MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5221, 29 January 1885, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH.

This Dat. (Before R. Beetham, Esq., R.M., and H. J. Hall, Esq.) Drunkenness. — Johanna Gallagher admitted having been drunk on the South belt. There were five previous convictions against her. She was just out of gaol, and was sent back there for 14 days. — A woman whose present offence was her first, was fined 5s. — Harry Simpson, who had ' been drunk in charge of a horse and carriage in the streets, was fined £1, the lowest fine under the Police Offences Act. Obscene Language. — George Sopp was accused of making use of obscene and ! indecent language in Cashel street on j Jan. 24. Mr Joyce appeared for accused. Messrs Priedmann and G. Bull gave evidence to the effect that on Saturday last accused was standing outside Tattersall's talking with another man. There was a sale at Tattersall's, and a crowd of people about. Accused made j use of an obscene expression, and Priedmann remonstrated with him. The result was more^ bad language, most indecent and obscene, and ladies passing were obliged to leave the footpath and go on the road, much to their own danger, as there is a deal of traffic at this point. Por the defence, it was stated that accused was a mo3t respectable carrier ; but he had been annoyed because Mr Klingenstein had not paid him for a load he had brought him, and accused said he had no recollection of using the language complained of. The Bench considered the charge clearly proved, and ordered Sopp to be imprisoned for 48 hours. A Bad Beginning. — A boy named Hutton was charged with unlawfully pounding a horse, the property of William Gordon, on Jan. 21. The accused was only 12 years of age, but seemed as if he had acquired a sharpness in bad practices that augured ill for his future. Mr Gordon, a milkman, had left the horse in the accused's charge to hold for a few minutes, when the temptation came to the boy to make something of it. He took the horse to the Heathcote Pound, told the poundkeeper it had been in his father's garden eating a lot of carrots, and he wanted a reward of 3s 6d for bringing the horse to the Pound. He did not get his 3s 6d, but the horse was detained at the Pound, and the owner hunted everywhere for it. At last he heard where it was, and had to pay 21s 6d Poundage-fees. The boy admitted his guilt to the Bench, and his father was requested to give him a good whipping in the presence of a constable, and also pay the expenses of the action. Miscellaneous.— Prank Brown, whose horse and cart had bolted while he was drinking in the Caledonian Hotel, was fined 10s. — For allowing horses, &c, to be at large, C. W. Turner, W. Peckham, Daniel Burns, and B. J. H. Carew were fined 5s each. — Henry Wynn- Williams was fined 10s for riding a tricycle on Hereford street footpath. The Police Offences Act makes this practice punishable by fine or imprisonment, no matter whether it is committed in. tlie City or beyond it. — "Verney Hargreaves was fined 10s for discharging a revolver within the City. The bullet, it appeared, had gone through the window of a private house. Protection Orders, &c. — Alice Miller applied for an order protecting her earnings from her husband, Richard Miller, and giving her the custody of a child. Mr Spackman appeared for the complainant, who alleged that defendant had been guilty of habitual drunkenness. She failed to prove this, and the Bench declined to make any order. — Clara Catherine M'Donald complained under the Destitute Persons Act, 1877, that her husband, George Spencer M'Donald had failed to support her, and that she was destitute. Mr Stringer appeared for the complainant, and Mr Thomas for defendant. The defence was that complainant had been guilty of adultery, and therefore her husband was not bound to support her. The case was adjourned to Tuesday next for the production of further evidence. — David Sampson failed to appear in answer to a summons charging him with neglecting to support his child, and a warrant was directed to be issued for his arrest.