CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3654, 27 December 1879, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

This Dai. .{Before Or. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M., G. L. JLee, Esq., his Worship the Mayor, O. G. Parker, Esq., J. P. Jameson, Esq , Major Lean, and John Ollivicr, Esq.) TfiAVELXIXO WITUOVT A TrCKET.— Barnard Lougheran pleaded guilty to the • charge of travelling without a railway ticket from the Rakaia to Ghristchurch. Accused said he was wanting to get to tho Old Mon'a Homo, and that of two evils ho had to choose the least. He had either to get into the ■train or die in the tussock. Tho case wa3 held over until Monday for inqnirie?. DBUMKBNXKsa.— Margaret Shannon was fined 20s j Charles Dee was fined the like amount, Mary Wilstead was fined 40.?, for being drunk and disorderly. John Murphy, for the samo offence, also for using obscene language, ani assaulting and resisting . Sergeant Witeon, about midnight on Dec. 26, was fined £5, with the alternative of a month's imprisonment with hard labour. I/Aboent.— Murgarct Hayes, charged with ■ stealing sundry articles to tho valuo of 20s, the property of John Kellett, was remanded till Monday. Fuhioub Dhitikq.— William John Soinervilla, charged with this offence, was remanded till Monday, on the application of Superintendent Brohan. Mr Neck appeared for the - defendant, who was admitted to bail, himself £20, two sureties of £10. Biot and Assault.— Michael M'Avey, Thomas Hanley, P. Cuddihey and Michael Conolly were charged with riotous cocduot . and with assaulting certain persons on the previous morning, In these cases Superintendent Broham asked for a remand till Monday morning. The members of the police force had been on du'y for about 24 hours' con- . secutivoly, and therefore the evidence could > not well be brooght forward until Monday morning. At that timo the police would be prepared to go into nil the cases. Prisoners ■were -remanded • accordingly, bail being ab- < soluteljv refused. Biotous Conduct. — Alexander Howden was charged with this offence, and Mr Mellish, who had given him in charge, left tho Bench. "Tho arresting constable deposed that on searching accused at the watohhouse he found an iron bar in his pocket. Mr Mellish deposed that he Maw accused, when within three feet of -him, throwing stones. There wero several people round him, including Borne women, who were evidently shielding and encouraging 'him. Alexander Lean also left the Bunch, and gave corroborative evidence. Aocused ■-eaid that whon his hand happened to bo behind him, a stone was put into it. He throw tho ; stone towards the pond, that wa3 all. Fined 60 j, or in default a week's ■imprisonment. Obstructing Special Constables. — • Charles Griffin was charged with, obstructing a special constable while in the execution of his duty. It appeared that tho accused was the worso for liquor, and that he accused one of the special constables of having picked his pociets. Alfred Sheath deposed that ho was wearing a special badge, and that accused was very abusive. Accused, a labourer, pleaded that he had never before been in v Court of Justice on any chargo. Fined 20s. Window Bbeakinq — John Smith pkaded guilty to a charge of breaking a window at Barrett's Hotel. Constable" M'Curthy deposed to the arrest j ho did not sco the stone thrown. John O'Donell, who was railed r.s a witness, said he was a labourer working " on the railway up here." Saw accused lift a stone and break a window. Accused : I beg your pardon, I didn't throw at tho windows. 'Ihere was a lamp out>ide, and I picked up a stone and banged at it (Laughter.) Fined <50s. — Dobbs Collins was charged with stone •throwixg ; he had been given into custody by Superintendent Broham. Mr Brohnm now stated that in tho hurry the chargo had been wrongly entered. It should have been " inititing the crowd to a-sault the special •constables." Evidence was given that .accused with olherj was endeavouring to 'break through the line of special constables, on endeavours to rush the hott 1. Tho party in question consisted exclusively of a number of larrikins, of whom accuf ed appeared to be ihe leader. Tho Jade employer, John Herne, rangemaker, give him a most excellent character, and asserted Ibat ho was tho very opposite of a larrikin. The lad had been in his employ about four jcnrß. On eccount of the good character given, tho Bench impoied a fine of only 40s, or, in default, v week's imprisonment with hard kbonr. John Heigh, charged with a similar offenco, pleaded not guilty. The arresting constable deposed that when standing within a couple of paces of accused he taw him throw a stone at the hotel. Superintendent Broham said the windows of the cab which conveyed accused to thodepflt vrere broken by the croard. Accused said all he did wa9 to throw a stone into tho middle of the road ; he did not aim at tho building. Hhe cabman, in reply to the Bench, said he ■was ordered in the Queen's name to stop and «onvey the prisoner. A ecuffio ensued, in which the cab window was broken, the damage boing ISs. Fined 60a, and ordered to pay for tho damage doce to the cab. George Milne, charged with stono throwing, declared that he was nover in tho crowd at all. Mr Baker, Bpecial cotstable, deposed that he caw accused deliberately throw a stone at the hotel. Heat once gave him into the chargo of one of tho police. Fined 60 j. Charles fcjnndman, tolio had been given into custody by special - constable Raphael ; said ho threw a - bit of gravel about tho size of that, to attract the attention of a friend of his ; he did not throw at the hotel, nor had he any iuteution of doing so. G. B. Day waa called for the defence, but did not appear.'' Fiiiol 60s.— D. O'Neill, who had (been given into custody by Mr Mellish on the .charge of gtona-throwimj, and conveyed to £he dapflt by Cori.-tubi? Weathfrjcigh ; waj

fined GOi. — Frank Thompson waa charged with being drunk and disorderly, and with throwing a stone at Barrett's Hotel. Accused said he would allow being tho worse for drink ; if he threw a stone he did not do so intentionally. William Holland was charged with stone-throw ins, and Mr Joyce appeared for tho defence. Inspector Broham deposed deposed that ho caw nccueed and another man walking past the front of the hotel. He heard a noise as of stone throwing, and saw the inner man throw a stone ; that man was at once arrested by the order of witness. Serjeant Hughes deposed that at daybreak he siw the two men refeired to. Witness and Constable Cleary gavo cha-e, and accused was caught by the constable. Constable Cleary gavo coroborative evidence, deposing that ho never lost sight of the man pointed out to him by Superintendentßrohara. Accused deposed that a stone was thtown by another man, who was a stranger to him, and that when this man ran he foolishly ran too. Sergeant Wilson, who was called for the defence, deposed that he had seen accused standing about in a peaceable manner at about one o'clock. Mr Joyce submitted that it might be inferred that a slight mistake had been made, and that consequently the case should be dismissed. The Bench had no doubt whatover in the matter, the evidence being very clear, and a fine of 60s would be imposed. '