MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9492, 14 August 1891, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, August 13. (Before R. Bsotham, Esq., K.M., E. Westenra, and F. A. Bishop, Esqs.) Larceny. —James Duncan was cuurged with breaking into the dwelling of Elizabeth Ryder, in Kensington place. East belt, on August 4, and stealing therefrom £2. Mr Kippeuberger appeared for tho accused. Tho informant, Elizabeth. Ryder, stated that she was: living at Kensington place on the date named, and her husband was away. He . had not been home since Christmas, and Mrs Donovan lived with her. Accused was a cabman, and drove two young men who were the worse for liquor to a house next dpor to hers on August 4, but as they could not gat in they approached complainant’s house. Witness went inside the house aud locked the door, and Mrs Donovan closed the gate and went to the back of the house and joined witness and another woman named Faulkner, and they locked the backdoor. Duncan'burstthe door open and went into the house. He then went into witness’ bedroom,; and burst open a box, after which ho opened a leather, bag from which he took £2. Witness know Duncan by sight. He was hot sober, but she would not say that he was drunk. Sent for the police at once. To Mr Kippsnberger: Witness received money regularly from her husband, who was at present in Tasmania; Knew Duncan’s Christian name, and used it to him when he was inside her bedroom. Mrs Donovan had three children living with her in the same house, Agnes Donovan, wife of William Donovan, labourer : Was living with Mrs Ryder. Her husband was in Wellington. It was about three o’clock in the afternoon when the accused and the other men came to the gate.r' Ua.mea r.Duncan seized her by the she tried to fasten the gate. Witness gave corroborative evidence as to the accused being seen with the leather bag in. his hand, and the money being missed afterwards. Elizabeth Faulkner, a single girl living with Mrs Ryder while waiting for a situation, gave corroborative',, evidence, as did William Coulter, a cabinet-maker. Detective L. D. Benjamin said that the prosecutor, Mrs Ryder, laid a complaint, against the accused, on August 4, and witness afterwards went down to her house in Kingston place. The door bore the appearance of having been burst open. Saw the box that had been broken open. Ryder afterwards laid the information against the accused. Mr Kippanberger addressed the Bench, suggesting that, if tho Bench thought there was anything in the evidence to connect accused with the .missing money, the case might be dealt with summarily. The Bench intimated that they had decided to treat the charge as an indictable offence, and would commit accused for trial. Bail was fixed, accused’s self in J>so, and two other sureties of £SO each. ' . • Civil Cases. —Cross v. Barnett, .282 Is sd,' adjourned to August 20.—Reim v. Knight, J>3o 19s. Judgment summons. In' default of appearance defendant was ordered to pay .£2O Is 2d into Court forthwith, or be imprisoned for three months. LYTTELTON. TflcaiMY, August 13. (Before his Worship the Mayor, J. B. Wilson, E s o-* and Captain R. Ticehurst.) Drunkenness, &c.— Edward Cranchwas charged with having been drunk and with the larceny of a billiard ball, the property of R. W. Grantham, of the Royal Hotel. He pleaded “Guilty” and was sent to gaol for one month. SHEFFIELD. • Tuesday, August 11. (Before G. Rutherford, Esq., and Dr Meadows.) Larceny. —John Neatepleaded "Guilty” to a charge or having stolen a quantity of bacon from H. Miuchin’a farm at Westwood, and was ordered to be imprisoned for a month with hard labour. TIMARU. Thursday, August 13. (Before C. A; Wray, Esq., R.M.) . Alleged Larceny.—The hearing of the

charge of larceny against J. Reilly, which had been adjourned from tho previous day, was resumed. Mr White appeared for the accused. Evidence having been heard, the Magistrate reserved hia decision. ASHBURTON. Thursday, August 13. (Before A. Harrison and W. G. Rees, Esqs.) Vagrancy.— John Dawson and Alfonso de then, who wore remanded from Wednesday, were each sentenced to one month’s imprisonment without hard labour on tjiis charge.