RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 810, 9 September 1887, Page 22

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Thursday, September 1. (Before Mr H. S. Wardell, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Honora Setter pleaded guilty to a charge of di’unkenness, and being also charged with using obscene language, said she did not remember what she had said. Constable Hattie proved the case, and the accused was fined 10s, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness, and 28 days for the bad language. CIVIL BUSINESS. Judgments were given for plaintiffs in the following civil cases : —City Rate Collector v J. L. Kimbell, L 34 ; same v Jos. Crowder, 18s 9d ; same v Chas. Howsett, 6s 3d ; same v P. Mclntyre, L2 3s 9d ; same v Albert Jeffery, Lll Is 9d ; same v Robert Walker, L 25 17s 6d ; Hislop and Co. v Vhn. James, L 24 ; same v R. K. Shaw, Lll 13s 6d ; G. Gillon v J. Barry, L 3 3s ; P. Garbes v Herbert Reeves, 17s ; Veitch and Allan v John Clark, 15s 6d; Hepburn v Ryan, LI (claim L 10). Monday, September 5. (Before Messrs A. W. Brown, S. Brown, and E. T. Gillon, J.P.’s) WILFUL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. Thomas Brown pleaded guilty to a charge of having broken three panes of glass, the property of George H. Bayliss, valued at 9s. He was fined 10s, and ordered to pay for -.the windows, or in default three days’ imprisonment. A similar sentence was passed on James Ward for having broken seven panes of glass belonging to one Michael Quinn, and he was also ordered to make good the damage. DRUNKENNESS. A first offender for having been drunk on last Saturday was fined ss, or in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. William Walton and James Johnston were charged with having committed the same offence on Sunday, the 4th inst. The former was fined ss, or 24 hours ; and the Tatter 10s, with the alternative of 48 hours’ imprisonment. UNLAWFUL TRESPASS. Donald McLean was charged with haying been on the 4th inst. unlawfully in an enclosed yard at the hack of the Evening Post premises. The accused pleaded guilty, hut said his hat had been blown into the yard and he went in after it. James Brown, nightwatehman, gave evidence as to having arrested the accused. 1 At this stage the accused, who stated that

lie had not been long in the Colony, having come out in the steamer Wainui in November last, and been only three weeks in Wellington, handed in a certificate of character, and the Bench, in consideration of this, dismissed him with a caution. BREACH OF THE CITY BY-LAWS. Thomas Palmer was brought up on a charge of having left his hansom cab unattended at the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Station on the 29th ult. The accused pleaded not guilty. Constable McAnerin gave evidence as to the offence.' The Bench decided to impose a fine of £1 and costs 7s. Bernard Docherty, who did not appear, was charged with having, on the 27th ultimo, allowed the chimney of his house, in Riddiford-street, to get on fire. The evidence of Constable George Stuart as to the chimney having been on fire was taken. A fine of 5s and costs 7s was inflicted. Heniy Twist was charged with having been in charge of a vehicle without proper lights on the evening of the 25th ultimo. He pleaded guilty, and was fined 5s and costs 12s. Andrew Lodson was charged with furious riding through the town on last Sunday week, thereby endangering the lives of passers-by. The accused stated that he was in from Terawhiti 24 hours before, and that the horse stuck him up, and he had to whip him to make him go, and that if he let him go slow he would try to “ buck ” him offi Sergeant Morice asked the Bench to impose a heavy fine, as the offence was a serious one, and there was great danger to the many women and children who were about on Sunday afternoons. The accused was fined L2 and 7s costs, without the option of imprisonment. INDECENT EXPOSURE. John Warren, a Maori, residing at Petone, was charged with having committed a grossly indecent act on the Petone Railway Station, on the 25th ult. A. S. Whitson, station-master, and Hemy Gough, guard, gave evidence in support of the charge, Gough stating that the train, of which he was in charge, had just arrived at the station when the offence was committed. The accused was sent to gaol for three days with hard labor, without the alternative of a fine. THREE YOUNG LARRIKINS. James and John McGonagh and Charles Hughes were charged with having caused annoyance to Mrs Elizabeth Jane Lomas by throwing rotton oranges and other rubbish at the door of her shop in Tinakori-road. The Bench, in dismissing tile boys, cautioned them against being brought up,- and stated that the fathers of the boys would do weil to give them a sound thrashing.

Wednesday, September, 7. (Before Mr H. S. Wardell, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. An old offender named Mary Ann Hobbins was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment for drunkenness. larceny. Charles Gilligan was charged with larceny as a bailee at Wanganui of a tent -valued at £B, the property of Alfred Mosely. Accused was remanded to Wanganui, to appear on Friday (to-day.) Henry Stow, a prisoner in the Terrace Gaol, was charged with having, about the 16th July last, stolen a coat valued at 15s, the property of M. Ziman, pawnbroker. The prosecutor gave evidence that on the date in question he missed a coat which was hanging outside his shop. Identified the coat produced as his property. Questioned by the accused, he said he was certain the coat was his, although he had no particular mark on it. Alfred Dimant deposed that he was assistant to the last witness. Remembered a coat being missed from outside the shop between 6 and 9 o’clock on the night of the 15th July. William Carrol, assistant at Mr Smart’s pawnbroker’s shop, deposed that on the 15th July last the accused came into the shop and sold him a coat for 4s. The coat produced was the one. Witness subsequently sold the coat to a laboring man. Detective Chrystal deposed that he had arrested the accused late on the night of the 15th, on a charge of shoplifting. The accused told witness that he had taken a coat from outside Ziman’s shop and sold it again for 4s. His Worship sentenced the accused to six months’ imprisonment. Minnie Searle, on remand, was charged with the larceny of a. watch and guard, valued at L2 10s, the’ property of Fred. George Springthoipe. Mr Gray stated that he had been requested to appear on behalf of the accused. His Worship pointed out that the case had been concluded. Mrs Searle, mother of the accused, stated that the gold pin which she had handed over to the police was brought home by her daughter, who told her that Mrs Springthorpe had given it to her. The circumstance of the pin had. gone clean out of witness’ memory until she learned that such an article had been taken from Mrs Springthorpe. She then took it to Mrs (Springthorpe. Witness believed that her daughter’s conduct was due to her having: got mixed up with some bad man'. Mr Gray asked his Worship not to look, upon the offence as one bf criminal intent, but rather as that of a silly-minded girl, who had taken the articles to gratify her personal vanity by making a show before her friends. If the accused was released on probation, arrangements would be made to send her to Napier, where a married sister would look after her. His Worship said he was prepared to act on the suggestion that she should be released on probations] The Probation Officer’s report was satisfactory, and he was justified in placing her under the terms of the Act,

His Worship then went on to say that a little while since he had to deal with. a somewhat similar case—that of the girl Nolan. In that case there was no felonious intent, and he had said that the taking of the article was not in itself larceny, but somehow or other he had been misunderstood. It was felonious intent that constituted the larceny, and in that case he held that there was nothing in the evidence to show felonious intent. The girl had carried on in such a manner that it was difficult to understand her conduct. She had created a sensation, and, for the time being, was made a heroine of—which may, probably, have been her only object; but lie was satisfied that there was no felonious intent. In this case, however, it, was different ; for the accused had recourse to a veiy different trick. He felt bound to convict her of larceny by placing her under the First Offenders Probation Act. He hoped it would be a warning to her, and that she would turn over a new leaf. If she did now alter while she was young, she would have a life of misery. He ordered that she should be placed on probation for a period of six months. ALLEGED RAPE. George Williams, on remand, was charged with having committed rape on a little girl named Elizabeth Price on the 17tli August. Inspector Browne asked for a further remand in order that he might procure further, evidence. The remand was granted until 10 o’clock next Wednesday. Bail as before was allowed. DOMESTIC TROUBLES. Denis Black was charged with having assaulted his wife Margaret Black. The complainant prayed that her husband should be bound over to keep the peace. From the statements made it appeared that the parties had quarrelled about sending theirchild totheConventSchool. Mrsßlack had said she would send her son to the Convent School whether the accused liked it or not, and in consequence he had struck her. The parties subsequently interviewed Mr Wardell, and he advised a reconciliation. On returning home, however, the quarrel was renewed. After hearing further evidence, his Worship ordered the .defendant to find one surety of L 5 that he would keep the peace. The defendant said he would prefer to go to prison than give the bond. He, however, subsequently altered his mind, and found the required surety.