MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6137, 25 March 1898, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, March 25. (Before Mr J. C. Sopp, J.P., and Mr W. Samuels, J.P.) A Pickpocket. — Samuel Cousins was charged with, on March 17, at the Theatre Royal, stealing a watch, value £1 ss, the property of Jonathan Brooker. The evidence was that when the doors opened at the pit accused went in among the crowd. By the ticket office he was seen by several witnesses to reach his hand over to Brooker's waistcoat and withdraw it with the watch. Brooker turned round and asked him if he had his watch, but the accused backed out, and on going outside ran down the street. A constable pursued him to Barbadoes Street, but failed to catch him. Accused admitted being at the theatre on the evening in question, but I denied that he stole the watch. The reason he ran away from the constable was that he was afraid if he was recognised he would be arrested as a vagabond. It was ascertained that accused had just served a sentence of twelve months' hard labour in Napier for being a 4 rogue and a vagabond, besides having been convicted here in.. 1892. He was sentenced to three months' hard labour. Theft.— William Williams and Robert M'Quaid were oharged with . haying, on March 7, at Christchurch, stolen a Gladstone bag and its contents, valued at £2. Williams admitted the theft, but exonerated M'Quid from any complicity or knowledge of it, and he was accordingly discharged. Captain Bishop came forward and offered to take Williams tothe Army Home, for a term to be stipulated by the Bench. He was accordingly given in the charge of that 'officer for three months, to come up for sentence when called upon. — Mary Herbert was charged with stealing the sum of 7s 6d, the property of Peter Thompson, a fish hawker, living in Antigua Street. Accused pleaded drunkenness, and Mrs Cunnington offering to take her back into the Samaritan Home, the Bench convicted her, and ordered her to come up for sentence when callei upon during the next six months. — William Turner, a lad twelve years old, was charged with, on March 10, at Sockburn, stealing two pieces of timber value 10s, the property of the Midland Saleyards Company. After hearing the evidence, the boy was convicted and discharged. Adjourned Case.— For neglecting to send his child to school, G. Horsefield was fined 2s. Bicycles on Footpaths. — H. Perkins and E. Hardy-Johnston were each fined 10s and costs 7s for riding their bicycles on the footpath. The Bench remarked that the fine of 10s, which ifc was usual to inflict, was not sufficient to deter cyclists from using the footpath. If the maximum penalty was imposed every time three weeks would be ample wherein to scare off the most hardened offenders.