MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6188, 26 May 1898, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, Mat 26. (Before Mr R. Hill Fisher, J.P., Mr W. H. Cooper, J.P., and Mr W. C. Fendall, „... . ■ -, „.«*). ■;.;•. ,-.... ■.. • Drunkenness.— Two first offenders," one of whom, was a female, were each fined ss, with the alternative of twenty-four hours' imprisonment. — James Brown was similarly charged. — James Bell, for Ja second offence within six months, was fined £1, or seven days' imprisonment. — A first offender, who did not appear, was fined ]os, with the alternative of forty-eight hours' impri sonment. Disorderly Conduct. — Bella and Mary M'Kegney, two very old offenders, were charged with drunkenness and with assault upon' another woman in the lock-up. They wore further charged with having broken a pane of glass at the Oxford Hotel, valued at 12s. After hearing the evidence, the Bench sentenced each of the accused to one month's hard labour, the sentence to be remitted if they stayed for six months in the Samaritan Home, but to be enforced if they left the Home within that period. Alleged Breaking, Entering and Theft. — Sophie Minifie, for whom Mr Flesher appeared, was charged with having, on April 7, broken into and entered the dwelling of John Kennedy, at Addington, and with having stolen therefrom wearing apparel, vases, &c, of a total value of iilO. Accused pleaded not guilty. Mary Ann Kennedy identified the articles produced as her property. One . jacket had riPRTi trimmed in the interval. To Mr Flesher j The house In "which the aocuseu lived was well furnished. Accused did not appear to lack any of the ordinary comforts of life. Eliza Ann Abraham had been on intimate terms with the accused, who visited her house nearly every day. The accused always appeared sensible and rational. Eliza Nolan,mother of the accused, deposed that some; time ago accused came to her house and left * several articles .of clothing, (identified) for ' 'witness' fa>take care of. . .Accused told witness ' that she had bought these articles. Witness gave the articles, to Detective Cox. To Mr Flesher : Accused had never been in proper health since the birth of her last baby. She had been a long time in the hands of the doctor, and witness had noticed of late that she did not appear to be quite right in her mind. Witness thought accused must have been off her head to have stolen anything, as she had all she wanted and a good husband. Detective Cox deposed to having read the search warrant to the accused, who at first denied, but afterwards admitted her guilt. Accused told witness that she opened the kitchen window with a knife in order to gain an entrance into Kennedy's house. Accusedwas wearing the navy blue dress produced at the time of the search. To Mr Flesher : There was no attempt at concealment on the part of accused. Mr Cresswell asked the Bench to reduce . the charge to one of theft, so that the case might be summarily dealt with. ' Detective Chrystal pointed out that the Supreme Court would be sitting in a few days. The Bench was of opinion that the case should go to the Supreme Court. Accused was accordingly committed for trial, bail being allowed in one surety of .£SO The same defendant web further charged -with having, on May 13, at Addington, stolen from the dwelling of Elizabeth Ann Abraham a purse containing £9 in money. Ada Margery Kennedy deposed that on May 18 she was at defendant's house in Poulson Street with Detectives Cox and Fitzgerald and others. Heard Detective Cox ask accused what she had done with Mrs Abraham's purse. Accused replied that she had burnt it. Deteotive Cox then asked her what she had done with the money. Accused replied that she had spent'it all, with the : exception of about a pound's worth of silver, which, she produced. Elizabeth Ann Abraham deposed that she had a purse containing some £9 in the top drawer of a chest in her bedroom. • Had previously lent accused £2 to buy sJ -wringer with, and took the money from the drawer in accused's presence. On May 13 witness was engaged in washing, having previously closed the front door. Witness, hearing a noise at eleven o'clock, entered the house, and found the front door open. The drawer in the bedroom was also open, and the pxirse was missing. It contained^ six single pound notes, four half-sovereigns, and 19s 6d in silver, including several threepenny pieces. The purse also contained two railway, one tram, and two Opawa bus tickets. Told accused of her loss, and she replied, "You have frightened me, for I thought it was another man come to the door." Accused went with witness to the police station. Accused said that if the purse had been hers she would have been howling all the day. Accused also said her husband had dreamt that witness would have her money a^ain. The money had since been refunded. To Mr Flesher: Witness had received a purse and also two pairs of curtains from Strange's sent by accused, but would not accept the curtains, Detective Cox also gave evidence. Accused, who reserved her defence, was committed to take her trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed as in the previous case. (Before Mr K. Beetham, 5.f11.) Civil Cases.— Judgment was given for plaintiffs by default in the following cases : — J. Hai^h v. T. W. Price, claim £2 14s ; T G Russell v. Henry Behrens, £2 2s ; same v. W. M'Caw, £2 bs ; same v. Mrs E. Taylor, 13s 4d: A. Admore v. A. C. Idiens, .£2 0s 3d; Trade Auxiliary Company v. 1. North, £3 3s; T. I. Joynt V. Henry Box, £2 10s — E. M. Parrott v. W. M Donald, claim J617 Cs 6d. Mr Widdowson for the creditor and Mr Malley for the judgment debtor. Defendant was ordered to pay the money forthwith, in default eight weeks imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended for one month.— Mr Beetham now gave iudo-ment in the suit Hanna v. George, claim £20 as remuneration for the instruction of the defendant, who had bought plaintiff's business. Plaintiff ™s non ; suited, with costs. Christchurch "Press Company v. N. J. Smith, claim .£ls 13s, adjourned till June 16. Hallenstem Bros v.H. Preston, claim 10s 6d, Christchurch Press Company v.H. A. Allison claim .£2 12s, and H. Pinnon y. E. limley claim £4 15s, adjourned till J«pe -. Hallensteinßros. v. J. P. 10s. Mr Weston appeared tor the plain tiffs, and Mr Joyce for the defendant. Ine claim was for money pai<>on account ot a sewing machine, which had n SH£e by the defendant after a considerable tame hid elapsed. After going through agreat deal of evidence, thfl case was /^ourne* till June 2 for the production of witnesses.