CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7178, 1 June 1891, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

This Day. (Before E. Beetham, Esq., E.M., and H. J. Hall, Esq.) j Sent to Burnham. — John Davidson (14), who had been convicted in the Police > Court on a charge of larceny, was sent to Burnham, as he had previously been convicted on a similar charge. In addition he was ordered to receive eight strokes of the birch rod. Civil Cases. — Dutch and Bull v. Tasker, £6 14s 6d; judgment for plaintiff by default. — Marks v. Zander, £i 0 ; adjourned to June 4. — Zander v. Marks, JE3B Is ; adjourned to June 4. — M'Leanv.Sykes,claim .£3B 4s; judgment summons. Defendant appeared, ability to pay admitted. Ordered to pay amount of debt and costs forthwith. In default twelve weeks' imprisonment. Order suspended for seven days. (Before E. Westenra and H. Westmacott, Esqs.) Drunkenness. — William Warner, alias Alfred Godfrey, an old offender, received a sentence of one month's imprisonment.— Annie M'Quaid wbb fined 10b or fortyeight hours; and Lucien Glen, 5s or twenty-four hours.— Two first offenders were mulcted in 5s each. Larceny.— James Smith was charged on the information of Thomas Griffiths with stealing an overcoat, value .£3 10a, at the Springston races on May 29. On the application of Mr Stringer, the hearing of the charge was adjourned till Friday.— George Fuller, nineteen years of age, pleaded "Not Guilty" to a charge of stealing £5, the property of John Francis Comyns. The informant deposed he was a station hand, and was lately working at Eangiora. On Saturday, at 10 p.m., he was in the bar of the Palace Hotel, there being then a good many others in the hotel. He then had a £5 note in hiß possession, and, not caring for the crowd present, he was in the act of passing it to the barman to take the number when it was snatched from his hand. The accused was present at the time, but witness could not state that it was he who took the note. Harry Cartwright, barman at the Palace Hotel, deposed he saw the prisoner deliberately snatch the note out of Corny iib' hand. Two other witnesses who were in the bar at the time gave corroborative evidence. Prisoner stated he had nothing to say. Inspector Pender said that the present was the first charge that had been brought against Fuller, but that he had for a long time past been associating with bad characters* The Bench sentenced prisoner to three months' hard labour.— John Hurley, a boy of thirteen years of age, was charged with stealing a purse containing .£1 5s 4d, from the shop of Catherine Salkeld, Armagh street, on Saturday night. Detective O'Connor narrated the facts of the case. The boy was understood to admit taking the purse from the shop, but added that one of his companions (Moore) took it from him. The last mentioned afterwards returned the purse empty to Mrs Salkeld.— The same accused, along with Sydney Moore (13) and John Davidson (14), was then charged with stealing four bunchea of grapes, the property of H. Stewart. All three boys denied taking the fruit. — Benjamin Searle (14) was called, and stated that he was along with the accused at the time the grapes were Btolen, and that Davidson took one bunch and Hurley three bunches. Witness ate a few of the grapes. Davidson one of the accused gave evidence to the effect that it was Moore who took the grapes. The same three boya were further charged with stealing some crayfish from Mr Warnea' shop. Davidson and Hurley pleaded "Not Guilty," and Moore " Guilty." The last-named was called, and said that Hurley took the fish out of the box and chucked them in the gutter. He (Moore) then picked them up and ran away. The fathera of Hurley and Moore were present, and informed the Bench that they experienced great difficulty in dealing with the boys, who repeatedly ran away from home. Mr Westenra said that in regard to Davidson, as the lad had been before the Court previously on a charge of larceny, he would be remanded to the E.M. Court to be committed to Burnham. The other two boya were severely admonished, and eaoh ordered to receive eight strokes with the birch.