MAGISTERIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2251, 20 June 1881, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, Jdnb 20. [Before J. Olliyier, R. Westenra, and J. P. Jameson, Esqs., J.P.’s] Dbunkenness. —William Wilson Briggs, for being drunk and using abusive language, was fined 10s and cab hire Is. John O’Oallaghan was fined ss. For first offences three men were fined each ss. Wipe Desbbtion. —Arthur Richard Eva was brought up charged with this offence. Mr Stringer, appearing for defendant, asked on what authority prisoner hod been arrested. The police produced a telegram from a sergeant of police in Wellington, upon which the information had been laid hero. Mr Stringer objected that the proceeding was entirely illegal, there being nothing but hearsay evidence against prisoner, and asked for him to be forthwith discharged. Sergeant Mason said they wore reliably informed that prisoner, who had been in the Telegraph Department in Wellington, had received a ■am of money as compensation, and had chared out without the knowledge of his wife, and had been found living with another woman in an hotel in Christchurch,Jand when he was arrested he had a Bank draft on him for £IOO, which, taken together, was thought proof enough that he intended to desert bis wife, and thereupon an information had been laid by Detective Neil, and a warrant issued. The Bench said they thought they could not deal with the case under the information alone. It should have come from the wife or some person other than a police officer. Thomas Neil, a detective, stated that when arrested at a hotel in town, prisoner stated to him that he had tried to live with his wife and found ho oould not. Witness found the Bank draft in tho possession of a female who was with prisoner. Tho Bench decided that there waa no power to detain prisoner, and he was then discharged. Labbieimibu. —Two young men, named Charles Woodham and George Smith, wore charged with behaving in a manner calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. Constable McGill stated that on tho night of June 10th defendants and six or eight other boys and young men had got possession of a dray containing an empty iron _ tank, and were proceeding with hideous noises to draw tho same through Woolston, When stopped at that, they procured kerosene tins and old pans and paraded the streets for two or three hours, in epite of the remonstrances of tho constable. A brother of Smith was called by him, who deposed, that standing by at the time, he did

not 860 his brother usd a kerosene tin or hear him make a noise. On cross-examination, he admitted being one of the gang who had been warned by the police to go home. Iho Magistrate said the Bench were determined to always severely punish this class of offence. Defendants were fined £1 each. Miscellaneous. —John Dollan, who was summoned for allowing to be at large a horse, which turned out to be a cow, was, an amended information, fined 10s. —Alfred Piper, for the straying of a horse, was fined 10s.—William Jordan, a cabman, charged with being off his stand with his vehicle proved that he was waiting for a fare by whom he had been engaged. The case was dismissed. R. Drew, for allowing four horses to wander, was fined 20j. Peter Pasoh, for one horse wandering, was fined 10s. Frederick Oulliford was fined 20s and costs, for using threatening language to John Moore. Henry Fa"e end David Orange wore each fined 20s, and costs divived, for assaulting J. Summerfield. Breaches op Weights and Mbasubbb Act. —Thomas Devery, butcher, Victoria street, for haling a spring balance which, in 211b5., weighed one pound short, a 41b. weight a quarter of on ounce short, a 21b. weight one drachm short, and a lib. weight one drachm short, and for having an unstamped _ spring balance, was fined 10s. George Wiseman, butcher, of Madras street, for having a spring balonce which was used for street meat selliog, and was one pound wrong in weighing 281b5., was fined 20s. Thomas Poole, baker, was aharged with not keeping fixed proper scales and weights on hia shop counter, for the purpose of weighing bread if required by nurchasers. Defendant said that the scales had only been temporarily removed for the purpose of weighing dough in bis bakehouse. The Bench said tradesmen must keep the scales fixed in the shop. He was fined 20s. John Hansmann, baker, for having four light weights, was. fined 50s. James Greig and Charles Moore, butchers, Colombo street, for having eight light weights, were fined 20s. Henry Knight, butcher, of Caledonian road, for having an unstamped spring balance and three light weights, was fined 20s. John Hopper, baker, Lincoln road, for hav : ng throe light weights, was fined 10s. The weights and balances seized were all ordered to be forfeited.