MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXII, Issue 7386, 31 October 1884, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, Oct. 30. (Before R. Beetham, Esq., E.M.)

Illegally on Premises. — Susan Coleman, Ellen Parkerson, Joseph Gilchrist, and Jolm M'Garvey were accused of being without lawful excuse on premises belonging to J. B. Dale. Last night Sergt. Willis and two other members of the police force found the four prisoners had taken possessi- . : of an empty cottage in Colombo street. ■Thu police broke open the back door and removed the unauthorised tenants to the lock-up. The women, who are old offenders, had nothing to say in excuse; the men, who had just before come in from the country, said that Parkerson had told them she rented the house and showed them a key, and Gilchrist had rented a room from her for two days. Coleman and Parkerson were sent to gaol for two months, Gilchrist (who had in 1882 been convicted of stabbing) to seven days, and M'Garvey to 48 hours’ imprisonment. Miscellaneous. —William Powell was accused of behaving as master of a disorderly house in Queen street last September, and Lucy Powell, alias Davey, of assisting him in the management of the house. Mr Byrne appeared for the accused. Two of the neighbours and Sergeant Morice gave evidence as to the disorderly and bad character of the house. Ilia Worship concluded that the house had been a great nuisance to the neighbourhood. It was not one of the worst cases of tho kind, and defendants would be fined only £2 each.—A long argument took place between Messrs Fisher and M'Oonnel in re the information against Henry Taylor, charged with a breach of the Building by-law No. I, 1881 (clause 13). The principal point at issue was whether the Council had power to make a by-law rendering it imperative on intending builders to send notice of the locality to the City Surveyor. His Worship held that the clause was 'ultra vires, and dismissed the information. George Cliilorden was fined 5s for leaving his horse and vehicle in Gloucester street without locking the wheels. James Conner, a hoy of ten /ears, was accused on private information with stealing a lamb, value 1 u.i, the property of Thomas Doig. It appeared that the boy had found tho lamb wandering on the East belt, and had taken it home, when the 1k)/s father had made him turn it loose again. Case dismissed.—The licensee of the Golden Fleece Hotel was fined 10s for neglecting to keep his lamp burning from sunset to midnight. —The following were fined 5s each for allowing cattle to wander :—A. E. Upjohn, John Murphy, Job Horwell, and E. Liddle. —Archibald Yates, who did not appear, was convicted of using obscene language in High street and fined £1. —Eren Cook, a lad of 10, was accused of kicking a girl named Bella Gibson as she was coming out of the Salvation Army meeting at Woolstcn. The accused said he had only touched the girl accidentally, but after hearing evidence his Worship convicted him, and and fined him ss.—W. Longdin was fined Is for using threatening language to Johnson Bryan. His Worship remarked that it was one of those cases in which tho informant made much ado about nothing, U there bad been a legal offence com--CnrST™ »co»J •! ax-ei”* So™lll-

mont property by cutting the lashings of the nets fastened over railway sheep truck#. Defendant had boon employed in getting the sheep out of the trucks, and said h*s was compelled to cut the cords, as ho could not untie them. A witness said it wait almost impossible to untie the lashings, especially in damp weather, and very little time was allowed to get the sheep out o|' the trucks. It was suggested that hooks should be used instead of tying down tins nets. Ilia Worship said that clearly the defendant had no right to eut the lashings; and a nominal line of Is was imposed. Mr Hcetham told defendant to represent to the railway authorities any suggestions for improvements to avoid the hardship in the matter. OnsCKNK LANGUAGE : CHARGE AGAINST tuk I’oi.K K. —Albert Payne was charged, with using obscene and indecent Ian 4 guage within hearing of persons passing! along Sandyford street, Sydenham. Mil Stringer appeared for defendant. Constable Uird gave evidence that Ke hoard very had language used by defendant 1 while he was quarrelling with his wife on) the night of Oct. 21. A neighbour living opposite defendant’s bouse said ho heard a deal of bad language apparently coming therefrom, and a woman’s voice speaking loudly. The defendant said that he and his wife wore ‘‘ just rehearsing a low things over the supper table,” when Sergeant Willis and Constable Bird came to the house ‘* in a most awful state.” They wore both drunk, and the constable fell right into the room when the door was opened to them. He. also said that Sergeant Willis had used* bad language to him when serving} the summons. His Worship adjourned the ease to Monday next, to enable witnesses to* bo called to prove what condition the) policemen referred to wore in on the night • in question, and to give Sergeant Willis an, opportunity of attending. Constable Bird entirely denied the charges made against* him by defendant. ,