Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 377, 29 July 1869, Page 3

Magisterial.

-e> CHRISTCHURCH. This Dat. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M., and James E. Graham, Esq.) Vagrancy.— James Clifford, an elderly man, was brought up in custody for this offence. From the evidence of Inspector Pender and Mr Wynn Williams it appeared that prisoner was in a state of intoxcation in Latmer square yesterday, and in conversation with a little girl, whom it was suspected he was endeavour?/ ing to entice away for improper purposes. The latter witness, indeed, saw him follow'the child, and say " Come here, my dear, come here." Inspector Pender came up shortly after, and prisoner then desisted, and walked hurriedly away. Prisoner had previously been convicted for drunkenness, but in defence of the present charge, he said he certainly endeavoured to get the boys and girls in the square to run races, and had been drunk, but nothing else. In reply to the Bench, Inspector Pender Baid he believed prisoner bad recently been at work ia the Nelson province, and had only been in Christchurob a few dajs. His Worship said, taking the case at the very best, a drunken man was not fit company for a v iri, and only yesterday he had a very shocking case before him of indecent assault, under similar circumstances. Prisoner had also been before the Court on a previous occasion, and would be fined 40s, or, in default, fourteen days' imprisonment. Drunkenness and Wilful Damage to Private Propbbtt.— Thomas E. Barnes, ou remand from yesterday, appeared in answer to two separate informations for these offences. The first charge was proved by the police, and admitted. The second was laid on the information of Samuel Dufty, who alleged that, shortly aftfcr eleven o'clock on Tuesday night, accused tried to get into his house, and broke open the door, assaulting him violently when he went outside. His head was covered with blood, and constable Eares came in answer to his cries for help. Accused, in defence, said that he met complainant's wife at the Prince of Wales Hotel, where they bad a drink together, and was induced to go home with her. When they got to the house, complainant called out from an inner room, and subsequently ejected him, blows being struck on both sides during the struggle. In support of tbis, a witness named Frost said he saw accused pay for a drink for Mrs Dufty, and that they left tbe hotel almost together. He admitted, however, that shortly afterwards Mrs Dufty returned, and asked him to accompany her home, but whether for protection or not he could not say. Mrs Dufty, in evidence, said accused followed her and annoyed her, and she returned to the hotel for protection. Accused repeated his former statement, and his Worship said that the case had heen adjourned under the probability that there might have been some im proper conduct on complainant's part, but accused had failed to support the statement he had made in defence, and would be fined 20s. Drunk and Disohderlt. — Jobn Collins, oa. bail, admitted having been guilty of this offence yesterday, and was fined 10s. *N y/yVoLUNTEERS in Trouble. — Charles Allif sonKJohn Smith, — shell, Joseph Piper, and James Badkin, the first lieutenant and gunners of the Christchurch Artillery Corps, were summoned for having committed a breach of the Police Ordinance, by firing blank cartridge from a 12-pounder in Armagh street west. The offence was admitted, nnd Colonel Packe defended the conduct of tha accused, as having acted under his orders! His Worship considered that there were extenuating circumstances in the [case, and imposed the nominal penalty of 20s. Disgraceful Imposition. — James George M'Donald, who appeared in court with hia face bandaged up, was charged under the Vagrancy Act with having solicited and obtained public subscriptions by means of false representations. Prisoner had, it appeared, been soliciting alms on tbe statement that he was tomahawked across the nose during the engagement in which Major von Tempsky was killed, whilst it was proved tbat he was suffering from a cancer in the face. The evidence, which was very lengthy, showed that he had received over £23 by this means, and had squandered ie in shouting for people at various hotels in the l ity. It was also shown that he had been leading the life of a vagrant, and pursuing similar

impositions in Wellington, until the place became too hot for him. He had no defence to make, and his Worship, remarking very strongly upon the disgraceful nature of the case, sentenced prisoner to six months' imprisonment. 'ICattle Trespass Ordinance. — The following fines were inflicted for breaches of this Ordinance : — Edward Stewart, one cow nt large, South town belt, si; Christian Debtford, one horse at large in Lichfield street -,\nd one in Latimer square, 5s for each *£ William Simmons, one goat in St. Asaph street, 5s • T. C. Mullins, one horse at large in Latimer square, s*. *^In remarking upon Simmons' f-ase, his Worship said from that day forward he wished it to be distinctly understood that he would fine 10s for every goat permitted to trespass on public thoroughfares within the city. These animals were a great nnd increasing nuisance in the city, and must be put a stop to. Obstructing Public Thoroughfares. — Michael Darcy was charged with haviug obstructed the thoroughfare in Lichfield .treet, by leaving a curt standing thereon. Constable Conway proved to the cart being in the street upwards of four hours, and accused did not deny it, but pleaded that being a perfect i-tranger he had no idea of the law, or would not have placed his cart there. Inspector Pender, in reply to the Bench, said be knew that accused was a stranger in the city, and his Worship adopting this view of the case, dismissed it with a suitable caution. — James Hawker was summoned for the same offence in Ferry Road. Constable Wilson proved to seeing a quantity of manure on the road in front of his house, and that it remained there two nights and a day. Accused admitted the offence, but urged that the weather had rendered it impossible to remove the manure. His Worship said having dismissed the previous case he would do the same with this one, but he must let it be understood that accused had no right to have placed the manure on the roadway at th\ first. N Runaway. — Robert Crozier was charged /<vith having remained at such a distance from ' his horses and dray as not to have proper control over them. From the evidence of Constable Thoreau, it appeared that the horse had bolted from Madras street bridge, and galloped through several streets, the cart being ultimately capsized in Cashel street. Accused admitted the offence, but pleaded that it was entirely an accident. He had shunted some earth on the river bank, and had hold of the shaft horse when the leader bolted. He lost all command over them and was obliged to release his grasp. His Worship said these offences were becoming so numerous, that they must not be lightly passed over. Great danger to life and property was incurred by them, and drivers muat be made responsible. Accused would be fined 10s. Furious Riding. — William Rooney.on the evidence of Constable Thompson, was charged with furious riding near Victoria Bridge One w iman, it appeared, had a serious fall in trying to get out of the way, and had since been confined to bed. Accused said he had only just previously purchased the horse, and it bolted; but the constable saying that accused was under the influence of liquor at the time, a fine of 29s was imposed. Unregistered Dogs. — The followine persons were fined for having unregistered dogs in their possession above the prescribed age of three months : — Valentine Buckley, three informations, £3 ; Edmund Croser, one information, £1 ; William Vine, £1 ; Jacob Parish, £1; Fanny Boyd, £1. Unlicensed Slaughter-House. — Joseph Culliford, butcher, Colombo street, was summoned for having killed sundry sheep and pigs in an unlicensed slaughter-yard. Accused, in defence, alleged tbat he had been flooded out of his old premises, and had registered an application for the section complained of. His Worship said, in consideration of this, the case would be dismissed, and that, pending the hearing of accused's application for a license, be might continue to u?e the spot for slaughtering purposes. Abusivj* Language. — Kobert Swarm was summoned by Joseph Crowley for using abusive language towards him, and, admitting it, but expressing his regret, was fined 10s and costs. maßmmmuammmmmmmmmammtmammmmaammmmmmmmmßtm