CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2043, 24 September 1874, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

This Dat.

(Before C. 0. Bowen, Esq., R.M.) Hobses and Oattie at Labgb. — The following cases were disposed of : — A. J. White, one horse, High street, fined 5s ; John O'Neil, one cow, South town belt, fined 5s ; also one horse, Barbadoes street, fined sa ; Geo. Bull, one horse, Manchester, street, -fined 5s j B. J. Hale, one horse, East town belt, fined 5b ; W. R. Smith, one cow, Antigua street, fined ss; Henry -Wright, one -calf, South town belt, fined 5s j also, one cow, South town belt, fined 5s ; Wm. Attwood, four horses, Ferry road, fined 10a ; Andrew Martin, two head of cattle, Heathcote road, fined 5s ; Michael Healey, five head of cattle on a road in the Lincoln district, fined 10s; Geo. Wilson, two horses, Cemetery road, Lincoln district, fined ss.

Unbbgistbbed . Dogs.— James M'Kenzie, for having three unregistered dogs above the age of three months, was fined £3.

Obstbttcting Thoboitghpabes.— Thomas Dalton was summoned for having obstructed the thoroughfare in Cambridge terrace, by tethering a cow in such a manner as 'to /enable it to Btray thereon, Constable Morrison proved the offence, and a fine of 10s was imposed. — John Inglis was charged with having obstructed the footpath in Cambridge terrace, by riding a horse thereon immediately in front of Dr Turnbull's residence. Constable Lamb proved the offence, stating that acoused remained with his horse on the footpath for about five minutes.' Acoused said he only went on the footpath to take an order from Dr Turnbull's servant girl, and rode off as soon he was spoken to about the matter. Accused was fined 10s.

Dbiving on a Path. — John Harper, licensed 'bus driver, was summoned for having taken his horses and 'bus across the footpath in High street at a place where no crossing bridge is provided. Constable Eares proved the offence. Acoused said he had seen carts driven across at the same place. A fine of 10s was imposed.

111-Tbbating a Hobse. — Joseph Allen was charged with having hurt and harrassed a hone on the Whately road: Constable Henderson said he Baw accused unharness his horse from the trap he was driving, and then commence striking it severely on the head and elsewhere with a whip. The horse reared up, and struck out with his feet to the great danger of passers-by. By accused : He (witness) distinctly saw the occurrence. Accused said the constable did not see the affair at all, and really knew nothing about it. The horse reared while accused was driving it, and' broke one of the shafts. He then took it out of the trap, and struck it once or twice with tho whip produced, but he distinctly denied having been guilty of ill-treatment. He called two witnesses who saw the occurrence, and they said the horse refused to go, and accused then got out of fche trap, and led it for a short distance. He then got in again, when the horse reared up and broke one of the shafts. Accused thereupon took the horae out, and struck ifc three or four times with his whip, but did not do anything which could be called ill-treatment. They did not see accused strike the horse on the head. Accused said, as proving that the constable did not see the affair, and really knew nothing of it himself, he might say that the constable first charged his (accused's) father with having ill-used the horse, and afterwards oharged accused with it. Constable Henderson denied this. He said he spoke fco accused's father on the subject first, but did not say it was him who had ill-used the horse. Accused, in reply to the Bench, said he could call his father fco prove the contrary, and could call other witnesses to show that he had nofc ill-used the horse. His Worship said he would adjourn the case for a week in order to enable additional evidence to bo produced on either side. Disobeying an Obdeb ov the Coubt. G-eorge Cookson, was summoned for having disobeyed an order of tbe Court, for the payment of £2 per week for the b upport of his wife. Accused did nofc appear. Inspector Buckley said he believed accused had gone to Malvern. His Worship eaid accused had disobeyed the order twice, and the case would be adjourned until Thursday next, when, if he did not appear, a warrant would be issued for his arrest.

Violent Assault.— Frederick King, Sen., was charged with having violently assaulted Joseph Elstob. Complainant said he was in accused's bar, at the Junction Hotel, on Friday evening last, when acoused struck him across the bar counter on the nose. He did not know what ifc was for. He had been working for accused's son. Albert John Williams said : On the evening named, complainant and another man had some words in the bar, and complainant made use of bnd language, when accused struck at him. Accused, in defence, said that complainant had been working for his (accused's) son, and on Friday last he left his work, went to town, got drunk, and then came to the hotel, where he kicked up a row. He applied a disgusting epithet to him (accused), whereupon he struck complainant across the counter. Accuaed called two witneaaes who proved to complainant having kicked up a row in the har of the hotel. Complainant, in reply to his Worship, denied having made uae of the language towarda accused that had been stated. His Worship dismissed the ease.

Fobgeby and Uttebing. — Thomas Thompson was brought up in custody charged with having forged and uttered a cheque for £9 10a on the Bank of New Zealand, purporting to be signed by E. W. Trent. Detective Benjamin said : About one o'clock yesterday afternoon I arrested prisoner at Potter's house on the Harewood road, and told him what he was charged with. He said he had presented a cheque for under £10 at the Bank the day before yesterday, but fchat he had not forged ifc ; that it had been given to him by a man named John Darling, whom he met in the street, and that he did not know anything about Darling except that he was a sailor. On the way to the Depot he asked me whether the fact that he had previously been imprisoned for a week would have the effect of making the sentence in this case any heavier. I received the cheque produced from the Bank of New Zealand, and w«*a told it had been presented for payment, which was refused because the signature wag unlike. The cheque has been presented to other Banks in the town but returned with the remark " signature not known." Sarah Ann Pope, stationer, Colombo street, said : One day la9t week prisoner came to my shop. After purchasing some things, he asked for a blank cheque on the Bank of New Zealand. I gave him one fron the cheque-book produced. The b»tt still remains i

in the book. The cheque was the first one taken from the book. Prisoner took the cheque away with him. By priaoner : I believe it was on Thursday or Friday last. Window Woodward said : lam ledger-keeper at the Bank of New Zealand. On Monday last prisoner came to the Bank and presented a cheque purporting to be signed by E. W. Trent, for payment. The cheque produced ia the one. I did not pay it as the signature was unlike Mr Trent's. I referred it to the accountant, and it Was afterwards given up to the police. The cheque produced is the one. It has been taken from a book issued by the Bank to Sarah Ann Pope. No cheque-book containing cheques with similar numbers to the one produced would be issued by our Bank to any other perßon. Edwin William Trent said: I carry on business at the coffee and chicory works, Christohurch aud Templeton. The signature to the cheque produced is not mine. No part of the writiog in the cheque is mine. I have always banked at the Bank of New Zealand. I always sign my cheques E. W. Trent. The one produced is ; signed in the same way, but the writing is not like mine. Prisoner was in my employ about two years ago. He would have opportunities of seeing my signature while in my employ. I know of no other person bearing the same ,name as myself in the colony. Thiß concluded the case for the prosecution. The evidence was then read over, and the usual caution administered. Prisoner said he had nothing 'to say in defence, and was then formally committed to take his trial at the : next session of the Supreme Court.