MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5873, 11 March 1887, Page 3

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

CHEISTCHURCH. This Day. (Before C. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M.) Dbsbhtion. — Elizabeth Cleaver applied for a -warrant for the arrest of her sister, who had left her four children with her without means of support. False Pretences— G. C. R.. Richards was charged with obtaining an order for 5a worth of clothing by means of false pretences. Mr Beattie defended. W. B. Gillam said the accused came to him in December lost, and asked for help, as his wife was about to be confined. Witness referred him to Mr Berry, the Wesleyan minister of the district, and said that if Mr Berry could not help him, he would. Richards came to him again on Dec. 20. Witness gave him a pair of boots, paid a nurse £1 5s in money, ' and gave an order for 5s worth of goods. Witness since learned that the man had had money, could have got work, and had been drinking during the time he repoesented himself to be destitute. Mr Norris, Secretary to the Charitable Aid Board, said that Richards' wife applied for relief from the Board on Nov. 18, and again on Nov. 25. Mrs Richards was confined about Nov. 25. — Foreman, Bella Falloon, and another witness, proved that witness was drinking about the dates specified. He was also charged with obtaining 10a from Charles Bacon by means of false pretences. Charles Bacon swore that accused wanted to photograph his place on Jan. 6. He said he was hard up, and got 103 on account. Did not see him again until about a week ago. He was further charged with obtaining from Albert Burson the sum of 6s, by means of false pretences. Complainant said he came to hi& place and photographed it. Witness paid 6s, and never received the photographs. Mr Beattie said in proving a case of false pretences the pretences must be proved, and that they were false, and in the photograph cases the defendant had the negatives, and only required to finish the photographs to deliver them. The Bench spoke most strongly on the conduct of the accused j he would be sent to gaol for one month's hard labour. False Pbetbncbb. — John Henry Donovan was charged with making false representations to Edward Strange for the purpose of obtaining money. Edward Strange Baid he came to hia place on Tuesday and asked for his subscription due for the Press newspaper. Witness paid for his paper at the office. Witness went to the office, and found that accused had been discharged from the office on the Friday before he came to him. Accußed wanted to borrow 5s from him, but witness referred him to the Rev Mr Gillam for enquiries to be made. — . Beaven said accused came to him and asked for clothes for the man Richards, defendant in the previous case. Witness said that he was Borry to hear that Richards was not conducting himself very well, and sent them away. The Rev Mr Gillam said the man was constantly deserting his wife. Accused had been collecting money on account of Richards' wife. Many of his parishioners had complained of being victimised by such people. Accused conducted himself in a highly excited manner throughout the hearing of the oaße, and was given in oharge of a policeman for contempt. He then apologised, and was allowed to go on with the case. The Bench held that it was very necessary that such cases should be inquired into. His case was not quite so bad as the previous one, but nearly so. He would be sent to gaol for fourteen days. Civil Cases.— J. Jackson v. A. E. Potta and Co., claim £14, 8s 6d, by default. — Richard A. Blackburn v Robert Powell, I claim £2 6s ; £1 10 a paid into Court jby i default 16s.— J. O. Sheppard v. M'Lenahaa, ! claim 10s j for plaintiff by default. Ann Williams v. A. Jannan, .£6 5s 3d; adjourned to March 25.