Magisterial.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 594, 16 April 1870, Page 2

Magisterial.

CHRISTCHURCH. This Dat. (Before C. C. Bowen, Esq., R.M<, and T. ' W. Maude, Esq.) Drunkenness.— -William Foulds,; an olds' offender, for having been drunk aud indecently exposing himcielf in Colombo street, on Thursday afternoon, was fined 40s, or in default, to be imprisoned for ninety-six hoars. Larcbnt or a Pdrsb. — Bridget Murphy, an elderly woman was brought up in custody, * charged with having stolen a purse from - Uncle Tom's Coffee House, Colombo street. Constable Willis proved to having >rreated the prisoner on Thursday afternoon, and to her denying the charge when explained to her. He took her t*) the library at the Depot, and on being told to give up whatever money she had, she tendered him three half-crowns and a sixpence, which she eaid was all that she possessed. Witness asked her to search her pocket, but she denied having one. On shaking her dresa, as if to convince him of this, he heard, however, the jingle of some money, and on being spoken to about it she took 14s and a half sovereign from her pocket. Witness also subsequently received the purse produced from a man named Frank Hopkins. Ellen Thompson, the wife of John Tbomp- . son, residing at Uncle Tom's Coffee House, Colombo street, said : The prisoner called there about three o'clock on Thursday afternoon and sat down iv the dining-room, subsequently partaking of dinner. When Bhe had concluded dinner she went with witness into the reading-room, where witness, in giving her change for half a sovereign, had occasion to take out her purse. Witness gave her 9s, the other shilling being for the dinner. There was 23s or 24s in the purse, the half sovereign just received from prisoner being included in that amount. Amongst the bilver in the purse were two or three half crowns,: one sixpence, and some shillings. After giving prisoner change for the half sovereign, witness laid her purse on the table for a moment, but having to go away shortly afterwards forgot it, and left it there. There was no one else in the room but prisoner, and witness was only two or three minutes absent. When Bhe returned, to the room, prisoner was still there, but the pnrse was gone. No one had been into the house during witness's absence. When spoken to about the purse prisoner denied knowing anything of it, and shortly afterwards went away. The purse produced is

the one wiineas missed, and the money produced also appeared to be made np in muoh the same manner aa that left in the purse. The prisoner was in a state of intoxication at the time. Frank Hopkins, in the employ of Mr Mein, butcher, said priioner called at the Bhop on Thursday, afternoon last and purchased a hind-quarter of mutton, but instead of paying for it, -turned round when it was cut, and walked out of the shop. Witness thought this, very- strange, and went to the door to watch her. From there he saw her go to an opening between the Bhops of Mr Treleaven and the Messra Bishops, where flhe stooped down to do something, but he could. not see what. She then returned to Uncle Tom's, and on examining the spot where he saw her stoop dowii, witness afterwards found the purse produced. It was amongst some grass, and under a low paling. There was no money in it. In defence, the prisoner denied all knowledge of the circumstances related, averring that waa drunk. She repeatedly asserted her innocence, accompanying her statements by tears, and a request that the case might be adjourned so as to enable her to retain a lawyer fpr her defence. Her husband, who was in court, supported tbe latter, but his Worahip said the case was too clear againat prisoner for any good to accrue from such a course, and all thst the Bench would like to hear was in reference to previous character. On this point Inspector Pender stated that prisoner bad been in the habit of begging systematically for some time past, frequent cautions having been given to her. His Worship said the Bench had heard numerous complaints upon tbis head, and after severely reprimanding prisoner for it, and pointing out that the theft of which she bad been proved guilty was but the natural result of such conduct, sentenced her to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. The husband was called in, and severely censured by the Bench for permitting his wife to go round with such begging letters as had been reported to the police—now on behalf of a flee, then the death of a cow, and other such calamities — telling him that they were quite satisfied he must have been fully cognizant of the proceeding, and that he had better be more careful in future, or he would j get into serious trouble. j Neglecting to Support his Wife akb Familt. — Alfred Porter answered to an adjourned information charging him with this offence, and promising the Bench to henceforth make suitable provision for his family, the case was dismissed.