MAGISTERIAL. CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7295, 15 October 1891, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH.

This Day. (Before R. Westenra, E. Dobson and C. T. Dudley, Eaqrs.) Drunkenness.— Elizabeth Cronin alias M'Kenna, an old offender, was fined 10s md cab hire. Larceni. — Michael Burns was charged with the larceny of £1, the property of William John Casaon. Mr Leathern appeared for the accused, who pleaded "Not guilty." William John Casson, a maltster : Met the accused on Oct. 6, when they went to several hotels and had drinks. WentintotheCityHotelright-of-way,where accused put his hand into witness' pocket, and took out a purse containing £1. Went immediately and gave information to the police. William Mulroy : Was with Casson and accused at the hotels on the day in question. Saw a pound in the hand of prosecutor at the British Hotel. Constable Dillon deposed that the prosecutor was sober when he made the complaint at the Police Station. Detective Neil gave some unimportant evidence. The accused, on being sworn, said he met Casson on Oct. 6, when they had drinks at various hotels. Prosecutor was not sober. Did not take the purse. Was not out of town since then. Got a pound from a mate of his. Did not know that the detectives were looking for him. Was not sleeping out since then. The case was adjourned until half-past ten o'clock to-morrow, pending the production of an important witness. — Daisy Dale and Elizabeth Thomson were charged with the larceny of £25 from the person of Thomas Heatley on Oct. 13. Mr H. W. Weston defended the accused. Thomas Heatley, a farmer: Came into town on Oct. 13. Got a cheque for £56 16s cashed at the Bank of New South Wales. Put .£3O in the Savings Bank, and kept the balance. Went to several hotels. Went to the Star and Garter, where he met Thomson, whom he accompanied to her house. Had £25 when he left the hotel in company with Thomson. The money consisted of two ten-pound notes, and the remainder of single notes. Gave Thomson £1. Left the house in company with Dale and another woman, when he found that he had lost his money. Went to the house with the police yesterday, when Detective Benjamin found a purse containing three XI notes in a cupboard. Thomson denied that it was her property. Could not identify two ten pound noteß which were shown him, except that they were on tbe Bank of New South Wales. Cross-examined by Mr Weston: Was a good bit muddled. Was not aware that Thomson pat her hand into his pocket. Was pretty certain Thorn* eon did not steal it. Went to the police yesterday morning about Mb lobs. In answer to Inspector Pender, the prosecutor admitted that Thomson had an

opportunity of taking the money. Margaret Bennetts, aged fourteen years : Lived with her parents at Salisbury Grove. Went to the honse were accused lived to see a friend. Whilst she was there the landlord called for rent, but the accused said they had no money. Left them, but came back about halfpast three. Saw prosecutor give a pound to Thomson. Did not hear prosecutor sny to Dale that he had lost any money. Was there when the police came. Dale told witness not to say anything about tho matter. The Bench severely reprimanded the mother of the girl, who was in Court, for permitting her daughter to frequent such places. Peter Pache, general dealer, Sydenham : Kept a child for Dale at 7s per week. She was three weeks in arrears. She and Thomson came to settle with him, and Dale came to psy him yebterday and handed i witness' wifo a £10 note. Witness took tho note to get it changed. Wanted to sell Thomson a brooch. Thomson gave ' witness a .£lO note. Gave ono £10 note to Mr Norton for change, and got two £5 notes. Took tho other note and changed it at the Bank of New South Waleß. Cross-examined : Dale said that she got | the money from a mau. W. H. Norton : Recollected Pache giving him a ten-pound note yesterday. Identified the note produced. Duncan Campbell, teller in the I Bank of New South Wales, believed the note produced was the one which Pache changed yesterday. Detective Benjamin : [ Went to the house of accused yesterday, accompanied by Constable Dillon and the prosecutor. Informed both accused that they were suspected of robbing the prosecutor. Dale denied receiving any or the prosecutor's money, and she aUo denied having any money in the house. Searched the house and found a purse containing three £1 notes. Both prisoners denied owning the purse. Thomson afterwards claimed the purse, and said prosecutor gave her a £5-note instead of a £l-note. Constable Dillon gave corroborative evidence to the preceding witness. Mr H. W. Weston addressed the Bench. The Bench committed both the accused for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. (Before R. Beetham, Esq., R.M.) Maintenance Cases.— Charles Burroll was summoned to show cause why he should not ba called upon to contribute towards tho support of Mb wife, a lunatic patient. Mr Martin appeared in Bupporfc of the application, and, after examination, the defendant was ordered to pay 5s a week towards her support.— Ellen Jane Kennedy, represented by Mr Lane, applied to the Court under section 33 of the Destitute Persons Act, for leave to sell twenty acres of land situated at Port Levy, the property of George Kennedy, her brother-in-law, an imbecile person. It wa3 shown that the applicant supported the man, and was moisted in doing so by tho Charitable Aid Board to the extent of 5a per week. The land was not leased, was unfemed and unproductive, and was estimated tobe worth about £loo. TheCourfc made the order as requested. — Margaret Hamilton charged George Hamilton with failing to provide her with meanß of support. Mr Lane appeared for the defendant, and asked for an adjournment, as there was a reasonable prospect of a reconciliation being brought about between the parties. Case adjourned for a week. — John O'Connor, who did not appear, was ordered to pay 7s 6d a week in support of his illegitimate child by Eliza Hawthorne.— Richard Emmerson was charged by Anne Davis with failing to support his two children, of which she was the guardian. The Bench adjourned the case for fourteen days, to enable defendant to go to work which he had been promised. — Judgment was given for plaintiffs by default in the following cases : — Davidson v. Evans, £2 3s lid ; Harper and Co. v. Hoslip, .£8 3s 6d ; Bowles v. Wadlow, £50.— The following cases were adjourned : — Stedman v. Thompson, claim £G2 10s, to Nov. 19; Russell t. Te Uki, claim £16 13s Gd, to Oct. 22. — Slater v. Mathewe, claim .£l3 15s lOd. Judgment summons. Defendant appeared. Ability to pay not proved. Case adjourned to Dec. 17.— E. Vaughan v. R. W. Miller, claim £46. Mr Russell for plaintiff; Mr Caygill for defendant. Plaintiff, a farmer at West Melton, rented a quantity of land from defendant, another farmer, for cropping purposes. He was to take possession of the land on June 1, but, by consent, went on to the land on May 27. The land was then in turnips, and he was stopped ploughing on June 19 until June 29. Another stoppage was made on July 8. Plaintiff, however, did some ploughing for two other men in the neighbourhood during the time he was knocked off, and they paid him back when he recommenced work on his own account. Defendant Miller put in a counter claim for £10 2a Cd, for grazing plaintiff's plough horses, £3 damageß to a fence caused by tbeae horses, and £1 5b keep of a hack, the property of plaintiff. The Bench gave judgment for plaintiff for £4 10s in each case, each side to pay its own costs.