MAGISTERIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16508, 25 March 1914, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHUROH. Tuesday, March 24. (Before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.) Drunkenness.—One man, a first offender, was fined ss; Lizzie Gillies, a second offender, was fined 10s; and Maggie Williams, an old offender, was 'sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment.

BiiEAcn of Prohibition Order.— Charles Giesler was fined 10s on each of two charges of procuring liquor while prohibited.— Henry John Newman, for a similar offence was fined 10s. Obscene Language.—For drunkenness and obscene language in Madras Street, Roy Smith was convicted and fined 60s and costs. Theft.—Edward Burton was charged with, stealing a gold chain and medal, valued at £lO, from the dwelling-house of Frederick Kerr. As he had no record, Detective-Sergeant Cox asked leave to reduce the charge to common theft, and Burton pleaded guilty. The detective-sergeant stated that Burton came from Wellington a month ago, and began playing two-up, instead of working. After leaving Islington without paying his board, he came to the Excelsior Hotel, where the theft was committed. He had told people at the Excelsior that ho got his living by two-up. He had pawned the chain for 32s 6d and had 7s 9d on him when arrested. He was fined £5, in default a month's imprisonment, and ordered to refund the amount received from the pawnbroker, in default seven days' imprisonment.

Remanded.—Leo Morton Denniston was charged that on March 14 he had stolen £l, the property of Miss Bettv Wheeler, and on March 22 £2, the property of Miss Peggy Tasker He was remanded till Saturday, and permitted to go to the Salvation Army Home in the meantime. Maintenance.—Alfred Smart, who did not appear, was charged by Edwin Smart, a very old man, with being £lO7 2s in arrears on a maintenance order. The complainant said that the police could not find his son for a long time, as he had been going under a false name. "I will suspend the order,' said Mr Bishop., "and make him pay 5s a week off the arrears, in default three months' imprisonment. He will always be paying that. George Thompson, another old man, charged his son John with being £1 9s in arrears on a. maintenance order. An order was made for immediate payment, in, default fourteen days' imprisonment. Husband's Liability.—-Thomas Henry Davey (Mr M. Donnelly), applied for a maintenance order against Edward Ebborn (Mr Leathern) on behalf of Mrs Ebborn. Mr Donnelly said that the case was peculiar. Mrs Ebborn, who was suffering from cancer, and could leave her bed only with difficulty, was staying at the complainant's house in Christchurch. The defendant, who had a farm at Tai Tapn, was paying nothing at all. Mr Leathern said that the wife had left the husband to stay with her son-in-law, and the husband who was a poor man, could not keep two establishments going. He paid £ll Is Gd in the last five months. A separation order was made, anu Ebborn was ordered to pay £1 a week. RANGIORA. Tuesday, March 24. (Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., Mr E. R. Good, J.P., and Mr W. G. Whiteside, J.P-) . • Breach of Prohibition Orders.— Gabriel Hadling and his wife, Lena Hadling, were each fined £1 and costs for procuring liquor when prohibited. Dismissed.— George P. Gibb, for

whom Mr Johnston appeared, pleaded not guilty to a charge'of having stolen tAvo fowls valued at £1 each, the property of Thomas Kennedy. Sergeant Mackay prosecuted for the police. Thomas Kennedy, a pedigree fowl breeder, missed five of his fowls and found two on accused's premises f wo miles distant. Accused's explanation was that his wife's sister, Mrs Dunlop, a next-door neighbour to complainant, promised his wife some pullets. Complainant's fowls frequently strayed on to Mrs Dunlop's place, and accused caught the two fouls claimed by Kennedy and took them home, believing that they belonged to Mrs Duniop. The Bench accepted the explanation and dismissed the information. Defence Act. —Sefton Boyce, Clarence Boyce and Harry Laing, who objected to attend drill' on account of having to wear short trousers, were convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.—For failing to attend drill Walter Bunting was fined 40s and costs, L. D. Lilly and C. Hills each 20s and costs, and Alan Watson, W. Hills, L. Burns, J. E. Jeffrey, W. Fowler and John Chapman were convicted and discharged. Noxious Weeds Act.—Eliza Plaskett, for having failed to clear blackberries from the road next to her property at Fernside, was lined 10s and oosts 7s.—Robert Gardiner and D. Gossan, for not cutting down Californian thistles on their farms at Ohoka, were each fined 5s without costs. These were the first cases brought in the district under the Act and the Inspector of Noxious Weeds. Mr J. A. Hughes, did not press for heavy penalties. GERALDINE. Monday, March 23. (Before Mr V. G. Day, S.M.) < ivit Cases. —In the following civil cases judgment was given for plaintiffs :—Geraldine County Council v. Mrs Cully, claim £ls lis 7d; E. J. Burke and Co. v. W. Goodall, claim £2 6s 2d; J. Woolhouse v. W. Goodall, claim £1 8s sd'. Noxious Weeds Act.— William . Howson (Mr Inglis), charged with failing to destroy Californian thistle on his farm, was fined 20s and costs. Defence Act.—me following penalties were imposed for failure to comply with the provisions of the Defence Act: —W. E. Brown, convicted and dismissed ; G. Coombs, J. Counitan, V. A. Ellcry, O. W. Keen, E. C. Shaw and G. Thatcher, each adjourned for one month; S. Murf and A. Pierce, each 10s and costs; J. Scully and R. Walsh, each 5s and costs. The case against Arnold Budd was dismissed.

Breach of Prohibition Order.— William Coombs, for procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order, pleaded guilty and was fined 10s and costs.