MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 563, 29 November 1915, Page 11

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

TO-DAY'S CASES. Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., presided at a sitting of the Magistrate's Court this morning. . ' ; DRUNKENNESS. Donald Holloway was charged with being found drunk while in charge of a horse and trap in Fendalton Road, and also with procuring liquor while prohibited. Accused pleaded guilty to both' charges. Senior-Sergeant Mathieson: This man has given a lot of trouble at home. | The wife of the accused was then called. Mr Bishop: This is your husband: Is Ihe given to drink? Witness: Yes, very much so. Mr Bishop: Does he support you! ! Witness: No. He is no good to me. I think he should be sent to Roto Roa. Mr Bishop (to accused): I shall declare you an habitual drunkard, and commit you to Roto Roa for 12 months. ! IDLE AND DISORDERLY. Mary Marsden Baines pleaded not guilty to a charge of being ah idle and disorderly person, in that she had insufficient lawful means of support. Sergeant Jackson said that the accus!ed had been living in Antigua Street [during the last three weeks. On one occasion he visited the house and found two women drunk. He questioned the accused, and she said she had had nothing to eat for 24 hours. She expressed the desire to go to Mount Magdala Home. Accused: I don't want to go to Mount Magdala. I'd rather go to gaol. Mr Bishop: You'd rather go to gaol? Very well; three months' hard labour. AN HOTEL THEFT, Robert Pobar pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing 20/-, the property of Mary Little. Senior-Sergeant Mathieson said that the accused went into the King George Hotel on November 26, and asked a woman named Little to shout for him. When she did this he leaned over the counter and took the money from her pocket. The accused was "sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. A CONTEMPTIBLE THEFT. . Francis (George Kid'd " was charged that, on November 13, he stole a wrist-, let watch and a pair of bracelets, valued at £3 10/-, the property of the Veterans' Association, Christchurch.. ,| Mr Cassidy appeared for the accused, who pleaded, guilty. ' ' | Mr Cassidy: This man has never been, in trouble before. -Chief Detective Herbert: The facts of the case, your Worship, are that the ac-. cused stole the articles at the Drillshed at the time when the bazaar was being held by the Veterans' Association for the benefit of wounded, soldiers-. Mr Bishop: Stole the goods from the stalls! Chjef-Detective Herbert: Yes. your Worship. , . - Mr Bishop: How was he caught? Chief-Detective Herbert: Well, he was I suspected, and when questioned by the' detectives he admitted the theft, and; handed over the stolen articles. • P Mr .Cassidy: This man has beeji in his present employment for eight years, and he has always borne a most excellent character. : .. , Mr Bishop: I cannot believe that a| man will become a thief like this all of a sudden. ' P ' Mr Casssidy: He. is a married, man, with two children. • ; « , , Mr Bishop: I cannot understand what could prompt a man ; to ■ steal ■ in: & con-; temptible way lite this—steal from a: charitable object. * Mr Cassidy: Well, sir, I think drink : was the Cause of the trouble. The articles were very rubbishy, and Were of absolutely no use to the accused. -; , Mr Bishop: Drink doesn't; make a man a thief, you know. I cannot imagine a man imperilling his position and his future career by stealing in a contemptible way like this. However, 1; shall treat him as a first offender this time. He will be fined £5 or, in default, one month's imprisonment. The articles were ordered to be returned to the Veterans' Association. UNDEFENDED CASES. Judgment for the plaintiff by default, with costs, was given in each of the following cases: —E. P. Jerman v. J. A. Beale, £8; Messrs Garrick & Co. v.J. Hanning, £3 7/-; Trade Auxiliary Co. of New Zealand v. Joe Wilson, £4 0/6; same v. F. A. Dominick, £1 17/9; same v. H. Cole, £4 0/6; same v. William Eddy, £1 6/3; same v. James Kerr Patterson, £1 3/-; same v. J. J. McNamara, £6 7/-; same v. J. John, £2 5/-; same v. F. M. Ludwig, £l.l/-; same v. E. I. Lord, £5 19/-; same v. William Hamer, £4 4/-; same v. J. Harrop, £3 1/3; same v. W. Spence, £3 3/-; same v. A. E. Dixon, £4 7/6; C. E. T. Hill v. Alexander McMillen, £3; Charles Nelson v. Claude Hobbs, £1; Beaton & Ullrich v. J. W. Morris, £6 18/-; P. Mahoney v. P. Percival, £22. LYTTELTON.

> At the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court tfiis afternoon a * man named William Stone pleaded not guilty to" a charge of having stolen a bottle of brandy from the s.B. Orari. After the evidence of three witnesses "was heard, the Bench gave the accused the benefit of the doubt, and dismissed the charge.