MAGISTRIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5134, 16 October 1884, Page 3

MAGISTRIAL.

CHEISTCHUECH. This Dat. •(Before J. Ollivier, Esq., R.M., R. Westenra, and G. L. Lee, Esqs.) Drunkenness. — A woman, notpreviously convicted, was fined 5s for this offence. Breach of the Peace. — Joseph Dalton Moore, who had been seen by Sergeant Wilson to knock a man down near Barrett's Hotel that morning, said that the other man struck him first, and he obtained a remand to enable him to summon a witness. ' Bad Boys. — John Moore, 15 years old, Alfred Cook, 14, and William Mitchell, 13, admitted having damaged a fence belonging to Mr J. Boot to the extent of 2s 6d on Oct. 5. Constable M'Gill said he knew the boys were very bad in their conduct. 'Mrs Cook appeared, bnt the parents of the other boys did not, and summonses were issued to compel their attendance. The accused were remanded till Saturday next. The Woolston Larrikins. — Amos Clegg, a lad of 15, admitted having made nse of obscene langnage on the Ferry road last Sunday. Constable M'Gill said there was a disturbance on the road among a number of bad boys, and accused shouted so lond as to cause several persons to come from their houses and tell the boys to go away. Inspector Pender said that residents of Woolston complained bitterly of the annoyance they were subjected to by these boys. He knew that accused's father was a most respectable man. His Worship (Mr Ollivier) said he feared that Woolston was really quite a hotbed of larrikinism. There was nothing for it but to send these offenders to gaol. In the present case, considering the respectability of theparents, a fine of £5 or six weeks' imprisonment would be imposed. More Bad Boys. — Stanley Philpott, Charles Hulbert, E. Johnston, J. Eogers, J. Barrett, W. Warren, J. Warren, T. Burrows, J. Miller, T. Treadwell, boys of ages ranging from 8 to 17 years were •■ charged that on Oct. 1, at East Town belt, they were guilty of conduct calulated to give offence and occasion a breach of the peace. Burrows did not appear. Inspector Pender withdrew the charge against E. Johnston, a very little boy. Constable M - 'Gill said that at 8 p.m., on Oct. 1, on the Creek road, near East belt, for twenty minutes a crowd of boys were pelting stones at fences, and making a frightful noise, with striking stones together in their hands. When the constable went towards them they ran away shouting and screaming at the top of their voices, and disturbing the whole neighbourhood. — . Simmonds, a young man, gave evidence that some of the accused had pelted stones at him on the night in question, and Hulbert and Philpott had since said that if he appeared against them they would make it hot for him. Mr Slater said he had known the boy Treadwell for many years to be a good boy, and was surprised to see him in this position. Barrett's father said he believed the witness Simmonds had provoked a deal of the disturbance by swearing at the boys and striking some of them. The parents of several of the boys were present, and said they had not known their sons to behave in such a way before. Miller had been here before for throwing stones. Philpott and Hulbert were, the Bench considered, the more blameworthy, as they were the elder offenders, and had also threatened a witness. After enquiring as to the wages accused received, the Bench inflicted the following fines, amounting in each case to about a fortnight's wages : — Hulbert, £2 ; Philpott and Barrett, £1 each ; Rogers, 18s ; Treadwell, 163 ; Miller, 14s ; and W. Warren, 10s. J. Warren, a much younger boy than hi 3 brother, was cautioned and discharged. — Albert Girdler, Henry Patton, and C. Weston, three boys accused of letting off fireworks in Tuam street, were cautioned and discharged. Miscellaneous. — George Longdon, for leaving his vehicle unattended was fined 10s. — G. Moorhouse and H. Jackeon, for riding bicycles on the Papanui road footpath, were fined £1 each.— J. 0. Smith, for getting on a railway train in motion, had to pay a fine of 10s.