MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3521, 29 April 1872, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday, April 27. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness. —Dominick Houchard was brought up, charged with having been drunk and disorderly, indecent exposure, and assaulting the apprehending constable. As the prisoner had frequently been before the Court, his Worship inflicted a fine of £5, or, in default of payment, a month’s imprisonment, at hard labour. Indecent Assault.— James Pratt, a lad fourteen years of age, residing on the Harewood Road, was brought up in custody, charged with having committed an indecent assault on Fanny Durey, a little girl scarcely nine years old. From the evidence given, it appeared that the little girl, accompanied by her sister, had been sent to an adjoining paddock to look after some cattle. While there the prisoner came up on horseback, and dismounting, caught hold of one of the children, and committed an assault upon her. The other girl ran home and related what had taken place. His Worship considered the evidence conclusive, and committed the prisoner for trial at the Supreme Court. He was subsequently admitted to bail. False Pretences. —John Yirgen Stevens was charged with obtaining £1 from Joseph Cook, of the Spreydon Arms, by means of false pretences. The prosecutor deposed that the prisoner represented to him that he was on the point of selling a horse to Mr Mein ; that Mr Mein had the horse on trial, and that they had agreed upon the price to within a few shillings of the sum asked for the horse. Prisoner borrowed £1 from him, saying that he would repay him as soon as the bargain was concluded. Evidence was brought forward to prove that the prisoner’s statement to the prosecutor had no foundation, and his Worship, dealing with him under the Vagrant Act, sent him to gaol for 3 months, at hard labour.