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Star (Christchurch), Issue 376, 28 July 1869, Page 3

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o CHRISTCUUIICB. This Dat. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness and Wilful Damage to Private Property. — Thomas E. Barnes was brought up for these offences, but remanded until to-raorrow for enquiries to be made by the police into the character of the complainant in the case. Unregistered Dog. — John M'Connell was charged with being the owner of an unregistere I dog above the prescribed age of three months. Accused resides at the Selwyn Forks, and in defence pleaded that he was not aware but the registry had been paid. He had instructed Mr E. George, in Christchurch, to obtain the necessary collar for him, bm it had been neglected. Mr George was called, and corroborated this statement, saying that he had lost the letter containing accused's instructions, aud forgot all about it for some time. Inspector Pender said the dog had since been registered, and his Worship aayintc that he was satisfied there had been no intention to evade the law, dismissed the case. Indecent Assault. — John Connop, au old gray-haired man. was brought up in custody, charged with having indecently assaulted Mary Ann Merriman, a girl 1 0 years of age, in Walton and Warner's yard, High street, yesterday noon. Prisoner, in defence, said he was intoxicated, and did not remember ever having 6een the girl before that morning. The evidence of the proseoutrix was substantiated by the storeman at Cobb and Sawtell's, who could see into the yard from his employer's premises. His Worship said he would prefer dealing with the case summarily, rather than drag the girl through the Supreme Court, and would, therefore, like some evidence respecting prisoner's mode of livelihood. Inspector Pender was swam, and said about four years ago prisoner was committed for trial for stealing a watch, but got off, and two months ago he was imprisoned for petty larceny. From this latter he was only released on Saturday last, and witness had known him for some time a 9 doing nothing but drinking and loafing about the town. Prisoner denied the loafing, saying he never came to town except to spend his money, and left as f-oon as it was done. He had been doing nothing but drink since he came out of gaol on Saturday last. Uis Worship said that, but for the objectionable proceeding of taking the girl to the Supreme Court, he should certainly have committed prisoner for trial. It was a most monstrous thing that respectable children could not go about without being interfered with in such a disgraceful manner by an old rogue like prisoner, and the Bench would order him to be imprisoned for six months, under the Vagrant Act, as an idle or dissolute person.