Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 290, 19 April 1869, Page 2

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M., G. Packe, and L. Walker, Esqs.) Embezzlement. — Archibald Macfarlane, ia custody, was charged with embezzling certain money belonging to Messrs Burton and Co., mail contractors on the North Road. Mr Wynn Williams appeared to defend, and Sergeant Pardy applied for a remand, on the ground that it hid not been possible to get all the witnesses to attend from the Waiau. Mr : Williams offering no opposition, his Worship agreed to grant it, but elected to hear the evidence then available, in order to decide the i amount of bail. Detective Feast said he , arrested prisoner 8 little after 1 2 o'clock on ■ Saturday last, in Cashel street. He had previously accosted him in Barnard's sale-yards, i when he denied that his name was Macfarlane. After the arrest and caution, prisoner said it was a mistake, and aaked to he allowed : to see Mr Lee before being taken to the locki up. Witness declined, and at once conveyed him to the depot. Samuel Lee said he was a . partner in the firm of Burton and Co., coach i proprietors, and prisoner had recently been in ! their employ as driver between Leithfield and i the Waiau in the Nelson province. His duty in receiving fares was to put them down on i the way-bill, and hand them in every day. , fie left their employment on Easter • Monday, when witness had a settlei ment with him for moneys received. He did not then, or on any previous occai sion, account for cash received from a man named Morgan. On the Bth of the present month witness saw prisoner, but no mention ' was made of Morgan's name. Witness asked him on that day for his receipts, but he said he had not taken any money. Since then witness had received intelligence from the Waiau by letter, which had caused him to lay the present in formation. [Letter produced, and read by the Bench.] By Mr Williams: The settlement which took place on prisoner leaving the employment of the firm was for his wages. Prisoner gave witness the concertina and pipe referred to in the letter, with a request for them to be repaired for a man at the Waiau or Mount Parnassus. This was on the Saturday previous to prisoner leaving the firm. On the day of leaving prisoner paid to Mr Burton the fares he had received for his last day of driving. His Worship said he did not see much of the case from this evidence, but he would grant the remand asked for, b »il to be provided for prisoner's appearance, . in approved sureties, to the amount of £50. Drunkenness.— Henry Wilson was brought up in custody, charged with having been drunk and incapable on Saturday night. Being his first appearance, and having been locked up since his arrest, he was discharged with a caution. John Hallam, on bail, was charged with being drunk and using obscene language in Oxford terrace, on Saturday afternoon. Constable Davis proved the offence, and a fine of 10s was inflicted. W. Baker, also on bail, admitted having been drunk and disorderly on Saturday, and expressed his contrition. A fine of 20s was inflicted. Charles Cooper was brought up in custody, charged with having been drunk and disorderly on Saturday night. Constable Pratt proved to seeing him near Madras street bridge, about a quarter-past twelve, in a state of intoxication, and shouting loudly. Witness also saw him in a similar state on the previous night, and had to caution him several times. Prisoner admitted the charge. His Worship said the Bench were sorry to see j him brought up again, and if he should commit another offence of the same nature, they would be compelled -to adopt more severe measures than fining him. Prisoner premised amendment, and the' Bench imposed the maximum penalty of £5, with a further caution.