CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4562, 7 December 1882, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

This Dat. (Bofore J. Ollivier, Esq., R.M.) Labobnt. — Cornelius Connell and William Allington were charged with th» larceny of a watch and chain, value £4, tho proporty of James Sullivan. Connell said he did not steal the watch. Allington, an old man, said he was full of drink, and did not know anything about it. Inspeotor Pender applied for a remand. The watch had only just boen recovered, and the police had not had lime to collect the witnesses. Remanded to the following day. — John Burgess, a boy, was accused of stealing leather, value 3s, the proporty of George Hyde. Mr Stringer appeared on behalf of the bey accused, and admitted tho offence, but stated that the boy's father could throw some light on the mattsr. Mr Hyde Btated that tho boy was an approntico of his. He had, on Tuesday last, asked for v. pair of half-soles for his own boots. Those were supplied to him. In addition ho took another pair. The boy's father stated that he had some suspicions about the oxtra pair of soles that his son brought home, and had put them aside, intonding to see Mr Hyde as soon as possible. Mr Hyde did not wish to press tho chargo ; tho boy's conduct had been fairly good. His Worship cautioned Iho boy and discharged him. Nbglkcteu Childbbn — The MußPnr Cask. — Emily Murphy, Charles Murphy, and Maudo Murphy, threo children, were brought beforo the Court and complaint made by their father, Michael Murphy, that the children woro uncontrollable. Mr M'Connel appeared to support tho information. Complainant stated that lust Monday week his wife, who had not been living with him for somo time, had taken tho children away from his house. Murphy was willing to provide for his children, but did not consider tho mother n proper person la havo charge of them. Inspector Pender said it was questionable whether tho complainant waß fit to havo charge of tho ohildren. From what tho police knew of tho matter they did not think that all the blamo should bo thrown on tho mother. In angwer to the Inspector, Murphy said that he did not livo with another woman. The " girl " he had with him at tho tbeatro last night was a woman forty years of ago; he was not keeping her. Was with her last Sunday. Did not associate with prostitutes. Mr M'Conncl hero stated that Murphy admitted ho was not a fit person to have charge of Iho children, but it seemed as if the Inspector wus opposing tho children being sent to Burnham. Inspector Pender replied that he thought this would bo tho beßt thing for thorn, Beforo the case was decided tho adjourned charge of wife dooertion against Murphy was taken. Mr : M'ConDol said his client was prepared to V mako an offer, to savo tho mattor being gone I into further. Murphy would secure for tho I benefit of his wifo and children a sum sufllicient to yield them £2 a week, and also provido them with a house and furniture.

Mrs Murphy, who was very agitated, rather demurred to take the offer at once, and His Worship said he would adjourn the case to Monday next.. Mr M'Connel would in the meantime see that the family wero kept from actual want. Mr M'Connel said he oould do nothing unless he was instruoted. Hie Worship enquired what amount Mrs Murphy required for immediate necessities. She replied £2. His Worship said as Mr Mu-phy was so obstinate, he would order £2 to be paid to Mrs Murphy from the poor-box. Murphy then said he would pay the amount, and His Worship asked Inspector Pender to report to the Court the following day if there was still any difficulty bb to the support of Mrs Murphy and the children. Dbtjnkbnnebs and Assault. — Charlos Brown was charged on remand with being drunk and disorderly, using obscene language, resisting Constable Johnston, and assaulting Hodgson Holt, at Sydenham. The accused did not deny the charges. The evidence af Holt, published yesterday, showed that he had been violently assaulted, but he asked the Bench to deal leniently with the accused. A witness, named Spencer, wished to state that he had kuown prisoner for the past nine months to bo a quiet, inoffensive, and good man. Inspector Pender : " You don't know that he's been oonvicted before, and got a couple of years ?" Witnesa : "No ; I did not know that." Inspector Pender handed in a list of previous convictions. James Simpson also said the accused had been en* doavouring to load a good life for the past nine months, and his wife pleaded hard for him, saving sho was sure he would not touch drink again, if given another chance. His Worship took the most merciful view he oould, and inflicted fines amounting to £3 15s, in default, one month's hard labour. Attempted Suicide. — Henry Clark, a boy about 16 years of age, was oharged on remand with attempting to commit suicide. Dr Symes, who had examined the boy, said he was evidently of weak mind, owing to an affliction he suffered from. (He had been a cripple from birth.) The boy had told him that hiß father had threatened to turn him out of the house, and this bo preyed on his Blind that he had endeavoured to shoot himself, but Dr Symes understood the gun was not loaded, and had no trigger. The father of the boy waß in Court, and made a statement to the effect that his son waß uncontrollable. (Ihis witness' evidence was for the most part inaudible.) A female neighbour of the accused's family eaid that the boy bad since his mother's death been very wild in his oonduot, and had run after the other childron with knives. On the occasion in question he had got hold of a gun, but finding he could not do himself any harm with it, he seized a knife and tried to cut his throat. The witness and the boy's father had the greatest difficulty in securing him. The Rev Mr Mortimer said he had known the family for some years ; the boy accused was subject to violent fits of temper, and was vexed with himself because he oould not get employment. Mr Mortimer considered that it was in one of these fits that he endeavoured to destroy himself. His Worship remanded the boy till Monday next ; inquiries to be made in the meantime as to whether he could not be admitted to the Ashburton Home. Committal to Bubnh ah.— Alice Wiihel* mina Ford, 7 years j Charles H. Ford k 5 years ; and Walter G. Ford, 3 years, wore, on the application of their father, whose wife was dead, sent to the Industrial School for seven years each, to be educated as membera of the Churoh of England. Bbeakino Chobch Windows. — John Proudfoot was accused of damaging the property of the church trustees at Shirley, value £3. The prisoner admitted breaking two of the windows of Shirley churoh. Inspector Pender said there was another man implicated who wbb not arrested, and applied for a remand. Bo^andod to Saturday next. Attempted Abson.— Bobert Ewing was oharged, on remand from Nov. 30, with unlawfully setting fire to a house. Mr Holmes appeared for the accused. Inspector Tender called the following evidence : — Samuel Hammond, the next door neighbour of accused, stated that on Nov. 29 he saw the accused smashing the windows of his own house at St Albans with an axe. Prisoner's wifo ran out and oamo to witness, who sent for constable Flewellyn. Prisoner made off when the constable came, but returned about 5.30 p.m., and told witness ne was going to havo a good feed. He lit a fire on the top of the range ; then he fetched two or throe armsfu I of dry gorse and piled them on the hearth. He set a light to tho gorse on tbe floor, and in a fow minutes the blaze shot up to the ceiling. Prisoner stood between tho door and the fire-place, with an axe in his hand. Witness removed his wife, who wob in delicate health, returned, and with the assistance of Mr Patten and somo others, put out the fire, which had caught the mantel-piece and surrounding woodwork. Cross - examined : Qave the accused a glass of beer to induce bim to stop away from the house, and keep him from doing more damage. Prisoner had been drinking, but was not incapable. Witness did his best to keep prisoner from doing furthor damage. Mr Holmes crossexamined the witness at length, to show that he had an animus against accused. His Worship thought the witness gave his evidence very straightforwardly. James Patten, a carpenter, who lived opposite prisoner, gavo corroborative evidence. Ooriatablo Flewellyn aaid that whon he arrested tho prisoner the latter said he did not mean to do Mr Hammond any harm. What he did was against himself. O. Allison, Secretary of No. 3 Building Society, statod that £130 had been advanced by the Society to the acoused on the property in question, whioh was insured for £100 in tho Colonial Insurance Company. Ho did not think that it would bo any benefit either to the Building Sooiety cr the prisoner to have the plaoe burnt dowD, but it would injure the Insurauce Oompany. Mr Atkinson, senior, identified the houae owned by prisoner with that mentioned in tho policy of insurance. Mr Holmes said tho defence was that the accused, who was a very qi-.iet man ordinarily, had been drinking, and became mad from the effects, and after some quarrel with his wife, ho had, after smashing his windows, tried to light a fire to cook his supper, and hid no intention to set fire to the house. He cub milted it was a case in which His Worship could exercise his discretion, and need not send for trial. His Worship thought that, although tho man had been mad from drink at the time, yet, by endeavouring to destroy property in which others than himself had an interest, and endangering the lives and property of his neighbours, he had committed an act to whioh he should answer to a jury, and the prisoner was accordingly committed for trial, B»il allowed — prisjnor in £100, and two sureties of £50 oach.