MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7227, 29 April 1884, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

—* — CHEI^TCHUECH. Saturday, April 2(5. (Before E. Beetham, Esq., E.M., and R. Westonra, Esq.) Drunkenness, &c—A. man who had recently been discharged from the Hospital was accused of drunkenness. The Bench took a lenient viow and dismissed tho ease. —Another first' offender was lined 6s.~A man named Patrick Beirn, who had boon arrested as a vagrant, was remanded for medical examination and treatment, as he appeared not to he quite in his mind. Disobeying Order qv Court.—John M'Mahon was accused of neglecting to pay 4s per week towards the support of his parents, as ordered by the Court. The case had several timos previously been adjourned in order to give the defendant an opportunity to pay off the arrears accumulated. The Bench said accused had paid 9s in eight months. As defendant had said, he was determined not to obey tho order, and ho had fulfilled his promise. Every chance had been given him, but he had not availed himself of it, and it was with tho greatest reluctance, but with a sense of the absolute necessity for such a sentence, that they had deter-

mined on inflicting the punishment of imprisonment for ft term of two months. Tho Court then ndjourne* Monday, Afbi& 28. (Before R. Bootham, Esq., R.M., and R. Westenra, ksq.,) woman, accused for tho first time of this offence, was discharged with a oaution— -G'ttoe Morrison, who had been remandod so that alio might recover from tho effects of drink, was brought before tho Court. Inspector Pender said the woman was now recovered. Tho Bench asked her how it was she had Rot drunk. Accusod said she wan not drunk, but had gone on to tho Salvntiou Army ground at Sydenham. She then lifted up her arm and in a loud, hysterical voice called out, '• You have given up the world to the devil and his angola. Givo God the glory." She repeated these and similar expressions and gesticulated arid raved. Two policemen endeavoured to remove her from the dock, but she clung to it so tenaciously that tho assistance of a third was necessary to accomplish it. The Bench said accused's conduct was perhaps caused by a mixture of drink and tho Salvation Army. She would be fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisoment.—Henry Bohren was fined 10s for drunkenness. Another Coat-stealing Case.—Thomas Cole was accused of stealing a coat, value £2 19s <>d, from the shop i'rent of Walsh andO'Connell, High street, on April 18. Accused denied the charge. An assistant at Walsh and O'Connell's identified the coat produced, which had been missed from the shop front on the evening of Friday last. Mr Lezard s.aid that on the same night accused brought the coat to his pawn-shop, and got 10s advanced on it. Detective O'Connor said ho charged prisoner with the offence when he was in tho lock-up on a similar charge. Accused: I did not pawn no such coat as he's alluding to, but I know the person that did, and he's taken me on a false charge. Sentenced to three months' hard labour. Breaches op Licensing Act.—David Grange, licensee of the Southern Hotel, was accused of keeping his hotel open for, the sale of liquor on Sunday, April 13, and also with having sold beer to one Archibald M'Farlane. Mr Stringer appeared for defendant. Sergeant Morice said that_ on Sunday, April 13, about noon, he visited the hotel in company with Constable Daly. Entered by a side door and went in to the private bar which was open. Defendant was behind the bar, and there were four men in front of it—Archibald M'Farlane, Arthur Emmett, Richard; Savage and William Jones. The latter;! two said they were lodgers. Each of the'four had a pint pewter pot in front of him;' Witness tasted from one of the pots, and it contained beer. Archibald M'Farlane ■: deposed that he lived about 150 yards from the Southern Hotel. He had beer there on the Sunday in question. Was asked in by a friend, William' Jones, a lodger. Witness did not pay for any; ; drink. Arthur Emmett was did not appear. It appeared'tihat the summons had been left at the Southern Hotel for him, and he had not seen it. Mr Stringer admitted the facts as proved by the police, but submitted that as the liquor had been supplied to a lodger there was no offence under the Act. He called William Jones, who said he had been lodging " on and off" at the hotel for two months past. Crossexamined : Came to the hotel on the Saturday night before April 13, and slept there. Had meals there on Sunday. Hia Worship held that by section 156 the licensee had the right to sell liquor on Sundays • to a lodger, and there was nothing; in the Act to forbid the lodger from giving the liquor he purchased to a friends The Act did not provide that the lodger .should drink the liquor he purchased. It was not j& matter which the Bench thought Ijftble $p much abuse. Inspector Pender said thepolice were aware that it was abused; in some cases publicans actually kept a man—a lodger—for the purpose. The Bench said they would gladly state a case for appeal; the sooner the point was settled by the Supreme Court the better. Mr Pender said he knew of a decision of the Supreme Court on the point, and the Bench reserved judgment for a week to enable the Inspector to produce the case he referred to. Edward Ravenhill, of the Caversham Hotel, was also accused of selling liquor on Sunday, April 13. Sergeant Morice gave similar evidence in this case. He had found five men—Charles Fisher, James Brownley, Archibald Hamill, John M'Connick, and Andrew Millar—in the passage of the hotel at the opening to the bar. Defendant was behind the bar. Fisher had a large glass of Colonial beer in his hand. None of the _ men were lodgers or travellers (they all lived within a mile of the hotel). The last named was now in gaol on account of his heavy drinking. Charles Fisher was called, and said he had gone with Brownley, at Mr Eavenhill's invitation, to see some greyhounds. , Mr Ravenhill gave each of them a drink, but did not charge for it. James Brownley corroborated this. John M'Cormick denied that he had any liquor at the time. Archibald Hamill said he had also gone to see the dogs. He and M'Cormick had not seen Mr Ravenhill for two years. Mr Ravenhill shouted for the two of them, but they had not time to get the drinks before the police came. Mr Loughrey submitted that there was no sale proved. The landlord had simply entertained his private friends. The Bench concurred, and dismissed the case. Alleged False Pretences and Forgery.—George Haminill,a young man, was charged with endeavouring to impose on Cecil Louisson, by means of a valueless cheque, and also with forging an endorsement to a cheque for £8 12s 6d. Mr Corr appeared for the accused, and obtained a remand till the following day. Miscellaneous. For leaving their vehicles unattended without locking the wheels, George Eastwick and James Livingstone were fined 10s each.—William Brooker was fined 10s for not being in immediate attendance on his licensed cab. Defendant said he was only about 10ft off; but it appeared the horse had run away. —W. J. Williams was fined 15a for allowing the lights on a hoarding to go out three evenings.—John Hunt and Martin Donohue were fined 5s each for driving without lights. James Boswell, for drunkenness and disorderly conduct on the North Belt was fined £2. Accused did not appear in answer to a summons.- A case in which Edward O'Eeefo was charged with cruelty to a dog, was dismissed, tho Bench concluding that there had been no cruelty proved, and that dogs going about people's places as this had done were a nuisance—Tho wife of Henry Scott obtained a protection order as against her hußband on tho ground of habitual drunkenness.—C. Drury was fined 10s for allowing a cow to wander. —A case in which Mary M'Phee applied for a protection order was adjourned for a week. Vagrancy'.— Rose Lake, a young woman, was accused of having no lawful visible means of support. Inspector Pender said tho accused had been recently discharged from tho Ref ugo. Since then she had been wandoring about, and caruo to the Police Station on Sunday" night and said she had no means of living. She had a brother who had done all ho could for her, but she was of such a strange temper that she resisted all his efforts. In answer to the Bench, accusod said she could not go back to the Refuge, as she had beon discharged from there three times already, and Mr March would not take hor into the Armagh street Dopdt. His Worship did not like to send so young a woman to gaol, but there was no other course open. Sentenced to one month's imprisonment. Larceny.—Hans Hansen, a lad, waa charged with stealing from tho dwelling of Alfred Woodroff a watch and chain, value .£lO, on April 26. Inspector Pender called Louisa Woodroff, wife of Alfred Woodroff, cook, living m Liohfleld street

oast. Prisoner came to her house on Thursday last and said ho had no money. Allowed him to stop, to mind the baby, and promised him 2a. Tho watch and chain produced had cost .£l3 13a B ix years ago. Thoy belonged to witness' husband, and wore hung up in tho bedroom on Saturday last. Saw accused in the sitting-room, next tho bedroom, once or twice, and told him to go into tho kitchen and mind the baby. Prisonor left the house about 2.15 p.m. Witness missed tho watch and chain, and suspected prisoner. Followed, but could not catch him. Eoportod tho matter to the police. Saw him in tho evening by tho White Hart Hotel, and accused him of stealing it. He said, "Do you think I'm a thief." Witness caught hold of him, and alter a few more words he pulled the watch and chain out of his pocket and gave it to witness, who then ran , off and told tho police she had got it. To prisoner: I did not lend you the watch, Tommy. I did not show you a lot of pawn tickets. You did not lend me any money. Alfred Woodroff, cook at His Lordship's Hotel, said the accused had been employed previously as scullery man with him, and when he came to witness' house, witness said he might stop there till he went back to. his former situation as was expected. Asked accused why he had taken the watch. Ho replied, "The missus has got it." This waß after accused had given up the watch. Detective O'Connor said that prisoner had given tho name of Tom Smith when arrested, and had said, " I did not steal it; she lent it to me, and she afterwards met me and took it from me. She said to me, Tom, I'd trust you with anything, you can take the watch if you like, but don't let Fred see it." His Worship explained to accused that he was not obliged to plead, if he wished to be sent for trial. Accused said he did not steal the watch, and repeated the statement he had made to the detective. Accused was then committed for trial. LYTTELTON. Monday, Apbil 28. (Before H. Allwright, Esq.) Assault. —John Nolan pleaded guilty to assaulting Mary Nolan, his wife, in the presence of Constable He'rlihy. The constable stated that at 6.30 p.m. on Saturday he saw accused beating his wife off London street, in a most brutal manner. He was drunk at the time. Remanded on ! bail, to be brought up before two Justices.

Provoking Behaviour. —W. Howard was charged with committing this offence on Norwich Quay. Constable Herlihy stated that at 10.30 p.m., on Saturday, accused was one of a knot of sailors who were quarrelling. Had to arrest him to prevent a fight. Fined 20s, or ninety-six hours' imprisonment. Obscene Language.—James Stewart pleaded guilty to using obscene language on Norwich Quay after 11 o'clock on Saturday. The offence was proved, and prisoner was fined 20s, or 96 hours. Drunkenness, &c.—John Herd, who pleaded hard for another chance, was fined ss, or the usual penalty in default of payment.—John Evans was charged with drunkenness, obscene language, and assaulting one Eobert Eead. All the offences took place on Norwich Quay on Sunday evening at about 10 o'clock. From evidence it appeared that the accused had assaulted a man called Eead. Eead had, however, given him a good pummelling. Accused was cautioned as to his future behaviour, and fined 40s, or seven days, the three cases being taken together. Creating a Disturbance. George Kogers had been arrested for drunkenness and using obscene language on Norwich Quay at 9.30 p.m. on Sunday. Sergeant Mason said that accused and the last prisoner were drunk on the Quay. They were talking in a loud tone of voice, and using most disgusting language. Accused was severely cautioned and fined 40s, or seven days' imprisonment. Nolan's Case.—Mr Eonalds here took his seat, and Nolan was dealt with. The Court being of opinion that the assault was the result of drink, accused was cautioned severely and discharged.

KAIAPOI. Mondat, April 28. (Before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M.) Creating a Disturbance. —Five young men were charged with singing and making a noise at a late hour in the evening, when going home from a dance. The Bench did not consider the offence a grave one, and. dismissed defendants with a caution. Civil Cases.—J. Patterson (Maori) v. James Horrell, claim M for rent of native reserve. Mr Nalder for defendant. It appeared in evidence that the ownership of the land was in dispute. Mr Nalder submitted that objection might be taken to the jurisdiction of the Court on the question of title, but stated his client merely wished to ascertain the rightful owaer. His Worship agreed with this, and stated that he would endeavour to settle the matter as between the Maoris themselves. Case adjourned sine die E. Feldwiclc v. E. Eichards, claim 9s 7d, and same v. W. Wright, sen., claim l(ss 4d, Judgment for plaintiff by default, TIMARTJ. Monday, April 28. (Before P. Le Cren and J. H. Sutter, Esqs.) Drunkeneess. Pour fir/t offenders were fined 5s each. Indecent Assault.—Frederic Murphy, a lad, was charged (1) with an aggravated assault, and (2) with assault with intent upon the person of a little girl near Pleasant Point on Thursday afternoon, last. Mr Hamersley appeared for accused, who denied the charge most emphatically. The child on whom the offence was committed was a school girl, aged 10, and tho offence was alleged to have been committed on the road beyond Pleasant Point. Tho Bench considered there was no evidence of assault, but held that accused had behaved in. a disgraceful manner in exposing his person, and for this offence he would be imprisoned for one month.