MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 212, 12 October 1914, Page 8

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M.) DRUNKS. Three male first offenders for drunkenness were fined 5/- with the usual option. A fourth first offender who was remanded last week for medical attention after having been helplessly drunk on the railway was convicted and discharged. • ..-.: . Chas. Mack appeared for having been drunk in Cambridge Terrace yesterday. This was his fifth offenee during the past six months, and he was remanded for a week. BEGGING. W. Simmonds, 42 years of age, appeared to answer for having solicited alms in High Street on Saturday. "**' l don?t know nothin' about it," said accused when asked whether he was guilty or otherwise. Sub-Inspector McKinnon explained that on Saturday afternoon accused was seen sticking up several peopte in the street, begging for money for drink. Simmonds still said he didn't-remem-ber anything about it, volunteering that he had been working for weeks at McClatchie 's coal wharf. Evidence of begging was given and . accused said he had no occasion to beg and he couldn't understand it.. J Mr Bishop You've got a pretty bad record. Simmonds: I have never been -op forbegging. Mr Bishop No, but you've been' brought up for something a good deal worse, though. If you'd stuck to begging you might not have been so worse off. I will sentence you to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. DISORDERLY. Edward Stanley Brown appeared to answer for having-been disorderly while drunk in Colombo Street. It' was stated that on account of drunkenness he was swinging his arms about and making a nuisance of himself. A fine of 10/- Tyas imposed, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. A MURDEROUS WEAPON. Nelson Colenso appeared for having been found at night lawful excuse on the premises of Chas. Harper, of Warrington Street, St. Albans* and for. having assaulted Chas. , Harper, striking Mm on the head with a piece of lead piping. • Colenso admitted -both offences. Mr Bishop: Lead-piping is an awk-ward-sort of. thing to strike a man with* He: wouldn't need to strike him twice. ■ ' , _ Sub-Inspector McKinnon explained.! thafc about 10 o'clock on Saturday night Harper was in bed, when he heard someone ' prowling about his premises. He looked through the. window-and saw, -Colenso there, and called out to him, "Good night. What do. you want here?" Colenso made for the gate, but Harper jumped through, the window, and closed with him. That" was when t something happened, Colenso making . use of the lead-piping, twicel Mr Bishop: That's a murderous kind of thing to strike a man with. The Sub-Inspector contiuuexi to say i that the neighbours then came- to 'Harper's assistance. There were'a num- , ber of keys in a bag which Colenso had with him, also an instrument - which could be used to prise open doors or windows. Several places in the had been broken-into, and.a.letter-box. also was" tampered with. '3 Sergeant Bird explained "that Colenso ■', lived at 55 Shearbourne Street with his : - parents. He was a painter by trade. Mr Bishop: What's known about himf,,' Sergeant Bird: Nothing at present. The Sergeant here produced a sugarbag, which contained- the keys -men- . 1 tioned previously, and various tools and lead-piping. The murderous-looking - 1 length of piping used in the assault was displayed before the Magistrate, alsa Harper, looking somewhat the worse for his brief acquaintance with Colenso. Mr Bishop: 'ls that what he struck him with? He might have killed him. Accused volunteered to say that he . thought Harper was going to hit him. Mr Bishop: I can't pass over the as-% sault. It is a murderous thing, Colenso got two months' hard labour for the.assault, and was -convieted on/ the other charge. BACON AND FISH. James Dunwoodie stood in the box to answer for the theft of a piece of bacon and a barracouta at Kirwee on Friday, valued at £ll/6. He pleaded not guilty, and was remanded till Wednesday. CIVH/ BUSINESS. Judgment for the plaintiff by default was given in each of-the following undefended actions: —John Edmond Congreve v. John Carson, £1 12/-;' A. .G. Talbot v. C. Flanagan, £2 10/6; Taylor . Publishing Co. v. E. C. Copp- £1 7/6; Sydney Harold Cummins v. Wm. Dickson, £2 13/-; J. Ballantyhe arid Co. v. W. K. Anderson, £1 7/6; Christchurch . City Council v. R. Richardson, £3 6/6; same v. James Tullock, 15/5; same v. Alex. John Reed, £2 14/9; same v. James Barr, £ll 10/6; same v. A. L. Little, £8 14/2; same v. Kate McColl, £5 2/9; same v. H; A. Lamb, £3 19/7; same v. James Barr, £24 4/5; same v. A. S. Lamb, £3 2/3. Mary Christina Paintin claimed from Mrs C. Chambers possession of a bicycle,, or in default £5. An order was made for the return of the bicycle within 48 hours, or in default payment of the sum of £5. „•■ ;' . DEFENDED CASES. £ In the case of the Christchurch City Council v. Madeline Carson, a claim of 8/- for water rates, the husband of the defendant stated that, as they lived outside the boundary, and there was no water-main in Archer Street, St. Albans, where they lived, they did not recognise any liability. Mr Bishop: That's no defence, though. You can't dispute liability if your nam© is on the roll. Defendant: When the late Mr T. E. Taylor was Mayor we had the same trouble. I took the matter to him, and we had the rates remitted. We have been livings there for five years, but we have never been summoned.. • Mr Bishop" said he had no option but to give judgment for the plaintiff for 8/- and costs, and advised defendant to seek redress from the City Council. In the case of Wm. Henry Jordan (Mr Neave) v. Sarah Ann Bradley, a claim of 8/- for goods supplied, the Magistrate, after hearing the evidence, gave judgment for plaintiff for 8/- and costs.

LYTTELTON. (Before Mr F. Anderson, J.P.) DESERTING SEAMEN. Thomas McNeil,, Dennis Buckley, and John Haney were charged with absent* ing themselves from their ship, the Rua-. hine, without leave an October 9. All three pleaded guilty, and were fined one day'a pay and ordered td'be placed on board their ship, which., is sailing to-day r