Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 219, 25 January 1869, Page 2

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness. — Rosanna, Hill, against! whom there were twelve previous convictions, was charged with having beeen drunk and disorderly on Saturday evening. His Worship remarking upon the former, but noticing that some time had elapsed since her last appearance, said he would only impose a penalty of 20s; but if again brought up, she would be imprisoned for a lengthened term. Assault.— Henry Thomas Lawrence (17)! • was brought up in custody, charged with I having assaulted a girl 12 years of age, with intent to do her grievous bodily harm. Intpeotor Pender said from information reI ceived, lie went in company with Detective I Feust, yesterday, to arrest the prisoner, who resided on Shand's Track. When near the house of a man named Foreman, they met him with his master, and witness at once took him into custody. The usual caution was administered to him, and in reply, he denied all knowledge of the matter. Witness then took prisoner to Mr Foreman's, where prosecutiix was lying down, and evidently suffering very much. As soon as she saw prisoner, she accused him of being the person who had assaulted her. Medical assistance iiad in the meantime been Bent for, and Dr Nedwill ar-

rived shortly afterwards. He examined the prosecutrix, and said she was suffering from a severe wound inflicted by a sharp instrument. She was too unwell to be removed, and a further report received this morning showed her to be still in the same state. Prisoner had several scratches on bis right wrist, evidently inflicted by some person's nails, and witness would ask for a remand until the evidence of prosecutrix could be produced. In reply to his Worship, prisoner said he had nothing to say why this should not be done, and the case was accordingly adjourned for eight days. Larcent from the Person. — William Jones was charged with having stolen a purse of money and a pocket-handkerchief from Jane Gallagher. Constable Kennedy said prisoner was given into his ustody by the prosecutrix at a little after nine o'clock 011 Saturday evening. Prosecutrix said she was the wife of Patrick Gallagher, but did not reside with him at present. On Saturday evening she was riding in a dray down Colombo street, when prisoner asked the driver if he might also get in, and was allowed to do £0. When they arrived at Mann's Hotel, they got out, and prisoner called for a quart of beer. He asked her to have some, but she refused, shortly after he took hold of her round the waist, and began pulling her übout. Thinking he was intending to do something wrong, and feeling his hand near her pocket, she pushed him away. Shortly afterwards she had occusion to feel for her purse, but could not find it or her pockethandkerchief and keys. She could remember distinctly having the purse in her hand a very short time before the prisoner took hold of her. She could swear to thi „ and also to feeling prisoner's hand near her pocket. After being pushed away, prisoner left the house and site next saw him at the White Hart, where she gave him into custody. By Mr Williams : When she pushed prisoner away, he went back a step or two, but she did not see anything in his hand. He might have taken the things before then. She had offered to with I raw the charge, because prisoner's brother had paid her the 18s which was in her purse. She went to the Depot to do so, but the police would not allow her. A witness, who was in Mann's Hotel at the time the alleged robbery was committed, corroborated the evidence as to prisoner taking hold of prcsecutrix, and seeing his hand near her pocket. He also made a similar statement respecting the disappearance of prisoner and the discovery by prosecutrix of her loss. For the defence, Mr Williams said that prisoner's brother had not seen prisoner before paying the money, and did so merely on prosecutrix' statement, thinking that the purse had in some way been lost, and not to compromise a theft. Nothing was said by which he was led to believe that a theft had been committed, and he (Mr Williams) could also show that prisoner had plenty of money in his possession, and had therefore no reason to steal the articles. He was not prepared with the evidence, and his Worship being desirous of hearing it, remanded the case until tomorrow.