The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1869. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 9, 12 January 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1869. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Monday, Jan. 11,1869. (Before J. Sharp, Esq., R.M.) Richard Arthur Hould appeared to a summons charging him with having feloniously stolen, taken, and carried away, a quantity of barm, of the value of 2d., of the goods and chattels of ILomas Field, of Nelson, brewer. Thomas Field, sworn: I am a brewer in Nelson. Last Friday afternoon, the defendant came to the office at the brewery, and asked for some barm. I told him to go to the house and he would be served. He went to the house, and shortly afterwards came back to me, and said he had served himself. I told him as he had helped himself I should charge him ss. for it. Defendant said I have only three half-pence worth, and I have no change and walked off. His Worship: I caa't take any more evidence. I really don't see that there is anything in the case at all. It should never have been brought into Court. To defendant: What is your version of the case? Defendant said: I have been in the habit, for nearly 12 months, of fetching the barm from Mr Field's brewery. I knew that Mr Field did not care for serving out the article in the office, and generally the women did so. On Mr Field telling me to go to the house, I went, and knocked two or three times, but no one heard, and knowing exactly the routine of the thing and where the barm stood, I opened the door and helped myself to -what there was. I then went back to the office, told Mr Field, that, as there was no one in, I had helped myself, and asked him how much there was to pay, remarking that there was not so much as twopence worth. He said he should charge me ss. for it, and I laughed, and said I should not pay that. He said, well I shall summons you for it ; and thinking he was joking, I said very -well summons away, and I'll appear. Plaintiff: How would you like me to come and help myself to the goods in your premises? Defendant: So long as you paid for all you took, I should be very glad. Hi 3 Worship: The case should never have come into the Court. There may have been some irregularity in defendant helping himself; but it is very commonly done, aud he offered to pay the price. Defendant: I understood that I was doing what he told me to do, I went to the house and got the barm and went back and offered to pay it. Case dismissed. Elizabeth Eanks, alias Elizabeth Abbott, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking windows on the premises of John Whent. Fined £1 and costs, and in default. of immediate payment, 14 days' 'imprisonment . -with hard labor. This Day. .' '-"'.' * There was only one case t^Say, jbhat .pf an inebriate, George Jfcowe, who wjwi,, Uped 10a. and costs, '"•"•• ■" ;i -* 1^ s