MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9431, 4 June 1891, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, June 3. (Before B. Beetham, Esq., R.M.) • Eailway By-laws. —Agnes M'Nab, who did not appear, was fined 10s for attempting to get into a moving train at the Christchurch railway station on May 4. —W. J. Hoddinott was fined 20a for driving his horse and, cart over the Sydenham railway crossing while a train waa approaching, and 10a for furiously driving over the crossing, on May 9. Prohibited.— On the application of her husband, the publicans of Christchurch and suburbs were prohibited from supplying drink to Mary Anne Bright mors. Selling. Small . Pish. —The Bench gave judgment in a case against E. M. Griffiths, who acted as a fish salesman for the Christchurch fishmongers, selling, the fish to them by auction on a section near the railway station. He was found practically guilty of the charge, as it waa his business, in toe Court’s opinion, to make himself acquainted with the size of the fish be .sold. He would be fined 20a and costs. Mr Martin appeared in support. of toe information, and leave was granted to Mr Russell, who appeared for the defence, to appeal. Alleged Larceny. —Charles Herbert Baker was charged with the larceny of a coat, value J 34, from Alexander Worden, at the Eoyal Hotel, on or about May 14. Accused elected to be dealt with summarily, and was defended by Mr Cresswell. Alexander Worden, a warehouseman : Lived at the Eoyal Hotel. Hung hia coat up in the passage at the hotel yesterday fortnight (May 19), and missed it when he required it next on the following Thursday. Next time he saw it was Monday, May 2a, in Detective Neill's possession. Recognised the coat (produced) by its similarity to the cape, which was not taken. Rose Annie M'Cormaek.; Kept a second-hand shop in Lower; High street. Bought tfco coat (produced), from the accused on Thursday, May 14, for. 105.,: Was sura as to identity, because into

the shop five minutes before and wehit but again before he returned to sell the coat. Detective Robert Neill: On Saturday, May 23 went into a house in Salisbury Grove. Detective O’Connor went into the back of the building. Accused made a bolt out of the back, and Detective O’Connor caught him. Asked.him what he was running away for. He said he was afraid of the “Vag,” meaning the Vagrant Act. Took the accused to M'Corinick’s shop, where he was identified by Hose Anne M'Cormick, but not by her sister, who said he was like the man. ■ It was about May 16 dr 17 .that tho loss of the coat was reported to the police. Pose Anne M'Cormiok, recalled On Tuesday, May 19, the detective got the coat. Alexander Worden, recalled : Hung the ■ coat up on Tuesday fortnight. It might have been three weeks ago.- ■ Recognised tfce coat by a pm all break in the collar, which bad been mended since it was lost. J. Thomas : Lived at' the Royal Hotel, and recognised the coat as that belonging: to Worden. Detective Neill, re-called,: Produced thereport made tb him about the loss of the coat. It was dated May 19. The loss was reported on May 18, at 10 p.m.; and stated that the coat was missed on May 14, Mr Creaswell addressed the Bench, and called the accqsed, who was sworn,.and .said bq 'rieyer saw the overcoat uptil that, day, and 'never 'pawned'oiid fct 5 ' ’ Miss 'M'jiSbrmiot said ‘ shb thought he was the mao, but her : sister4aid he'whs ii6t. He voluntarily, wont sfcci ;tbe: plaoerfor- idenfcir: ficatiqn,.and qffered: to.go in,alonq\instead-; of being put amongst,,Acrowd of men ,tp"b'e„ piqked' but.'! lie" did' this bdeautb -he Wiai' innocent. ” Accused wat givon'- the benefit of the doubt and' wasvdisthatgod. • - ; ?'. "

Alueobd'BkbacAop the Licencing act. •—John Franks was charged that, .being; the licensee of the Talbot Anus; Yaldhursj:,’ he unlawfully' supplied Hcpup-' to «j>no' Williain’- M'Lennaa wben iu- a : st«t6‘bf intoxication; on 'May 13. Mr Deacon ftp*' peared for the accused, and tm,adjourn-, ment sine die was arranged for, to ensure the attendance of one of tho principal witnesses, who could not attend, that day, owing to illness. ’ Throwing’ C'roNEs.—-Henry • Garland, Frederick Swjndqll, James Allard, Herbert Munyard and Thomas Couzens, smhli boys, were charged with haying thrown stqueq with I** 1 ** shahghhis ”to the danger of piersons and damage of property, near St John’s Church. By leave of the Bench, Inspector. Pender consenting, the charge was, with- , drawn, Mr A, F. ,N.\BlakLston,stating.that be believed the damage, a broken window,, had been inade 'good. w v V .' ' Licensing ‘Act.— William M'Letid was charged wr:h having kept his licensed house, the Forresters’ Anus, open for’the sale of Kquor on Sunday, May 10, and with having sold liquor, to wit a glass of beer each to James Ham mil and James Fefguaaon on the same day. Mr Stringer defended. The two men, Hammil and Fergusson, swore that they were in the hotel on the day mentioned. They were there three times, and were served with a small beer each time. They admitted having been the worse for liquor, and having assaulted a gentleman during the day. For the defence it was .denied that the men were iu the house at ben o’clock, as they stated, and it was / further asserted by the barman, and' an independent witness, that when they did come there they wero. refused liquor. The Bench, in dismissing the case on the contradictory nature of vhe evidence, ’said it was almost impossible to obtain a coayic-r tion under the present .Licensing Act, and the sooner it was amended the better.

TIMAEU. Wednesday, Jvjnb 3. Before C. A. Wray, .Eaq., E.M.) Civil* Case. —E, Orton v. J. Hall, claim £5 14s; judgment for plaintiff by default for amount claimed and costu £1 He.