Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 108, 17 September 1868, Page 3

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. This Dat. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) Dronkxxnbss. — Anne Clarke was brought up charged with having been drunk and disorderly yesterday. Constable Conway said about seven o'clock last nizht he heard prisoner making a great disturbance in Cashel street, and* annoying people with obscene laagUßga ; she also broke a pane of glass in Mr Pengelly'a window, and would not desist when requested. She was in a state of intoxication. W. Pengelly was called, and gave corroborative evidence as to the prisoner's disorderly conduct, but could not swear that she had broken the window. He saw her going away from the spot, and a boy told him that she had done it. His Worship admonished prisoner very severely, and, remarking that she had but very lately been up for a similar offence, fined her 20s, with an order for her also to pay for the broken window. Breaches of the Cattle Trespass Ordinance. — William Shaw pleaded guilty to two informations for permitting cattle to wander at large within the precints of the city, on the sth inst., and was fined 5» each. — Margaret Cotton was charged with tethering a cow in such a position as to obstruct the thoroughfare in Cambridge Terrace on the 6th inst. Defendant's son admitted the offence, brft pleaded that it had not been there above five minutes. His Worship censured defendant very strongly. She had been repeatedly summoned for similar conduct, and would be fined 10s. If again brought up, a much heavier penalty would be inflicted — W. S. Ivens and Albert Beechey were respectively fined 5s each for permitting horses to be at large within the city. — David Kitchie appeared in answer to a charge for being the owner of a horse found galloping through the streets without a driver. Constable Kennedy deposed to seeing the horse pass through several streets in the city at a very rapid pace, without any person being in chnrge of it. The horße was harnessed to a spring cart. In defence it was pleaded that a boy had taken the bit out of the horse's mouth to give it a feed, when one of the blinkers became displaced, and seeing the trap behind it, the hone bolted. His Worship Baid the boy had evidently neglected his charge, and a fine of 10s must be imposed. Breaches op tub Police Ordinance. — W. Roikridge was charged with this offence. Constable Wilson said he saw defendant driving up Cashel street, and noticed a sore on the shoulder of one of his horses. He followed, and on examination found three severe cuts under the collar, They had evidently been caused by the latter ; and, after standing a bit, the horse refused to move in consequence of them. Two witnesses were called, and gave corroborative evidence. In defence, it was pleaded that the horse had not been worked for a long time, and its skin bting consequently tender, it soon broke. It had only been driven from Lincoln, and defendant could not have used another to go back with excepting a much worse one. llis Worship said there could be no doubt but the offence had been committed, and inflicted a fine of 10s. James Coskerie appeared in answer to an information for having been at such a distance fro mi his horse and dray ia a public thoroughfare as not to have proper control over it. Constable Greenwood proved the offence, and a fine of 10s was imposed. — Kdwin Collins pleaded guilty to tethering a horse on a public road in St. Albans." His Worship said he would only inflict th« nominal fine of ss, but he would have it to be remembered that he made it a rule to fine twice the amount for tethering as for wandering at large, as the former was by far the most dangerous to the public. Breach of the Roads Ordinance. — Wm. Henderson admitted being the owner of a horse found at large ia Colombo street south, and was fined ss. Cruelty to Ahimals. — An information for this offence had been preferred against one John Cox by Mr Fereday, but defendant <iid not appear. Mr Fereday said he had reason to believe that the wrong name had been given to him, and that defendant had since left the province and gone to Auckland. His Worship ordered enquiries to be made, and adjourned the case to await the result. Unregistered Dog. — Stephen Murphy, of the -tanmore road was fined 20s for this offence. Assault. — S. Treleaven appeared in answer to a charge of assault, preferred against him by J. Mason. Complainant stated that on Saturday evening last he was riding towards Kaiapoi in a dray, with a friend, when just beyond the RUer Styx, defendant came up on horseback and accosted him. Some angry words passed when defendant said he would take it out of him, and went for a friend to hold his horse. He then tuok off his hat and coat and wanted to fight, but complainant refused and told his friend to drive on. Defendant then jumped into the dray and assaulted him. both ultimately falling out on to the road. They fought then until separated. The driver of the cart and another witness gave «in\ilar evidence, and defendant admitted having commenced the fight. He pleaded, however, that in talking about aa old standing money grievance, complainant threatened to give him a thrashing, called him abusive names, and then asked him to fight. He refused to do so, but defendant again said he would give him a thrashing, and he then went for a friend to hold his horse, whilst he defended himself. Complainant bad got out of the dray during this conversation, and was some distance away from it. When defendant had alighted from his horse, he went and dared complainant to thrash him, which, not doing, he then got into the dray to him. The driver of the dray re-called, said the conversation certainly took place a little distance away. He heard the money matters mentioned, but no abuiive language made use of by complainant. His Worship said there could be no

doubt but tb« assault had been committed, and aven assuming that defendant's version of the affair was correct, still he went and deliberately prepared himself for the attack. The whole had evidently resulted from some old standing grievance, and defendant ought to have known better than conduct himself in such a manner. He would.be fined 20s and costs. — Henry Bumell was cfiarged by Shaw Crosliind with a similar offence. Complainant said, having received an account from defendant, he went to his premises in Cashel street, on the 7th inst , to obtain detailed particulars. The boy in attendance said he could not give them, but fetched defendant, who, immediately on entering, called him no man, then strack him in the mouth, threw a book at him, and kicked him, belles using most abusive language. Three witnesses gave corroborative evidence, and some were also called for the defence, but nothing material was elicited from them beyond that a dispute had occurred about the account. Complainant wag very persistent; in the demands for the details, which defendant said he could not supply, but if their accuracy was doubted would give up all claim to the amount. High words passed, and a disturbance arose, during which defendant sent for the police, but thsy could not be found. His Worship considered the case fully proved, and inflicted a penalty of 20s and costs.