MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6115, 23 March 1898, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

. { : ~ : :\P?C : &' :^^'''^PP ■■ . ■■. , . /. j •■';,.. : .' r ', : ciißi-b^H urch.- ■ ':[ :- : i '.'■'■■■. j '' Wednesday, March 23. I (Before Mr S. Lawrence, J.P., and Mr J. Prudhoe, J.P.) Stray Cattle. — For allowing: a calf to wander on a public road at Opawa, Patrick Hendron was fined 10s and costs 7s. Obscene Language. — William Skilling, p, lad thirteen years of age, was charged with using obscene language in Creyke Street, Linwood, on March 7. Accused denied the charge, but admitted he sometimes used language- similar to that with which he was charged. Three witnesses gave evidence as to the nature of the language. On the .application .of the' Inspector, the charge was altered to. one of insulting language, aa under the other charge there was no jalternatiye ; but gaol, and the accused was "fined -flit;- with costs, .£1 Is.— John Skilling, 'William M'Cracken and David M'Cracken were also charged witti using insulting language in Creyke Street on the same date. The case was dismissed for want of evidence. Breaches op Bt-Laws. — John Alexander Forbes was charged with driving eight loose horses through Sydenham on Feb. 15. He was fined 10s and costs 7s.— David Matson, was charged with driving a vehicle in Cashel Street at night without displaying two lights. The case was adjourned till Tuesday. — Frederick Allen, for leaving a vehicle without control on a cabstand at Christchurch, was fined 10s, and costs 9s. Charges of Theft. — George Wilson pleaded guilty to the theft of £2, the property of Samuel John Phillips, on March 18, at 'Woolston; ••■ The evidence. '.was that ; Phillips, who was accused's employer, gave him £2 to , buy fodder, instead of doing .Which' accused • appropriated the ; money. ; .He was sentenced to a month's imprison- ; ■merit with hard •^bpur^W'illiatn .Kass , '' jwas charged with thel.theft of .-a saddle aijd. . 'Isridli9,'.valjie'-B4,^on:'._<faich.-.1, the property i ;of WiliiamvAsh,';;at Christch'tfrch. He wjig < ; reminded 'till Mohdiiy next, ; 'beiflg- . [ailpwed-in one surety of -325. Alleged Forgery.^— Edward Robert M'Evoy was charged with the forgery of a cheque for £6 and uttering the same to Thomas Armstrong on Oct. 2. Mr Kippenberger appeared for the accused, and Inspector Cuflen prosecuted. An assistant employed at Armstrong's drapery store in Colombo Street, stated that on Oct. 2 a man resembling accused drove up to the shop, and representing himself as the son of William Tuft, of Hornby, bought several' articles of clothing, the value' of which amounted to £1 lis, paying for them with a cheque signed by William Tuft. Witness gave accused £4- 8s lOd change. H. M. Armstrong gave corroborative evidence, and identified the accused as the man who presented the cheque. It was drawn on the National Bank. Edward Armstrong stated that he sent the cheque to the Bank of New Zealand to be entered to his father's account. It was returned marked "no account." William Tuft deposed that the cheque was neither signed by his father, himself nor his brother. The father had died since the cheque was uttered. Henry Gudsell said that on Oct. 2 accused came to his stables and hired a bay horse and trap, and brought it back soon after, saying he had had a runaway. Henry Gilbert Martin and detective Benjamin gave r- Idence, the latter to the effect that when h> irrested accused in Wellington he practic i ly admitted committing the forgery. Accused reserved his defence, and was committed for trial. — i