LYTTELTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3799, 18 June 1880, Page 3

LYTTELTON.

Fbiday, Juke IS. .{Bofore Joseph Beawicfr, Esq., R.M., T. H. Potts and D. H. Potta, JTaqra.) Tahcknt.— Henry Jennings, on remand, -trae charged with the larceny of aucdry article* value 25a, tho property of the owncra ,of the J-,hip Trevelyan. Mr H. N. if aider appeared -for the accuaed. Captain JKoborto, maater of the ship Trevelyan, stated that acauacd waa ohief ateward of the ship, and «[aa diacharged on June I. On Juno 7 he iras acting aa steward of the Duntroon. I wae pretent on board that ship when accuaed'a •effeofca wero searched,, and identified tlio articles now produced in Court aa belonging to the Bhip. Prisoner had no right whatever to take the gooda awuy from the ship. ByMr Naldor: I identify tho articlea as the •property of tho ship from their general appearance and having similar articles onboard. Th-t* second iteward identified tho goods as .#J**r-Dri>perty of the ship. Coria.table Cleary >

stated wheu he arrested tho accused Captain Roberts at once identified the gooda in Court aa tbe property of tho Bhip. Accused, whon chained with stealing the articles, said it was all oving to the curse of drink. Accused wua slightly under the influence of drink when areated. Considered a man under tho influence of drink when he could not walk. Mr Nalder addressed the Bench on behalf of the accused, contending that no caae had been made out againat him, and that the gooda had not been identified aa the property of the ahip, and that he waa advised by his client that the articles had been purchased by him. Diachargeß of the accused bearing good characters for aome yeara paat were handed to the Bench, and Mr Nalder pointed out that he had already beeD in cuatody for over a week. Ho characterised the charge aB a trumpery one, and brought against accuaed on account of ill-feeling entertained by the Captain. The Bench were satisfied that seemed rook the vanish and the pillow-slips, but considering that he had been locked up for over a week, he would be sentenced to 24 houra' hard labour. Failing to Pbovidb pob his Wife and Family.— Robert Parka waa oharged on remand with neglecting to provide for his wife and family. Mr Nalder appeared for tho complainant, and said the case was one of the most outrageoua ever brought before the Court. The defendant married the complainant three years ago, and after staying at home for a few days left, and waa ehortly after sentenced to three months' imprisonment for vagrancy. After coming out of prison he stayed at home for a short time, but with the exception of a few months he was at home, he had never contributed any thing towards her support. Mr Nalder stated that from a letter received from England, which he handed to the Bench, it appeared that the defendant had a wife living in England. The complainant in her evidence stated the only time she had received any support from defendant was from October 1878 to March 1879. Defendant stated that he never could get into the house after he was married, as complainant waa living with another man, and ahe drove him away when ho went. Mr Holmea eaid, aa amicus curiee, he might aay that if tbe assertion of the defendant could be proved, the comp'ainant had no claim on him. The complainant, on being called, said the reason ahe would not lefc the defendant into the houae was that he alwaya went there drunk and created a disturbance. The caae waa here ordered to atand over to allow of evidence being given by Conatable Kenny. DisoEDEBLr Bkhavioub. — Jamea Bin- ! stead, charged with this offence on Norwich quay on the previous day, waa, afc the recommendation of Sergeant- Major Maßon, dis* charged with a caution, the accused having expressed hia regret at having committed himself. Civil Casks.— Hobday v. Johnson, claim £1 9a 6d ; judgment for amount claimed, with costs. — M'Q.uilkan v. Murphy, claim £4 16a; judgment by default — Wheatley v. Rich ; claim £5. Mr Nalder for plaintiff. This was a claim for value of a fishing net purchased by defendant afc auction, said net being the property of plaintiff. From the evidence ifc appeared that a fisherman waa drowned in the harbour aome Bhort time since, and that hia property waa aold afc auction by order of the Public Trustee. Through aome blundering the net in queation waa aold with deeeaaed'a property, and purchased by defendant. The claim was for value of the net and loaa auatained for non-poasesaion. Defendant Btated thafc he bought four nets at auction on the wharf about a month aince. Did not know the net now aued for. The Bench said it waa no doubt very hard on the defendant, they would give judgment for the net to be given up without any amount for damage or cost*. The Courfc then adjourned for half -an-hour.