Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 166, 23 November 1868, Page 2

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. B This Dat. B (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) 8 Drunkenness. — Johu Kay, on bail, sp-* peared in answer to :i charge of haying beta drunk and incapable on Sunday morninj. He admitted the offence, but being his firit appearance, he was only mulcted in the nominal penalty of 5s. — A. Smart, also on bail, was charged with having been drunk aid disorderly in a licensed house. From tie evidence of the apprehending constable, aid F. Warner, it appeared that he had gone ;o the Golden Age Hotel, on Saturday niglt, assaulted the landlord, and created a greit disturbance. He was drunk, and broke a paie of glass, for which he would not pay. Hs Worship censured accused very strongly, anl remarking that he had previously been befoie the Court for drunkenness, inflicted a penally of 16s. Forgery.— John Byrne was brought up h custody charged with having forged orden for goods, and a signature to an IO U. Marcus Sandstein, watchmaker, residing in Cashel street, Christchurch, said he knew prisoner, who called at his shop on or about the 6th of May last. He asked for the loan of £3 10s, and represented himself as the son of Dr Parkerson. Witness replied that he had no knowledge of him, or had ever seea him before. Prisoner answered that he had frequently been in the shop, and, on witness saying he did not think he had so much as £3 10s on the premises, asked for £2, which he thought he could make answer for the purpose he required money for. He said he would repay it as soon as he saw the doctor, * and gave the I O U produced for the amount. Witness saw him sign the I O U, and was under the impression that prisoner was the person he represented himself to be. Prisoner's excuse for not going to his reputed father's, who, witness knew, resided in Oxford terrace, was that it was raining and that he was in haste to settle a small account. Witness afterwards went to Dr Parkerson, and from what he learnt there respecting prisoner, laid an information at the Police Depot. Burrell Parkerson, surgeon, residing in Christchurch, said he knew prisoner, who was in his employ about three or four months during the early part of the year. He then went by the name of John Byrne. Witness knew his son's handwriting, but that on the I O U produced was not it. He did not know any other person of the same name as his son in Canterbury. Prisoner declined to make any statement, and was committed for trial at the next session of the vSupreme Court. Another charge of a similar nature was also preferred against prisoner. Edmund Neil, barman at the Shades in Hereford street, said he knew prisoner, who called there on the 18th of April last, and aßked for two bottles of brandy. He presented the order ''produced, which purports to be signed by Mr Parkerson. Witness gave himC the brandy on the strength of it, as he knew/ that he had at one time been in the employ o : Mr Parkerson. Prisoner signed the del very bonk on receiving the brandy, and too' c the latter with him. Mr Parkeraon said the i signature on the order produced was not i l his handwriting, neither had he ever autho rised prisoner to fetch brandy from the Sti ades. Prisoner again declined to make any « tatement, and was committed for trial on this * charge aho. Two others were next pref srred against him for procuring three and four bottles of brandy from the same place and under similar circumstances on the 29th of April and 6th of May, respecti rely. Conclusive evidence was given, and the prisoner was sentenced as bed ore. Seven charges, for forging receipts for >ayments of money, were also heard. From the eridence it appeared that whilst in the employmeut of Mr Parkerson, in February and March last, prisoner was sent to Mr Ja tnes Hogg's, provision dealer, for oats, bran, and other goods. Money was given to him ' rith. which to pay for them, but instead of d >ing so, he appropriated the various sums to his own use, and carried forged receipts to his employer. He declined to make any s atement in extenuation of any of the char ges^ and was committed for trial on the whole ~