MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 565, 1 December 1915, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

TO-DAY'S CASES.

Messrs W. 11. Cooper and 0. P. Agar, J.P's, presided over a sitting of the Magistrate's Court this morning. DRUNKENNESS. Oae female first offender was charged with being found drunk on the railway station. Accused: I only had a few drinks. The Bench: You are convicted and discharged. One male first offender was fined 5/witli the usual' alternative for being found drunk in Belfast Street. THEFT OF FOWLS, j William 'Organ was charged with stealing, at Halswell, on November 30, three fowls valued at 10/6, tho property of Alexander Angus. Accused pleaded guilty. The Senior-Sergeant said that the accused had been residing in a liut at Halswell. He was very much addicted to drink, and he had been suspected for some time past. When found lie was cooking the three fowls stolen from Mr Angus. . The accused was fined £1 and costs, and ordered to refund 10/6, or, in default, seven days' imprisonment. ALLEGED FORGERY. * Michael Finucane was charged with forging, on September 13, 1909, at Winton, the name of t M. O 'Brien to a cheque for £6 4/-, and thereby caused another person to act upon it as if it were genuine. > Mr Cassidy, who appeared for tho accused, asked for a remand to Amberley to December 8. This was granted. LYTTELTON CASES. v (Before Mr 11. W. Bishop, S.M.) Edward Gerrard, for. whom Mr Hunt appeared, pleaded not guilty to a charge that, between November 17 and November 24, 1915, at Governor's Bay, in incurring a liability of £7 2/- to Alfred John Ramsbottom Isherwood, he did obtain credit; by fraud. Mr Hunt said that Gerrard, who. was second- officer of the Carnegie, was ill on the passage to Lytteltou, and was continually under the care of the doctor, and was then paid off at Lyttelton, with a fair sum of money. Detective Quartermaiji said the man was paid off with £59 on November 5, and «-Wlien arrested last week he had only 10/- left. Alfred John Ramsbottom Isherwood, licensee of the Ocean View Hotel, Governor's Bay, stated that Gerrard told him that he was navigating captain of the Carnegie, and that he had lost £sl at the races. Hejmid two weeks' board in advance. He remained about the hotel for two weeks, drinking the whole time, and was continually shouting for others. On November 22 accused borrowed £2, on November 23 £l, on November -24 £l, and the same evening he borrowed a further £l, which he promised.to repay to Isherwood. William Garnett, labourer, working at Governor's Bay, said he was introduced to Gerrard. Gerrard often shouted for him and others, and said he did not like to leave the hotel, as it was like a home. Mr Bishop said the case was more of a civil action; and he therefore dismissed it. - LICENSING CASES. James Cornelius Harnett was charged that on November '5, 1915, he permitted drunkenness on his licensed premises, the British Hotel,''Lyttelton; also with selling liquor, through his servnfht, Patrick Harnett, to John- Finn, a .person already intoxicated. : • . Patrick Harnett was charged that, being a person other than the licensee, he .supplied the'same intoxicated person witlv liquor on November 3, 19.15. Mr Hunt, who appeared for botli defendants, entered a plea of not guilty, but at a later stage entered a plea of guilty in the case against Patrick Harnett.

Detective Quartermain stated that on November 3 last the steamer Winnnera was in port, and at sailing time the officers fpund that some of the vessel's men were missing. They complained to the police. At the British Hotel they found three men, one of whom was Finn, who was very drunk. After some persuasion, the men, with tho exception of Finn, walked quietly down to tho ship. Some time elapsed before Finn could be got on board. The steamer then left the wharf, and when in the vicinity of tho moles, Finn jumped overboard, and, had it not been for the launch from the dredge Canterbury being quickly on the scene, the man \yould have been drowned.

Sonion-Sei*geant Ryan stated that -hewent to the dive of the British Hotel and questioned the- barman, who admitted serving the man so as to avoid a disturbance. Mr Hunt said that on the day in question Harnett left the bar, which is situated downstairs, asking his brother to take charge. Finn came in for a drink, and he told his brother not to serve him, and it was then that the police entered. The charges against James Harnett were dismissed, and on the other charge Patrick Harnett was fined £5 and costs. CIVIL CASE. In the case Forbes, Ltd., v. Hoana Manihcra, claim £l3 8/9, judgment was given for the plaintiff, with costs £1 17/0. . ■