MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 198, 25 September 1914, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M.) FIRST OFFENDERS. Two first offenders for drunkenness, a male and a female, were each fined 5/-; in default 24 hours' imprisonment. An elderly female, a statutory first offender, who had riot been before the court since 1912, was convicted and discharged. BACK TO GAOL. Timothy Twomey, deemed to be an idle, and disorderly person on account of his having begged for alms in Hign Street, and also charged with having used obscene language, admitted both. offences. Sub-Inspector McKinnon explained that Timothy had been recently discharged from prison. He had a very bad record. He was seen sticking up/ seven or eight different people, -and when accosted by a constable he had used-the language complained of. Timothy was ' sentenced to two. months' imprisonment on the first charge, and one month on the second, the periods to be cumulative. FEMALE CYCLE >THIEF. Mary O'Brien the female cycle thief who was arrested in the city yesterdayafternoon, appeared to answer for having stolen a bicycle on August 7, valued at £5, the property of Rosa Tickle. Chief Detective Bishop asked for a. remand until Wednesday next, stating that there were about 10 other charge* to be heard. '•'■■'\ Mr Alpers explained that relatives had seen him, and there was no doubt she would plead guilty. She had been in the doctor's hands.for some time. She seems to have been suffering: from some religious hallucination. She had been in : the Mount Magdala Homefor six weeks. Mr Alpers said that ha didn't want to suggest that accused didn't know the difference between right and wrong, but he would suggest" that she should be sent to Mount'Magdala in the meantime. The hearing of the case was adjourned until the 30th, accused to remain in the Mt. Magdala Home in the meantime. ■ " A COMMON THEFT. Richard Legg appeared to answer for the theft of a range from Chas. -Miller on September 24. • "This class of theft is becoming very common,'' said the Chief Detective. The Magistrate: He has" been "convicted for theft before. ' ~ Richard: Not that I know of. Yes. Seven years ago. Accused, who had a defect in his speech, here " commenced to make a wordy statement of his version of the* affair, the only words audible beingthat he was a collector of - empfcjr bottles. His record showed convictions -for. , various offences, and he was eonyicted and sentenced to one month's imprison- - ment. UNFORTUNATE FAMILY, Joseph Barron pleaded guilty to hairing stolen a bicycle valued at 30/-, tfca property of Thomas Barson. Mr Hunt, who appeared for the accused, explained that had interviewed him in regard to the matter. The father was a helpless erippier and the family was in absolutely destitute circumstances. , The .sister was a i semi-idiot, -and'the-mother -was frying: to keep the house going with the help of her son. The Magistrate: He doesn't look very bright. Mr Hunt: No! he seems half-witted himself. He has now got work ami his mother asked me if you could-fix the matter up in some manner 'so -aa not to deprive her or himself of means of livelihood. The Chief-Detective explained tha.tr Joseph had gone to a cycle dealer at Riccarton and Said he wanted a bicycle jto ride into town. He had r got the machine, but seemed to have no intention of returning it. Sergeant Jackson, of Sydenham, designated Joseph as being one of th»3 cutest men in his district. He was noted for sailing close to the wind in the various- transactions he carried «ut. The Magistrate ordered Joseph tq come up for sentence when called upon, and if he was reported to the police •again he would be called upon. He was also ordered to pay 10/- for the hire o±' the. bike. BY-LAW BREACHES. Frederick Robinson, for having exceeded the speed limit in a taxi cab . while crossing St. Asaph and Manchester Streets, was fined 10/- and costs* . Royce M. Wilson, on a similar charge,, for having driven a car over the crossing of Victoria and Kilmore was also fined 10/- and costs. Lily Birkby, Robert Harrison, airii Ernest le Gros all admitted having swept the footpath after 8.30 o'clock, and were convicted and discharged. A DEAR DUCK. John Braithwaite (Mr Mosley) took action against George Chesmer (Mr M. Donnelly) for an assault alleged to have been committed on September 9 at TSai Tapii. ' : " ' Considerable- evidence was taken, from which it appeared that a tame duck owned ;by the informant had been shot by one O 'Malley, who had subsequently paid Braithwaite 50/- on account of the performance. When Braithi7 waite had been informed that the shooting was going on, he proceeded vestigate, and had met a Mr MeKenzae, clstrk to the Ellesmere County Coun<fiiTogether they had chased four fellows who had been concerned in the shotting business and who had driven away in two gigs to Ladbrooks. McKcnsie had been on a, motor bike and Braithwaite had been towed on a push-bike. The fellows in the gigs had refused tostop when asked to do so. They hjad eventually stopped outside the Ladbrooks Post Office, taken off their coaits, and got out of the gigs, and Chesmer had struck Braithwaite. The Magistrate entered a conviction and Chesmer was fined 40/- and coats. LYTTELTON. I (Before Mr L. A. Stringer, J.P.) DRUNKENNESS. A first offending inebriate was finked ' five shillings or 24 hours' imprisonment. William Patrick Louder, also arraigned on , a charge of drunkenness, received a sentence of 10/- or 48 hours, in gaol.