MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10106, 3 August 1893, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, August 2. (Before E. Westenra and W. I. Ballinger, Esqs.) Drunkenness.— A first offender and Malcolm M’Kinley were eacli fined 5s and costs, in default; twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. A first offender who was suffering severely from the effects of drink was remanded for seven days for medical treatment. Larceny.— William Thomas was charged with stealing, on July 31, one overcoat and one silk handkerchief, value .£3, the property of John Peshy, from Burke’s Hotel. Accused pleaded “ not guilty.” Peeby deposed that he came from Coalgate on Saturday last. Ha met accused at Burke’s Hotel on Monday afternoon, and in the evening accused challenged witness to go outside and fight. Witness followed accused into the back yard, and left his overcoat in the hotel. Finding that accused was not in the yard, witness returned to the hotel and found that his coat was missing. George Quartermain deposed that accused sold him the overcoat produced for 7s 6d on Monday night. Detective Benjamin deposed that accused, when arrested at noon on Tuesday, told him that he bought the overcoat from a boy near the Scotch Stores hotel, in High street. The Bench sentenced accused to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.

LYTTELTON. Wednesday, August 2. (Before E. Beetham, Esq., E.M.)

A Pbibon Offence. —J. Pierce, a convict undergoing sentence in Lyttelton gaol, was charged with assaulting Principal Warder Eeston by striking him in the face with a shovel. The accused pleaded "Guilty.” M. M. Cleary, Chief Gaoler, said that on July 29 ha saw Warder Beaton with hie face covered with blood. Asked him the cause, and he (Eeston) replied that convict Pierce had struck him with a shovel. Warder Eeston deposed that on July 29 ha was in the orderly-room, when Pierce, who was employed as a cleaner, was engaged cleaning out the fireplace. Accused asked witness if he should empty somo ashes that were in a box outside, and witness replied "No.” Accused then used. obscene language to witness, and struck him in the face with a shovel which he bad in hia hand, drawing blood. In reply to the Bench, accused said that he was sorry for what he had done. The Gaoler gave accused a f airly good character, but said he had a hasty temper, and at times was a little quarrelsome. His Worship said that accused bad been guilty of a very serious offence. The law allowed him to impose a penalty of thirty days* confinement in irons, but taking into account hia good character as a prisoner he would be sentenced to fifteen days’ close confinement in irons, to be kept in a light cell.