MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14611, 19 February 1908, Page 5

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday, February- 18. (Before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.) Drunkenness. —One first offender was fined os, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. Alleged False Pretences. —Llewellyn Pryce, charged with having obtained goods at Marton between December 9 and January 30 to the value of £l2 13s lid by false pretences, was remanded to appear at Marton on February 20. Remanded.—George Barnes (Mr Donnelly) was charged with having on or about February 6 stolen cloth valued at £l9 5s lid, the property of Henry Ernest G'-ott and others; also with having stolen on the same date clothing valued at £1 10s, the property of Charles Samuel Gill, of Gill Bros; with, having stolen on the same date clothing valued at £l3 7s 6d, the property of the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company ; and, further, with having stolen jewellery and mirrors valued at £52, the property of Alfred Henry Oakev. Mr Donnelly, who appeared for Barnes, asked for a remand until Friday. The request was granted, bail, being allowed, accused in £IOO and one surety of £IOO. Boys in Trouble.—Obed Fletcher and Hubert Aulsebrcok, who had previously pleaded guilty to three charges of having stolen bicycle accessories, again appeared. Fletcher was also charged with having stolen a bicycle valued at £ls, the property of Naylor Hilliary. Mr Donnelly, -for accused, pleaded guilty. Mr Bishop said that he would not send the accused .to gaol. The offences were very serious, and if they persisted in tills sort of thing they would scon find themselves on the downward track. He would give them a chance to lead an honest life, but it would be the last chance they would get.. If they ever came before him again they would be treated as ordinary criminals. He convicted and ordered the boys to come up for sentence when called upon, and they were discharged. —William Fletcher, a brother of the previous prisoner, was charged with having stolen a bicycle, valued at £l9. the property of Frederick Marshall. Mi Donnelly pleaded guilty on behalf of the lad. The Magistrate addressed accused on the same lines as the two other boys, and told him how serious the position was in which he had placed himself. He' advised Fletcher to pull himself together and lead an honest life. He convicted him, and ordered him to come up for sentence when call ed upon. Accused’s mother appeared, and was given until Saturday to pay £3, for damage done to the- bicycles stolen. Theft.-—W. Thompson (Mr Mosley) pleaded guilty to having obtained jewellery and mirrors valued at £2O. the property of Alfred Henry Oakey. knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained. Mr Mosley said that Thompson would plead guilty. He was a blacksmith, and bore a good character. During the recent fire sorncgoode had been removed from Gakov's premises to the Rink Restaurant, and Thompson had been asked to take some to his lodgings. He did so and kept them there, being subsequently arrested. Detective Bishop said that the articles had been recovered. The Magistrate said that he would treat Thompson as lie treated all first offenders. He would repeat a statement that he had made in a previous case, that such thefts were contemptible. While people were in a helpless position through a fire, a man who committed such a theft had no sense of decency. Accused would be fined £5, and given two weeks in which to find the money, in default one month’s imprisonment, with hard labour. —Clara Helm (Mr Donnelly) was similarly charged. Mr Donnelly pleaded not guilty, and the case was adjourned until Friday. Adjourned. —R. Shackle (Mr Alpers) was charged with having made bets at Motukarara. Mr Alpers said that the case was one for argument regarding the interpretation of the Gaming Act, and Mr Stringer, who was to appear on the other side, was engaged at the Supreme Court. The case was adjourned until Saturday. Maintenance.—John Joseph Ryan, who had failed to comply with an order for contributions towards the support of his illegitimate child, was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and fined £l. Closing Time.—The Inspector of Factories proceeded against William Hislop and Eustace Graham for having kept their shops open after 9p.mona Saturday. They were each fined 10s and costs. —A charge against George Davies (Mr Fraser) of having kept an employee at work half an hour after the proper time, was proved, and a fine of 10s and costs -was imposed.