MAGISTERIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2733, 23 December 1881, Page 2

MAGISTERIAL.

TIMARU—THIS DAY. (Before T. W. Hall, Esq., and F. Lecren, Esq., J.P.’s) STEALING KKOJI THE PEKSON. Charles Kotepahi (Native) charged with stealing a watch from a man named Cox at Temuka on the 9th inst. was remanded till to morrow, the accused having only been arrested by detective Kirby the previous evening, and the police had not had time to communicate with Cox. ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE. W. Morrison, T. F. Bain, W. Haliburton, three seaman on board the schooner Young Dick pleaded guilty to unlawfully absenting themselves from the vessel on the previous, evening. They intimated their willingness to go aboard again, and the Court ordered the police to see them safely there. STEALING wool. Isaac Curtis was charged on summons issued on the information of W. J. Newton with stealing two bags of wool valued at £3 15s on or about the 18th inst. Inspector Pender conducted the prosecution and called Constable Stanley, who stated that he served a summons upon Curtis the previous day, wh n he remarked : “ I am not so much to blame as George,” meaning another person. Wm, Johnston Newton, farmer at Tolara Valley, staled that the accused lived about two miles from his place. He had worked for him, off and on, for about two years. He recognised tiic two bags of wool now in Court. On Saturday last a boy in his employ told him something, and from that iuformatioa he wont tu a gully about 300 yards from (he woolshed, and saw

the two bags o£ wool. He watched the golly through Saturday night with a gun, but no one came. He continued his watch on Sunday night, and about midnight he heard either one or two persons—he could not be sure which--with a horse, approaching. He did not go up to them, preferring to allow whoever it was to pick up the wool, so that he could be sure that he got the right man. He knew the way the man would have to go, and he went some distance and waited for him. Presently the accused came along with two bags of wool tied on the horse. He challenged him, and the man making as if coming towards him, he told him to stand off or he would shoot him. He then told him to bring his horse and come back with him to the house, intending to get witnesses to see as well as himself who it was. Accused went with him to the house, and ho called his ploughman to come and see who it was that had the wool. When he first spoke to Curtis, he said he was sorry he had been led into it, and asked him to to deal leniently with him, and this he repeated in the presence of the ploughman. He kept Curtis at his house till next morning, and then laid an information against him at the Point. Curtis had no sheep of his own, and witness was certain the wool was his.

Accused being asked if he wished to cross-examine the witness, instead of doing so began to make a statement, and being checked in this he asked for an adjournment of the case. He wished to obtain legal assitance and witnesses, but as he lived 80 miles away and only got the summons on the previous afternoon, he had not had an opportunity to do this.

It was agreed to adjourn the case till next morning, when a further adjournment could be applied for if necessary. The Court then rose. W AI MATE—YESTERDAY. (Before E. Beetham, Esq., E.M., E. El worthy Esq., and T. Teschemaker, Esq., J.P.’s) PETTY LABCENY. William Bateman and Benjamin Batchelor, two boys about 12 years of age, were charged with stealing fruit from the garden of Mr Stevenson. The offence being proved Bateman was ordered to be whipped by his father in the presence of a constable, and Batchelor, who had been previously convicted of a petty larceny, was ordered to be looked up in the Timaru gaol for 24 hours and to receive a whipping while there. BREACH OF THE BOROUGH BYE-LA W.S. John Hunt, a fish dealer, appeared to answer a summons for plying his calling without paying a Borough license, Mr Hawkins appeared for the defendant, and urged that he was not a hawker in the meaning of the Act. He was a fishmonger living in the town, and sought for orders, and when the orders were given he delivered the goods. A charge against the same defendant for allowing a cow to wander ou the streets of the Borough was dismissed, it being shown that a boy was in charge of the animal ou the reserve. James Yining was fined 10s, and F. Kean, os, for allowing their cows to wander in the streets of the Borough. ILLEGAL RESCUE OF CATTLE. George Briant was charged with illegally rescuing a horse seized for the purpose of impounding by Mr Robinson, Painstown, The charge being proved defendant was ordered to pay £5, or in default 7 days’ imprisonment. William Weir. Mrs Weir, and Mrs Guilford were charged with rescuing two cows belong to Weir, that had been seized for the purpose of impounding by E. Mundy. The defendant Weir was fined £5, the charge against the two women being dismissed. CIVIL CASES. Judgment by default was given in the following cases :—McNamara v. Evans, claim £5 3s ; Grown v. Wilson —Claim £2 19s, and Brown v. Eobinson —Claim 13s Gd ; and judgment by consent in the caso of Brown v. Carncross—Claim 13s 6d. Barton v. Wellwood —Claim £5 11s 5, set off £6 15s, Mr Clemant appeared for plaintiff. Judgment for plaintiff for £4 4s od with costs £2 13s. Brown and Walker v. Wilson—Claim £5 Is. In this case judgment had been previously given for plaintiffs, and defendant had paid the amount into Court. Mr Clement now applied on behalt of A. Hayes, who had an unsatisfied distress warrant against the plaintiffs, for an order that the amount be paid over to his client. An order was made that the sum be be handed to the bailiff of the Court, to be liable to the distress warrant referred to. LICENSING COUET. -An adjourned sitting of the Licensing Court for the Waimate and Waitaki districts was held at noon before Messrs E. Beetham (Chairman), E. Elworthy and T. Teschmaker, Licensing Commissioners. The only application received was one made by Mr Clement on behalf of T. Eichmond, licensee of the Melville Hotel Timarujor a licensed booth at the Caledonian sports, at Waimate on Boxing Day, Sergeant Eamsay objected to the application on the ground that Mr Eiobmond’s booth at Makikihi races was not well conducted, and the application was adjourned to Timaru. The report of the Police ou the various houses in the district was generally favorable ; but complaints were made that the Eedcliff Inn had not at all times been properly conducted. The Court adjourned till Jan. 5.