RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 2905, 15 January 1884, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

I TIMARU.— Monday, Jan. 14th. f (Beforo J. Bejwiok, Esq., R.M., and T. W , Hull, and W. L. Rees.Esqra., J.P.s) DBTJNKENNBSB. Daniol O'Brien wua charged with bein drunk m the Main North Road at 3.20 p.rn on Saturday, also with using abusive languaß m the ntreet.and with resisting the conetabl who arrested him. O'Brien had been puniiiuei several times before for aimilar offences. H was fioed 40s or 14 days imprisonment. Th fine was paid. Thomas McLaren was charged with bein drunk m Beewick street at 7 p.m. on Batur day ; .also with assaulting the constable Fined 40b or 14 days imprisonment. Christopher Orabaoj, for being drunk ii the Main North Road at 8.16 p.m. on Satur day, and having one previous eonvictioi against him, was fined 10a or 48 hours. Th fiuo waa paid. FOBGBEr. Charlos Litllecott, a young man of 25 o thereabouts, wa» charged with forgery b altering a cheque. Mr Hamirsley appeared for the accueed who pleaded not guilty. Inspector Brobam led the following cvi dence:-r-Michael Mitton : I am manager for thi Hon. J. B. A. Aeland at Mount Peel itation Accused was working at the station for aboul two month*. He left on the morning ol December 24! h. I paid him the wages dvi to him by cheque. (Cheque produced.) Thii is the cheque, but it has been altered. I gavi the cheque for £1 2s j it has been altered tc £7 2s. I gave no one authority to alter it. Msry Ann McKay: I am the wife ol Donald McKay, storekeeper at Peel Forest, I know accused. He used to deal »% om ftore while he w»s at Monnt Peel station. 1 remember him coming to the store about mid-dny on December 24th. He gave me this cheque m payment of an aoeount he owed üb, £2 12s. I took the cheque and (;a»o him change, £4 10*. The cheque is m the B»me state now as when I got it, as fur as the figures are ooncerned. I gave it to my hueband, and he noticed something irregular about it, Ido not know what he did with it, except that he sent it up b-> Mr Mitton. Ido not know that ho paid it into the Bank of New Zealand at Qeraldine. Frederick George Shury, lodger-keeper m the Uuion Bank of Australia, Timara : Tho cheque produced came to our Bank from the Bank of New Zealand, Timaru, on the 4th January. I did not notioe the alteration. As it came through another Bank, 1 relied too much onitho figures. It was debited to Mr Milton, Mount Peel station account. Deteolive Kirby : I received the cheque from tho Manager of tbe Union Bank on the Bth mat. and wont m eesrch of the prieaner, and on fclie morning of tbe 10th I found him near Mr Grigg's Longbeaoh station. I askod him where he had been working recently. He ■aid at Mount Poel station. I then cautioned him and asked him how he was paid when leaving. He said by ehequefrom Mr Mitton, for £7 2s, and ho had cashed it at Donald McKay's store, Peel Forest. I thon arrested him and oharged him with forgery. I found the rfoeipb for McKay's account among his effects. Mr fiumersley did not cross-examine any of the witnesses. . Prisoner reserved liis defence, and was committed lot trial at the next session of tho Supreme Court Bt Timaru. Bail was allowed, accused m JEIO3, and two sureties m £50 each. The Court then rose.