MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2406, 8 September 1868, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CHRISTCHDRCH. Monday, Suit. 7. (Before C. CBowen,Esq.,RM) DnuBKGNNEsa.-Jag. Mitchell was charged bemg In first appearance before the Bench towns dumiiaed with a caution Mi JS Craddoek, who had been remand d? imes in consequence M his inability to leare the Hospital, pleaded pit fo a annibr offence, and expressed contrition fo? Ins conduct. Being his first appea „cS hb Workup dismiss him with a S"on' «. mj.rk.ng that the penalty which hehad'paid peered to answer a charge of Sik? ess and ; disorderly conduct af £"& table Earl " aft ™- 8L 20i and costs. P eer W» S noton. and using obscene TanguZ leased house. ConsUblcwSßidhe

was wiled into the Caversham hotel at a quarter-past twelve yesterday, where prisoner ■Ms carrying on in a most disorderly manner, and was givea into his charge. ' He was intoxicated and using most improper language. The barman of the hotel gave corroborative evidence, and prisoner having nothing to say in extenuation of his conduct, his Worship inflicted a fine of 20s. Labobnt.—William John Jones alies Jonas was brought up charged with stealing a parcel containing a pair of boots and gaiters from a trap in Cathedral spare, or. Saturday afternoon. Detective Feast said about a quarter to one o'clock he saw prisoner go up to several carts in Mr Preece's sale yards, and turn up the straw to examine what was underneath. After this he went to Cathedral square and did the same with several drays standing on the open ground near Matson's buildings, Leaving them he next went and stood on the footpath near the buildings, but in a few moments returned, and lifting up the straw in a Bpring cart, took the parcel produced, and putting it under his coat walked away into Hereford street, Witness at once . followed and arrested him, when he said the parcel contained a pair of boots which he had just purchased. After taking him to the lock-up, witness went and found the owner of the cart, whose name was Donald Coutts. He had, in consequence of information received, been watching prisoner for several weeks. Donald Coutts, farmer, residing near Kaiapoi, identified the parcel produced as containing a pair of boots and leggings, which he had purchased on Saturday morning, at Cookbam House, He had placed it in his trap in Cathedral Square, until time to return home, and the value of the articles was 255. Prisoner declined to make any statement. In reply to the bench, Inspector Pender said prisoner had previously been convicted in Sydney. Prisoner said this was for some bills which he had given for goods amounting to a considerable sum of money, and that although he was taken back from New Zealand, he was liberated on a point of law, after three months' imprisonment. This was more than eight years ago, and he had occupied a good position in society. He bad kept several hotels, and had lived eighteen months in the Biccarton Hotel. He had lately been all over the country trying to find employment, but could not. He had offered his own and wife's services for 10s per week, but to no purpose. He had nothing to SBy in respect to what he had done, beyond that he had not a bit of coal or food in the house, and his family could not do without. He hoped whatever was done with him, provisioa would be made for his wife. His Worship said he could not take the latter point into consideration at all. The robbery had keen a most deliberate one, and of late there had been many committed. Prisoner would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment, at hard labour.

CITO, CASE. Wood Bbos. y. W. DoNiLD.-In this case the bailiff entered an interpleader to decide the ownenhip of a mare seized whilst in the possession of the defendant, hut since claimed by a man named Guildford as agent for another. Defendant inexamination said he had only ridden the mare twice, and that he had been requested to do so by Guildford who was breaking it in for a man named Partridge. The reason Guildford wished him to ride it was, because it wanted exercise, and he had not time to ride it hinißelf. The mare was in Guildford's stable when he took it on both occasions. Corroborative evidence was given by Guildford, and his Worship considering that there was no evidence to identify ownership of the horse with defendant, gave judgment accordingly, T. B. Bain.—Mr Bamford made an application for the watch and money found on T. B. Bain when arrested, to be handed over to the trustees in his assignment. His Worship replied that he could not at present comply with it. He was in correspondence with the Attorney General respecting the deficit in prjsoner's;accounts, and until some answer was received, he could take no steps in the matter.