MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4898, 14 January 1884, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

+ CHRISTCHURCH. Thib Day. (Before R. Beetham, Esq., R.M., and R. Westenra, Esq.) Drunkenness.-— A woman not previously • convicted was fined 5s for this offence. — H. M'Stea and Henry Bucket were fined 10s eaoh, and the same amount was imposed on a first offender who failed to surrender to his bail. Laroknt as a -Bailee. — Charles J. M'Gregor was charged with this offence. Inspector Pender said that the accused had been arrested at Addmgton from information received from Invercargill, where a warrant liad been issued against Ihini. Accused did not deny that he was the person, but he was surprised at any action of this nature being taken against him. The Bench reniofflded accused to appear at Invercargill on Friday next- Bail allowod in two sureties of £100 each. False Pbetences. — George H. Munyard was accused of obtaining £3 ISs from John Toovcy, of Chriatchurch, by means of a false pretence, to wit a valueless cheque. Accused pleaded guilty, and in answer to the Clerk of the Conrt Baid he would prefer to be dealt with «unmarily. Inspector Pender called John Toovey, licensee of Collins' Hotel, who stated that accused came to his hotel on Dec. 29 last. He ; oalled for two drinks And tendered a ' cheque on the Bank of New Zealand for £4, signed by accused. Witness gave him

M 19s in change. The cheque was sent to" the Bank and returned marked " signature unknown." In answer to the Bench accuaed said he had had several drinks on the day in question. Inspector Pender said that accused had a large family. Twelve months ago a similar charge was made against the accused, but it was withdrawn on the money being paid. His Worship could only say that whoever accepted the money in that case condoned a felony. The present case was a barefaced attempt at swindling, and he did not think the Bench would be doing tlieir duty unless they gave the accused the maximum sentence magistrates were allowed to inflict in such cases. Sentenced to six months' hard labour. " Breaches op the Licensing Act. — Patrick Burke, licensee of the Southern Cross Hotel, was accused of supplying liquor (brandy) to Thomas Doherty on Sunday, Jan. 6. Mr Loughrey appeared for defendant, and admitted that a little brandy had been supplied to the man referred to, but it was under peculiar circumstances. The man's child had been suffering from illness, and was attended by Dr Mickle, who ordered a few drops of brandy to be given it when the fits were bad, and it was only upon this being represented to defendant that he consented to supply a shilling's worth of brandy. Constable Johnston, of Addington, said that Doherty had told him at the time that the brandy was required for Mrs Doherty, who was ill. The Bench said that the constable was quite right in having the case investigated, but as they were satisfied that the defence set up was a genuine one, they would not convict. Case dismissed. — Edr ward Ravenhill and John Messenger, of the Caversham Hotel and His Lordship's, were fined 10s each for neglecting to keep their lamps alight. Breaches op Railway Regulations. — W. A. Murray was accused of attempting to use a ticket the time for which had expired, on the Christchurch - Southbridge Railway. The guard proved the presentation of the ticket, which was issued on Dec. 15. The defendant stated that he had obtained the ticket from the stationmaster at Doyleston, who, he said, had told him it was available for a fortnight for the return journey. Defendant had not subpoenaed the stationmaster, and obtained an adjournment for a week to enable him to do so. — Charles Warren admitted getting on the Christchurch-Lyttelton train while it was in motion. Guard Hillier stated that the train had attained a good speed at the time. Pined £1 and costs. Breaking a Street Lamp. — George Herd, George Hyde, Thomas Atkinson, and Daniel Scrimgeour, four boys, admitted a charge of breaking ' a street lamp in Selwyn street, Addington, and doing damage to the extent of 6s to the property of the Sydenham Borough Council. The information was laid under the Sydenham By-laws, and these did not provide for \ dealing with offenders who broke street lamps. The information was therefore withdrawn, and another laid under " The Malicious Injury to Property Act." The offence was committed on New Year's Eve. The boys were about 14 years of age, and ! earned 6s per week each at various trades. ! Hyde said he had no intention of breaking the lamp ; he had climbed Up the post to get a light to fire some crackers. Hyde and Scrimgeour were fined .£1 each, and the other two, who were less to blame, 10s each. Killing Hares in Close Season. — Michael M' Teague was accused of taking game at Hoon Hay during the close season on Oct. 6 last. Mr Spackman prosecuted for the Acclimatisation Society, and Mr Stringer appeared for the defendant. A witness deposed to seeing defendant's dogs kill a hare, which defendant picked up and took away. This witness wa3 driving a horse and dray, and he stopped to pick some wood up. Defendant helped him, and while so engaged his dogs got away and went on the Hon E. Gray's land and killed the hare. Samuel Sparkes deposed to seeing the defendant's dogs kill a hare on his land, the defendant was not charged with this. The information only referring to the hare killed at Hoon Hay. Mr Stringer submitted that no offence had been proved, defendant had not set the dogs on the hare, the dogs' natural instinct was alone responsible, and defendant could not be blamed for picking up a dead hare ; he only acted as . a careful, prudent man should do. The Bench said it was defendant's business to keep and watch his dogs, so that they did not kill hares during the close season. Pined JJI, with an additional fine of ls for using dogs to kill game without a license, with expenses of witnesses and costs.. Mr Spackman applied fora fee, but it appeared that he was the informant in the case, and the Bench could not lay down the precedent of allowing fees to solicitors who laid the information. Miscellaneous. — Jeremiah O'Connor and Prank Pahey were accused of fighting at the corner of Barbadoes and Lichfield street on Dec. 26 (Boxing Day). The blame appeard to belong to O'Connor. The case against Fahey was dismissed, and O'Connor fined 10s and costs. — Alfred Coker, a cabman, was fined ls and 7s costs for neglecting to have his lamps alight at 8.15 p.m. on Dec. 27. Defendant pleaded that cabmen were not astronomers, and could not tell the exact time the sun set. He asserted that it was daylight at the time. Reference to an almanac showed that the sun set on the day named at 7.40 p.m., and the defendant was fined as above. — Several persons were proceeded against for being the 6wners of dogs they had neglected to register for 1883. Inspector Pender hoped the Bench would bear in mind, when finding the defendants, that the time had gone by for paying the registration fee for 1883. The Bench inflicted a fine of .£1 (double the usual amount) upon 13 defendants. — Several drivers of private vehicles who had driven in the city after Sunset without lights, were fined ls each. The Bench remarked that in future the fine in these cases would be increased. — Edward Liddle, James Dann, and John Otley were fined 5s each for allowing cattle to wander. — William Hall, who had left a cart in Kilmore street, was also fined 5s. — A charge of alleged abusive language, laid by William Wadey against H. C. j Hansen, was dismissed j Mr Corr appeared for defendant. — A similar case, in which Elizabeth Robison accused Emma Bockmaster, was also dismissed. — A warrant was directed to issue against Henry Jupp, who is accused by his wife with deserting her. — In the adjourned case of Janet Capstick v. James Capstick, application for a protection order and the aupport of five children on the ground of desertion, defendant did not appear. Complainant's statement was to the effect that she had left her husband in Lawence on account of the cruelty to which he had subjected her. This was in May last, and her husband had not contributed to the support of his wife or children since. Order made.

KAIAPOI. This Day. (Before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M., and His Worship the Mayor.) Larceny. — W. Allen was brought up on remand charged with stealing certain tools, <fcc, the property of one David Dalzell, of Sefton. Mr M. Nalder, appeared for accused, and the prosecution was condnacted by the police. Dalzell gave evidence of leaving the tools in question at Mr Kinley's, at Ohoka, and, not finding them there when he returned from Sefton, laid the information against Allen. Upon cross-examination by Mr Nalder, Dalzell admitted having been drinking at accused's expense, during which time he might have told Allen to take charge of the tools. The Bench decided that the case had broken down, and dismissed it. Mr Nalder referred to the question of costs, and the Bench decided to grant them against the prosecution if possi&le under the Aet. Assault. — 3. O'Donnell, charged on the information of has wife, with assaulting her and her son on Jan. 8 last, wae fined 20s and costs, and bound over to keep the peace in a surety of £25 for 12 months. Civil Cases. — Trustees in Ovenden's estate v. John Bird, claim £1 13s 6d. Jndgment for plaintiff with coats.— Molloy v. M. Lynstey, Adjourned for seven days, to enable Mr Porter to adjudicate, the presiding magistrate being interested. J