MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15524, 26 January 1911, Page 5

MAGISTERIAL.

CHPJSTCHURCH. Wednesday, January 25. (Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) Drunkenness.—One first offender for drunkenness was fined 5s and costs, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment. By-law Breaches.—For cycling on a footpath, Richard Smith was fined 7s without costs, and Albert Massou, Frank Bellman and Arnold Beanland were each, fined 7s and costs.—Sydney Canavan, who was riding on the step of the last-named defendant's machine, was also charged with riding on the footpath. The case against him was dismissed.—Henry Frith, who cycled at night without a light, was fined 10s and costs.—A fine of os and costs was imposed in the case of William Henry, charged with allowing cattle to wander. —James Byre, a hawker, appeared on. a charge or not having the words " licensed hawker " painted on his cart. He pleaded, ignorance of the by-law, and was convicted and discharged.— James Anderson, for having driven too fast over a crossing, was convicted and ordered to pay costs; and William Unwin, who had driven a taxi-cab over a city intersection at other than a walking pacOj was fined 10s and costs. Alleoed Theft.—Francis William Garner, alias Nation (Mr E. T. Harper), was charged with the theft of tools, valued at £ls. Mr Harper submitted that the charge was ineffective, as it was incumbent on the police to set forth from whom the goods had been stolen, and this had not been done in the present case. Accused was remanded until Friday to enable the police to inquire into the point. Alleged Obscene Language.—Charles Denhani (Mr Donnelly) pleaded not guilty to a charge of using obscene lantuage in Milton Street. After evience had been heard, the Magistrate fined defendant £3 and costs. Committed for Trial.—John Lee, alias Williams, alias Hobbs, alias Nettleford, was charged with theft from the person of Christina Johnston. Complainant gave evidence that while returning home from the railway station after 11 p.m., having come from Lyttelton by train, and after turning from Colombo Street into Peterborough Street, she was accosted by two men just as she was nearing her home. One of them was accused. The other man snatched her peggy-bag, containing a purse in which was a small sum of money. She went inside the house, and after waiting a little while, went out and reported the matter to the constable cm the heat. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial. LYTTELTON. Wednesday, January 25. (Before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.) Breach of a Prohibttion Order.— William Samuel Mutton (Mr Beswick) was charged with procuring liquor while subject to a prohibition order. This was his first offence. Ho was fined 10s and costs,. in default fortyeight hours' imprisonment. Maintenance.—Eva Norton, who was £lB in arrears, was charged with failing to comply with a maintenance order for the payment of 8s weekly towards her child in the Industrial School, Caversham. The defendant also made application to have the order varied. After hearing evidence, the Magistrate concelled the amount in arrears and made an order for the payment of 2s 6d weekly. Shipping Thotbles.—.John Symons, a fireman of the Turakina, was charged with disobeying lawful commands while at sea. He pleaded not guilty. The evidence for the prosecution showed that Symons had absented himself from the vessel on Saturday last, and. a warrant was then issued for his arrest. This had since been cancelled. Ho had been requested to "'turn to" at two o'clock on the previous afternoon, but he did not commence till 3.15. The ' accused had circulated a statement on the ship that he intended to desert her on the last day. The defendant stated that he had been arrested for drunkenness i in Christchureh, and had only been released from gaol on the previous day at noon. He denied refusing to ''turn to" until 3.15 p.m., aj\d also the statement that ha intended to desert the ship. The Magistrate stated that the case had been proved, and to set a.n example to others accused would be sentenced to twenty-four hours' imprisonment and ordered to be put on hoard.—John Taylor, a fireman of the steamer Pakeha, pleaded guiltv to a oharge of deserting from the ship on j Monday, a.nd thereby missing the trip Ito London. Captain M'Dougall, suj perintendont of the Shaw, Savill and I Albion Company, stated that the accused had absented himself on Monday. The steamer had sailed for London at 5.30 that night, and the company had been obliged to secure the services of another man at a much higher rate of pay. The Magistrate said that ho looked upon deserting as a very serious offence, and ho_ sentenced the accused ; to seven days' imprisonment with hard labour.—William Cummings. a shipmate of the previous offender, was similarly charged. He was sentenced | to soven days' imprisonment with hard labour.