Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 99, 7 September 1868, Page 3

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. This Dat. (Before C. C. Boweu, .Esq., It. M.) Dednkenness. — Jas. Mitchell was charged with having been drunk and incapable, but being his first appearance before the Bench, lie was dismissed with a caution. Michael Craddock, who had been remanded several times in consequence of his inability to leave the Hospital, pleade i guilty to a similar offence, and expressed contrition for his conduct. Being his first appearance, his Worship dismissed him with a caution, remarking that the penalty which he had paid by his lengthened illness ought to teach him to refr»in from intoxicating liquors for the future. William llodgers, on bail, appeared to answer a charge of drunkenness and disorderly conduct: at the Kailway Station on Saturday afternoon. Constable • Eares proved that he came down to the station in a cab, and wanted to fight leveral times. He tried to force his way into the railway carriages, and refused to leave when requested. Accused admitted the offencej and expressed regret for having misconducted himself in such a manner. His Worship said he was a man who ought to have known better, and ha would be fined 20s and costs. Peter Donnelly was brought up charged with having been drunk and riotous, and using obscene language in a licensed house. Constable Wilson said he was called into the Caversham hotel at a quarter-past twelve yesterday, where prisoner *&9 carrying on in a most disorderly manner, and wai given into his charge. He was intoxicated and using most improper language. The barman of the hotel gave corroborative evidence, and prisoner having nothing to say in extenuation of his conduct, hii Worship inflicted a fine of 20s. Larceny. — William John Jones alies Jonas was brought up charged with stealing a parcel containing a pair of boots and gaiters from a trap in Cathedral iquare, on. Saturday afternoon. Detective Feast said about a quarter to one o'clock he saw prisoner go up to 1 , several carts in Mr Preece's sale yards,

and turn up the straw to examine what was underlie itli. After thio he went tj Cathedral •quare and did ths sume with several drays standing on the open ground near Matson's buildings. Leaving them he next went and stood on the footpatlj near the buildings, but in a few momenta returned, and lifting up the struw in a spring cart, took the parcel produced, and putting it under his coat walked away into Hereford street. Witness at onca followed and arrested him, when ho said the parcel contained a piir of boot 3 which he had just purchased. After taking him to the lock-up, witness went aad found the owner of tlie er.rt, whose name was Donald -.'out is. He had, in consequenceof information r. ceived, been watching prisoner for neTer.il week*. Donald Coutta, farmer, residing near Kniapoi, identified the parcel produced as containing * pair of boots and leggings, whiuli he had purchased" on Saturday morninsr, at Cookham House. He had placed it in his trap in Cathedral Square, until time to return home, and the value of the articles was 255. Prisoner declined to make any statement . In reply to the bench, Inspector Pender s;iid prisoner had previously been convicted in Sydney. Prisoner said this was for some bills which he had given for goods amounting to a considerable sum of money, and that although he was taken bnck from New Zealand, lie was liberated on a point of law, after three months' imprisonment. This was more than eight years ago, and lie had occupied a good position in society. Me ha 1 kept several hotels, and lud lived eighteen months in the Riccarton Hotel. He had lately been all over the country trying to flml employment, but could not. He had offered his own and wife's services for 10s per week, but to no purpose. He had nothing to say in respect to what lie had done, beyond that lie had not a bit of coal or food in the h mse, and his family could not do without. Ha hoped whatever was done with him, provision would be made for hia wife. His Worship said he could not take the latter point into consideration at all. The robbery had been a most deliberate one, and of late there had been many committed. Prisoner wou d be sentenced to six months' imprisonment, at hard labour.