MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9648, 13 February 1892, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, Feb. 12. (Before E. Westenra, E. Dobson, W. H. Hargreaves and Hamilton, Esqa.) Larceny. —Emily Rebecca Pearson was brought up for sentence oa a charge of stealing a number of small' articles, the property of IV. A. Low, of St Helens. Mr Russell appeared for the accused. The Bench asted if the Probation Officer had a report to make on the case. Sergeant-Major Mason declined to make a report on the case, as he could not make a favourable one. He pointed out that it was-within his power to do ao under the Act. He, however, had no desite to send the girl to gaol. Mr Bussell asked if the best interests of the girl and the public would be subserved by sending the girl to gaol. He hoped that the Bench would err on the side of mercy, and, aa'tbere were no previous convictions against the girl, not send her to gaol. He asked the Bench to look at a number of “ characters ” given the girl by her previous employers, and trusted that the Bench would take them into consideration in sentencing the girl. The Bench could not take them into consideration, but would admit that the girl previously bore a good character. No such case as the present had previously come before them, and they hesitated to make a precedent, and rather than act hastily in the case they would consult the Resident Magistrate on the subject. They would remand the case until next day, admitting the girl to bail as before.

Drunkenness.— Michael Sheilds, for drunkenness in Cathedral square, was fined 40s or seven days’ imprisonment, and Michael Sheehan 20s or ninety-six hours. Jane Kennedy, for drunkenness was remanded for seven days’ medical treatment. Stealing a Bottle of Whiskey.— Catherine Eyan wascharged with drunkenness, and stealing a bottle of whiskey value 6s, the property of Arthur Francis Redwood, of the Caledonian road. Redwood and Constable Plewellen proved that the woman came into the hotel on the previous evening and got sixpennyworth of beer. Soon afterwards the whiskey was missed. Both Ryan and Kennedy were found drunk, and the empty bottle and capsule were found at Kennedy’s. Accused was fined Ss for the drunkenness, and sentenced to seven days’ hard labour for the larceny. By-laws.— William Wrighton was charged with wrongfully preventing the driver of another cab from being hired. Inspector Pender said that another cab was hailed, and defendant, who was not first cab on the rank, raced the other across the square, when they collided and defendant’s horse was driven on to the pavement. That dangerous practice was becoming common. The offence was admitted, and a fine of 5s imposed.—E. Inwood was fined 10s for leaving his cart unattended on the Springfield road ; George E. Way 5a for riding his bicycle on the footpath.

Bread Cases.— Alexander Ritchie was charged with supplying Constable John M‘Gorman, Inspector of Weights and Measures, with a 21b loaf of bread other than French or fancy bread, on Feb. 4, which proved to be 2Joz short weight. Mr Kippenberger appeared for the defence. Constable John M'Gorman, Inspector of Weights and Measures: Went .to Ritchie’s bakehouse on Feb. 4 and asked for a 21b loaf and paid for it. He then said who he was, and weighed the loaf, which proved to be 2£oz short weight. To Mr Kippenberger: It was an ordinary tin loaf, and not French bread. He paid 2J-d for it. A. Ritchie, defendant: Told M'Gorman before he got the loaf that it was not a 21b loaf, and he would not sell him the loaf as such. He sold it for instead of 3d, his usual price. The bread he sold M‘Gorman was known as French roll. Minchinton, T. B. Whitfield, and R. Tuck each gave their opinion as to the kind of bread it was. The Bench found that the bread was not French, and that it was handed out as a 21b loaf. Defendant would be fined 40s and costs. Mr Kippenberger, in view of an appeal, asked the Bench to note that there was no evidence as to when the loaf was baked. Mr Western a said that the onus of the proof of that lay on the seller.—C. J. Hulme was charged with being Hoz short in a 21b loaf supplied to the Inspector. The defence was that defendant offered to make up the weight, but that the Inspector refused to allow him to do so. Case dismissed.—Charles H. Smith, a grocer, was charged with selling bread short weight. Defendant swore that he had not seen the bread, and did not know its ago, as he did not bake it himself, .but it was not new bread. Fined 40s and costs.— Cases against Frederick Williams, and Alfred Beaumont were dismissed.—Andrew Blake was fined 40s.

ASHBURTON. Friday, Feb. 12. (Before H. Friedlander, Esq.) Drunkenness. William Lambert pleaded "Guilty” to being drunk and disorderly, and resisting the police. He was sent to gaol for fourteen days. Larceny. —Herbert Cecil St John, who had several aliases, pleaded “ Guilty ” to a charge of stealing a song book, and 10s belonging to the Sunday School funds of the Baptist church. The accused, against whom there were several previous convictions, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.