THE COURTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLX, Issue 8168, 20 August 1887, Page 5

THE COURTS.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT. Friday, August 19. (Before Mr H. S. Wardell, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. James McMillaa for this offence was fined 10b, in default 48 hours’ hard labor. INDECENT language. Mary Murray was charged with making use of indecent language in Willis-straet at mid-day on the 18th inst. She pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 28 days’ imprisonment with hard labor. TIMBER STEALER®, George Micklin pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing timber to the value of 10s, the property of Donald Alexander Douglas, and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Charles Nicholson, alias Seton, was charged with stealing several lots of timber, valued in the aggregate at 11s, the property of D. A. Douglas. The accused pleaded not guilty. Thomas Hunt, a carpenter in the employ of Mr Douglas, identified the stolen property, which was found in the bouse of the accused. Detective Chrystal gave evi. deuce as to the arrest of the accused and the goods being in his house, and the watch-house-keeper deposed to accused saying that the receipt for the timber was among his papers if the woman Murray had not got it. There was no snob receipt among his papers. For the defence George Micklin, who had been sentenced to two months’ imprisonment that morning for stealing timber, was called, and deposed that he brought the timber to Nicholson and told him he had bought it cheap. The accused was then committed for trial. NEGLECTING A CHILD. Mary Delundi, charged with neglecting her infant, was, at her own request, remanded to Christchurch. ASSAULTING A SALVATIONIST. John Grant was charged on remand with assaulting a Salvation soldier, Joshua Partridge. His Worship fined the defendant ss, without coats, remarking as he did so that be should have thought the fact that Grant apologised for the blow he had given, and did all he could to soften its effects, would have made the matter'up. AFFILIATION CASE, _ Further evidence was taken in the affiliation case, Harris v. Riddick. Mr Skerrett appearing for the claimant, and Mr Izard for Riddick. W. B. Bussell, a young man, gave evidence to the effect that he knew the girl Harris, and used to walk with her in September last. He was practically courting her. Did not see Riddick with her after July. Cross-examined : Never had any improper connection with the girl. Had had conversations about this with Riddick. To the Court: Walked with her about three weeks. The reason he gave up walking with her was that when he was playing cards in a barn she used to come there ■at night and ho did not like it. He used to play cards with two young men named James Mahey and John English, and he subsequently saw her walking with them. His Worship reserved judgment.' A DISPUTED TOLL. John Gardner sued Margaret Madigan, keeper of the Kaiwarra toll-gate, tor one shilling, refund of toll paid by him at the gate. Mr Howorth was for the plaintiff and Mr W. T. L. Travers for the defendant. Mr Howorth’s contention was that the Provincial Act of 1862, by which the toll was established, had since been repealed j and Mr Travers contended that the Act was still in force. By consent the amount of the claim was increased to £5 Is, and judgment given for defendant, with leave for plaintiff to appeal. CIVIL CASE. J. Ellerman v. Dutton, Brown and Thompson, claim £7B 5s lOd. Mr Skerrett for plaintiff, Mr Gully for defendants. In this case the . question at issue was that of commission to be paid to plaintiff as traveller for the defendants. After hearing evidence at great length, judgment was given for plain, tiff for commission on a certain scale, the exact amount of which is tc be made.up, when judgment ,will be given for the amount.