RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3861, 2 July 1874, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Wednesday, . Ist Jcly. : ■. ■ (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.)

Sad Depravity. —Marian Parris, a young woman with a bloated countenance, was charged with being drunk in St. Andrew street—her eleventn offence. Prisoner admitted the charge, and in reply to the Bench said she was a married woman and lived.on her means. She was fined 40s, with the alternative of 14 days' imprisonment. „ A Nocturnal .Adventuru. —Ellis Burrows, a young fellow of respectable appearance, was charged,' oh the information of Francis Gladstone, with being illegally on his' household premises about half-past 12 on Tuesday morning, contrary to the Vagrant Act. Mr M'Keay, who defended prisoner, .said he would ask that .the hearing of the ease be adjourned, to allow him to call witnesses as to character. -This was requisite, and he could prove by many of his acquaintances that lie bore an excellent character/an exceptional one for honesty. At the request of the Police, the informant's evidence was taken. Francis Gladstone, Dunedin stationmaster to the Port Chalmers Railway, said he resided in upper Albany street. fcjhbrt:y after midnight on Monday, he was disturbed by some one trying to open the backdoor. He called "Who's theieV" several times, and some one answered " It's me." J^e told him he had better go about his business. Not hearing the gate close, witness got up, and heard some one at the meat safe. Going into the yard, he observed accused running away, and arrested him. He struggled hard, and by repeated cries obtained police assistance. By Mr M'Keay::Prisoner was apparently nnder the influence of drink. Witness was not aware that he was one of the band that went to Port Chalmers. Accused was remanded until next day, and admitted to bail in two sureties of £5 each. Two Young Rascals.—William Myer, aged 14, and Joseph Scott, aged 13, were charged conjointly with stealing two pigeons, valued at 3s, the property of Robert Fenwick, proprietor of the Supreme Court Hotel. Both youths told a very plausible story, from which it appeared that neither of them were guilty of wrong. Sergeant Hanlan said a confession had been made to him. by Myer, who showed him where the pigeons were confined, with a number of others, behind the York Hotel, George street. The fathers of both boys appeared in Court, and promised to admonish them with the birch. The Magistrate was loth to send such youngsters to gaol, and where, property.stolen was under the value of 20s, he had power to dismiss the case. As the parents had promised to give them a sound flogging, he would discharge each of them. '-.-, civic cases;/ ,".. -..•■.-.; : Gibson v. Mackay.—This was a fraud summons to recover £7 on an IO TJ, being balance of an account for the sale of a horse. A coi,frission of the debt, duly signed by defendant, was put in. .When ..asked .why .he did not pay it, Mackay said Gibson had care of a race-horse, Kildare, for him, and contrary to promise he had worked it, and thereby incurred greater damage than the value of the present claim. .He had offered £+ of the debt, and promised to pay, the sur- ' plus by instalments. Plaintiff acknowledged this to be correct. The Magistrate said he could not send a man to Gaol under such circumstances, and dismissed the suit;»! A. Solomon v. J.,T. Telfer.—Claim of £11 5s 6d, loss sustained through damage done to jewellery entrusted to defendant to repair. Mr E. Cook appeared for plaintiff. A setoff of £2 2, was pleaded, and jE6 10s 6d paid into Court. Plaintiff stated he sent a watch chain and pencil to defendant to have them repaired, and consequent upon the carelessness of a boy employed by the latter they were put into strong acid and lost much of their value, the pencil being entirely melted. The evidence of experts was given as to the rvalue of the goods, and His Worship gave judgment for £7 10s, less the amount paid I into Court. | R. Wilson v. S. H. Saunders.--Claim £3 | 13s, goods sold and delivered. Defendant put in a copy of his discharge as a bankrupt, aud proceedings were accordingly, stopped. W. Wilson v. J. Lazarus;- —Claim of Lll 10s. Judgment by consent. ..,-..