MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8151, 23 April 1887, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, April 22. (Before C. Whitefoord, Ksq., R.M., and H. J Hall, Esq ) Drunkenness —John O’Brien, who admitted having been drunk in Cashel street, and had been up before the Court twice previously this year, was fined 10s and costs, on the understanding that he was to clear out of town. Alleged False Pretences.— John Graumann was charged wb h obtaining goods and i money to the value of £i from H E. May and Co. by means of a valueless cheque. | George Road, in employ of May and Co., I said accused came to their shop on Wednes- ■; day afternoon and purchased goods to the value of 6$ lid, and paid a cheque of £3 He received change out of the cheque. Witness did not know prisoner, who said he lived at the Central Hotel. The ; cheque was presented at the Bank, i and was returned marked " no ac- ! count.” Detective O’Connor said he arrested the man at the Railway Station. He said be had made a mistake, and drawn the cheque on the wrong Bank. When asked what Bank it should have been he made no reply. A clerk from the Union Bank said the man had no account at that Bank. Accused made a long statement that he bad £l3 coming to him, and asked to be allowed to meet the cheque, and that he had no intention to commit a dishonest action. The Magistrate said that if he could show that he had a reason to believe that some one was going to pay money into the Union Bank, he would hear what such a witness had to say. Accused said that a man named Simpson, at Ashburton, had sold three horses of his and that he supposed him to have paid the money into the Bank. The Magistrate repeated that he could call Simpson if he wished, and for that purpose the case would be remanded for a week. Graumann was subsequently brought before the Court again, when it was stated by the police that he had said that Simpson was not to be found at Ashburton, but was probably at Waimate. Accused admitted that he had just been discharged from Lyttelton I gaol after doing a six months’ sentence on | a similar charge. The Bench now sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Wife Desertion. —Michael Dineen was charged with deserting his wife, Lizzie Dineen, and leaving her without adequate means of support. Defendant did not answer to his name, and the Bench informed the wife that she could take out a warrant for his arrest. ’ Civil Cases. —Cross v. Yangioni, claim £4O 14s 2d. Mr M'Connell for plaintiff; Mr Joyce for defendant. The suit was brought to recover the value of iron and timber delivered at Akaroa, of which £29 19s lid was admitted. It appeared that defendant had a counter claim for cheese, £43 odd. At the request of counsel, the matter was adjourned till 2 p.m. to enable a settlement to be arrived at.—Mrs Hedworth v. Mrs Harvey, claim £8 Mr Weston for plaintiff; Mr Stringer for defendant. ■ Plaintiff sued for the half of a joint bill for £lO, raised for defraying of household expenses of the two, who were living together. When it became due it was dishonoured, and plaintiff paid the bill, and now sued for £5 and £3 legal expenses. Defendant swore that she had lent her money at various times, and paid her share of the household expenses. She supported herself by taking musical pupils. The bill was endorsed by defendant at plaintiff’s request, and simply to oblige her. The Bench failed to decide which evidence was tho more creditable, that of plaintiff or defendant, and it was of so entirely contradictory a nature that it was impossible to give a judgment, failing any outside evidence. A nonsuit would be entered, so that plaintiff could, if she desired, call other evidence on the subject. No costs would be allowed. — Judgment by default was entered in the following:—J. Thorn v. J. Bird, claim £l4 16a; Church Property Trustees v. B F. M'ljabb, claim £G 16s ; St Albans Borough Council v. C. Allison (Secretary No. 3 Building Society), claim 19s 2d; same v. same, claim £2 8s sd; Brache and Co. v. Chas. W. Crowe, claim £2l 10s 7d; Frank Egan v. John Hood, claim £3o' 4s; Thos. M’Carten v. James M'Kinsley, claim £716» 6d; P. Innes and Co. v. Chae. Crowe, claim £ll ss; J. Ballantyne and Co. v. A. Ford,, claim, £5 7s 8d; R. W. Walters and

Jo. v. Geo. Pafceman, claim, £3 17a 6d.— Charles Pardie v. Montague Mosley, for possession of a tenement. Ordered to be delivered up by April 25, or judgment by default.