge and ball. I saw at tho hotel that tho man had on a leather belt. The man was a short man, shorter than rsyself. The musk was of some black material, with two holes cut for the eyes. It was very similar to the one produced. The man had on a pair of dark blue trousers, made of soma cotton material. They appeared to be of navy blue. I saw the prisoner that night at the Biocarton Hotel, and afterwards at tha Polioe Depot in charge of Detective Benjamin, at about eleven o'clock. Henry Harris said—

I am coachman to Mr Beath of Riccarton. On the night of Friday, the 3rd instant, I • drove Mr and Mra May from Ricoarton to Ohriatchurch. I left Mr Beath'a house at about a quarter past ten. I was driving. There was only one seat to the buggy, and Mm May Bat in the centre. About a quarter of a mile this aide of the Riccarton Hotel, a man rushed out. He collared the horse. He held up his hands, and said " Stop." and then took hold of the horse. I wob driving at a nice trot ; the horse stopped as ' the man held up his hands. The horse was a quiet one. The man presented the pistol at Mr May in the buggy. I think he held the rein "with his right hand, no I think his left. He said, " Give me your money." Mr May said, " I have no money for you." The man i said, " Give me your watch, I am now going to fire." I then jumped out of the buggy. . I stood by the wheel for a minute or two, and then went to the back of the buggy. I said, " I have 4a 6d if you liko to have that." He ■ said, "If you have no more give me that." I was going to give him tho money, and he ■ presented the pistol at me, and he pulled tho horse round. He said, " I won't fire if you give me the money." Mrs May said, "Do give it to him Harry." I said, "If he keeps down the pistol I will give it to him." Mrs May then said, " Give it to mo Harry, Burely he will not shoot a woman." I handed the money to Mrs May, and she was about to give it to him, and Mr May knocked back her hand, and sprang at him. The prisoner had sLill hold of the reins, and the pistol presented at Mr May. The prisoner fired when Mr May sprang at him. Mr May knocked him down. The man raised again, and I then came forward. Mr May was grasping him by the arm, and the man fired behind us. We then got him down again. I asked Mr May whether he was shot, and he aaid " Yes, in the neck." Mr May requested Mrs May to drive to the hotel, and she did so. In about ten minutes Mr Lewis and Mr Jameson came back in the buggy. "We still had the man down. Jameson helped to hold the man with me. Mr Lewis drove off for Detective Benjamin, and Mr May drove back to the hotel. Detective Benjamin arrived, Jameson and I keeping him down at the same place. I struck a match while Mr Lewis was away, and could see that the man had a black mask round his neck. I recognise the man in Court as the same one. When I first saw him he had the mask on his face. I saw Mr May take a revolver from him. When the second shot was fired I had hold of the prisoner. The next morning I examined my overcoat, and it was scorched with powder just below one of the button-holes. That was caused by the second shot as he put his hand behind hia back. Detective Benjamin said—Between half-pa at ten and a quarter to eleven o'clock on the night of the 3rd inst. I was called by Mr lewis, and drove out with him to within a quarter of a mile of the Riccarton Hotel, on the Riccarton road. At that spot I saw the last witness and a man named John Jameson holding the -prisoner down, and I took charge of him. I explained the charge to him. He said, " I did it because I was abort of ready money. I did it to raiae some money." I searched him and found this mask (produced) hanging by the strings round his neck. He had tliia dagger and belt (produced) round hia body under hia coat. I also found thirteen or fourteen revolver cartridges in hie pockets. He had two pair of trowsers on, an overcoat and an undercoat on, and a cap on his head. He had the hat produced in his pocket. I took him up to the hotel, accompanied by the last witness and Jameson. I saw Mr May at the hotel. I received the revolver produced from him. It is in the same state now as it was then, four of the chambers loaded with ball cartridge and two discharged. Where the prisoner was found there was a atone bridge near and a small gate leading into the North Park. It was between the gate and the Riccarton Hotel where the man was. Thia was the case for the prosecution, and the prisoner was committed for trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court. Rodbeky at the Museum. Albert Pillow was charged with the larceny from the Ohriatchurch Museum of four daggers. Dr. Foster appeared for the prisoner. William Sparks deposed—l am an assistant at the Ohriatchurch Museum. I remember closing the door of the Museum on the evening of Wednesday the 24th September. I had been through the Museum on that day. I was in the Museum next day at half-past 8 a.m. I met one of the assistants named Colclough. I went up into the Antiquity room accompanied by him, and I missed from a case containing Japanese antiquities a spear-head and a dagger. The spear-head had been cut off. The door of the case had been forced open, and the case was in general disorder. We missed nothing more on that day. On the following morning I found the shaft of an African apear behind one of the doors. We searched further, and missed the fac simile of an old European poignard. We then reported to the police. The door was looked by Colclough. I locked the back door myself, and saw the front door fastened by Colclough. I left the Museum by that door. I loft the key in the inside of the door. I have aince then Been the missing weapons at the police depot. The Japanese dagger and spear head produced are the ones that were missed. The shaft produced and the African spear head are the ones I aaw on the second day. On the Saturday I missed the second Japanese dogger. I remember seeing it the day before because I explained to constable Oullen that the missing dagger waa like it. I heard that the small dagger was auppoaed to be poisoned. I aaw the Museum closed on Friday evening. I think I was first to enter the Museum on the following day (Saturday). Everything waß secure. I saw the pipe head produced at the police depot. I had not missed it previously. It belonga to the Muaeum. All the articles belong to the General Government. I cannot give any estimate of their value. No doubt they would be worth £lO in this country. Wffl, Colclough, an assistant at the Muaeum, corroborated the evidence of the last witness. Detective Benjamin depoaed aa follows :—The prisoner was given into my charge on the night of the 3rd inst. He was wearing the belt containing tho dagger produced. The following morning I searched hia bedroom at his father's house in Lichfield street. I found theae two Japaneae daggers, the Japanese and African spear heads, produced; also the pipe. They were tied up in tho bag produced, and were lying under the prisoner's bedstead. I afterwards charged him in the lock-up with stealing from the Museum and breaking out from the Museum. He made no reply. The dagger prisoner waa wearing in the belt answered the description of one reported as lost fromthe Muaeum, which induced me to Bearoh hia bedroom. Prisoner's father waa preaent when I found them. This completed the evidence, and the prisoner, who made no defence, was committed for trial on this charge also.

Using Obscene Language.—Eichard and Mary Ann Boordman were charged on two informations with making use of obscene language in Tuam street, and the female defendant with committing a breach of the peace on the 17th September. Mr Joyce appeared for the defendants. John Tiernery gave evidence of the groBS nature of the language used, and of the violent conduct of both defendants when the police attempted to arrest them. John Evans, Samuel Osborne, and William Henry Whitter gave similar evidence. Constable Shehan said— On the day in question he twice heard the defendant making use of obscene language. On the second occasion he attempted, with the assistance of the witness Evans and another man, to arrest him. He was prevented from taking the man into custody partly by his violence, and partly by the fact that witness did not know the extent of authority he possessed to take him away from his house. The defendants having given evidence on their own behalf, the Bench considered both offences proved, but, in consequence of the expenses of the witnesses, the nominal fine of 10s each would be inflicted. The expenses amounted to £2 19s, which the defendants would have to pay.

Tuesday, Octobee 13. [Before G. L. Mellisb, Esq., B.M.]

Dbttnk and Disobdkbly.—One drunkard -was fined 10s.

Indecent Exposttbe.—John Williams was charged with indecently exposing his person in a public place. He was in a state of intoxication at the time. The offence was admitted, and a fine of 60s was inflicted. Eaiiing to Pboyide.—John Beasley was charged with failing to provide adequate means of support for his wife and two children. Mary Ann Beasley said she had had nothing from her husband for six weeks, and for the last three weeks had been an inmate of the Armagh street barracks, and receiving charitable aid. The defendant stated he had been up the country, sometimes working and sometimes idle. Lately he had &am unable to obtain work. He had slept in

the open air in the snow, and had been fortyeight hours at a time without food. Sergeant Morice aaid the defendant waa formerly a warder at the gaol, and nothing was known agaiDst his oharaoter. The Bench allowed the I oaae to atand over for a fortnight, to give the defendant a chance of making some arrangementa for hia wife'a maintenance. Using Obscbnb Language. Joseph Oolquhoun was charged with making use of obscene language in Gloucester street. The Bench fined him 20s. Matthew Hawkoe was oharged with committing a similar offence in Gloucester street. The defendant denied making use of the language imputed to him. Evidence waa taken, and the Bench, conaidering the charge proved, inflicted a fine of 10s. Illegitimate Child. —A charge waa preferred against John BorehiH for failing to provide for his illegitimate child. There was no appearance of the defendant, and the case was adjourned for the police to make inquiries aa to hia whereabouta. Labobny.—Thomas Hawken waa charged with the larceny of two pieces of timber, value Is 6d, the property of the Drainage Board. Sergeant Hughes etated that at a quartor to 12 the previoua night he met the accused in Manchester street. He waa carrying the pieces of timber produced. He stopped him, and he aaid he did not want the timber, and threw it down. He aaid he had taken it for a lark on the night watchman. Witness then arrested him and charged him with stealing the timber. The prisoner then aaid the night watchman had 'given him the timber. At tho junction of Manchester and Salisbury streets there were five pieces of timber of the same description and aize. Thomas Mortimer aaid he was ganger to the Christchurch District Drainage Board. Some work had been going on at the corner of Salisbury and Manchester streets, and a quantity of timber had been left on the ground since the completion of the work. The timber in Court resembled that which had been left on the ground, and to the best of his (witness') belief it was a portion of it. Was not aware that authority had been given to any person to remove the timber. Matthew Hawken, night watohmanfor the Ohriatchurch District Drainage Board, said he was last night in charge of some work at the Corner of Salisbury and Manchester streets until a little after eleven o'clock. Was sober when he went on duty. There were aeven pieces of timber simi'ar to that in Court on the ground. Had given the accused no authority to remove any of the timber. Had no knowledge of the accused. The two pieces of timber were worth about Is 6d. Tho accused said he did not steal the timber ; it was given to him by the last witneea to light hia fire with. The accused called George Carr, who stated that he saw the accused seated on aome timbor at the corner of street. The last witness aaid to him, " Old fellow, do 'you want any wood to light your fire with ? Take that." Witness saw accused take the timber up, and two or three minutes afterwards observed him in the hands of Sergeant Hughes. His Worship said the case must break down after hearing the evidence of the night watchman, but the accused was highly cenaurable for what he had done in taking the timber from the watchman when he knew it did not belong to him. He richly deaerved the imprisonment he had undergone. He would be discharged, but would have to be careful for the future.

Lakcens - . —Patrick Ryan waa charged with stealing a side of bacon, value £l, the property of Edwd. Hiorna. Joseph Wealey Watta, night porter of the Central Hotel, aaid about two o'clock the same morning he heard an unusual noise outside the kitchen door. He went to see what it waa, and found the aide of bacon on the floor. He went out and aaw the accused running down the right-of-way. The bacon was hanging up the same night in the larder. Witness gave the acouaed into ouatody. Conetable Carnher atated that the accused was given into his custody by the laat witness, who accused him of stealing a side of bacon. Accuaed said he would make it hot for the night watchman. Accused afterwards admitted to the lock-up-keeper at the depot that he had stolen a side of baoon. Edward Hiorns, landlord of the Central Hotel, identified the aide of bacon aa hia property. It was worth about 35a. No peraon had any authority to take the bacon away. The accused had nothing to say for himself further than to deny the charge. The Bench considered the charge proved, and sentenced the accused to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. False Pbetenob.—John Higgina was charged with obtaining an order for the payment of money, to wit a cheque for £4O, by false pretencea. Mr Wynn Williams appeared on behalf of the prosecutora, A. Moore and Co., and asked that a remand should be granted until Thursday morning, when he should be prepared to go on with the case. There was no objection on the part of the prosecutora to the accuaed being admitted to bail. The accused was remanded until Friday, the 17th instant, bail being allowed in two sureties of £SO each.