CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5687, 5 October 1896, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

Monday, Oct. 5. (Before Mr E. Beetham, S.M.) Vagrancy. — William ■ Boardman was charged with being deemed to be a rogue and vagabond, having no lawful means of support, and having been previously convicted as an idle and disorderly person. Mr Donnelly appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given by Detectives Maddern and Marsack and Constable Bosworth. The accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. Civil Cases. — Judgment was given for plaintiffs by default, with costs, in tho following cases: — Kaye and Carter v. W. A. Murray, £5 4s Id ;*M. O'Brien and Co. v. Mrs E. Eeardon, .£l7 2s 3d ; J. J. Soanes v. Mrs E. Dartnell, £1 lis 9d ; Mrs E. Clarke v.-W. J. Walker, £4.— Eose Maclane v. T. Carter, claim £5, damages for trespass aod injury alleged to have been done to plaintiff's wash-house by defendant while he was erecting part of a boundary fence. Mr Hunt appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Eussell for the defendant. Judgment was given for the defendant with costs. (Before Mr W. H. Cooper, J.P., Mr E. O'Connor, J.P., Mr A. S. Otterson, J.P., and Mr Stephen Lawrence, J.P. Drunkenness.— A first offender was ordered to pay 12s 6d cost of his maintenance, or one : week's - imprisorinient. --. Two first ' offenders, and William Vickery/ ■ wero fined 5S' "each ; and " another first yoi^ fender escaped with a caution, the Bench discharging him on account of his old age. — Milsom Hathaway was also charged with this offence. There had been a previous conviction against him, and Sergeant-Major Mason said the accused was a fit subject for a prohibition order. Fined 10s, or forty-eight hours, fordrunken- ;- ness, and 12s 6d costs. Assault. — John M'Cluskey was charged with assaulting William Viekery. The police evidence proved that accused had been knocking a drunken man (Vickery) about in a cowardly manner. William Vickery, the person assaulted, did not know the accused nor remember anything about the assault. M'Clusky was sentenced to seven days' hard labour. — George Meritt was charged with assaulting H. W. Candy, at Christchurch, on May 30. The complainant, who is a travelling agent for the Government Life Insurance, deposed that he had lent the accused money, and had asked him for it, upon which the accused had struck him with his clenched fist. A witness testified to the assault. Fined 10s and costs lis. Charges of Theft. — Henry Grantham, alias Jones, was charged with stealing 7s, the property of H. Griggs, Wellington, on July 1. On the application of Sergt.-Major Mason, the accused was remanded to Wellington. — Thomas Adams pleaded guilty to stealing ls 6d worth of horse feed belonging to John Jones, at Prebbleton, on Oct. 3. Mr Byrne who appeared for accused, said that he was a man of considerable wealth, and an old identity in the distiict, and probably thought his neighbour would not object to his taking a small amount of horse feed. He would ask the Bench to. deal with the question either under Section 87 of the Justices of the Peace Act, or that the case might be met by a fine. The Bench thought theft was all the more serious when committed by a man in accused's position. They were unwilling to send a man of good character to gaol, but would fine him £1, together with all costs in the action, which amounted to £2 4s 6d. Drunkenness and Bad Language. — J. M'Harg, jun., a young man, was charged with drunkenness, using bad language and causing a disturbance in a tram-car on the Ferry Eoad. Evidence was given by several gentlemen who were passengers on the tram at the time, which proved the offences complained of, and also showed that accused had assaulted two Chinamen. Sergeant-Major Mason said the Chinamen were unwilling to prosecute, and were not present in court. ConI stable Hayes (in charge of the Woolston district) and the tram guard gave accused a very good character. Up to the present affair he had always behaved himself in a quiet and respectable way. Fined £3 and 14s costs, or in default, one month's imprisonment. The Bench said that, but for the good character given by the police, the sentence -would, liave "been at least two or three months.