MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7416, 30 May 1902, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

■ ■ ■ • ■I CHRISTCHURCH. • • ■ Friday, Mat 30. ■ (Before Mr ; W. Minspn,* J.P., Captain M'Clatchie. J.P., arad Mr S. Lawrence, J.P.) . Drunkenness— Three first offenders were each .fined 5s and ' costs, with the alternative of twenty-four hours' imprisonment. ' ' | A Narrow Escape.— T. W. Frankish ! pleaded not guilty to a charge of having on May 7, -driven a > flock of sheep over the railway crossing at Lincoln Road, Aldington, in the face of an approaching train. The crossing-keeper stated that at about 5.10 p.m. on the evening in question a special train, Consisting of an engine and one van was approaching the crossing when the defendant came up Lincoln Road amd proceeded to drive a small flock of rams over the crossing. : Witness tried to ' keep hint back, but the defendant 6wore at him and persisted inmoving on over the line. But for the promptness of the train in pulling up, tie defendant and his sheep would $ave been cut to pieces. . Two witnesses gave similar evidence. The defendant stated that he was nob aware of the approach* of 4he train, aodl he wai not warned by the crossing-keeper until the sheep were right on the crossing. It was 'too late to turn back, and his only) chance was to push en. He called. a witness who gave similar evidence. Tbe Bench remarked that the public must be "carefully protected and t!be by-laws of the railway must be enforced. A fine of 20s and costs would 1)e inflicted. , . ■.. ■ The Fruits ov Temptation.-^Two small boys were chargedi with stealing two shillings' worth of apples from the orchard of Frederick Thompson, at/St Albans. The boys pleaded! .guilty to the charge. Mr Thompson explained that he 'had lost a great deal of fruit through, the depredations of small boys, and wished to make an example. The culprits were convicted and discharged, after receiving a severe caution from tie Bench. By-Law Cases.— Frederick Schrader and Charles Boxsball were each fined 5s and costs for riding) their bicycles on the footbath, and a charge against Robert Goodchild was dismissed. — William Morrison was charged with leaving his cab unattended on May 9, at the railway station. He pleaded not guilty, and, after hearing the evidence of a constable and of the defendant, the Bench dismissed the ease.—An--1 thony Wilding was fined £1 and costs for leaving a horse and trap in Hereford Street without anyone in charge, and without • locking one of $e wheels.i-Jamea M'Hroy, ; for whom Mr Donnelly appeared, was fined £1 for leaving a horse and trap unattended ; in Oxford Terrace, and 10s for driving without lights. Illegally on Premises.— John Harris pleaded .not guilty to a charge of being found 'by night, without lawful excuse, in a stable on the property of Harold Yorke, ' in Allen Street, Christchurch. The accused ' stated that he was there as a guest, but the Bench seemed disinclined to believe bis story, and sentenced him to seven days' imprisonment. Alleged Assault. — Jamfcs Gasket foi whom Mr Cassidy appeared, pleaded not guilty toj a charge of assaultinglNAlfred Mitohell, atf Halkett, on May 18: The complainant's story was "simply that as he was walking along the road the defendant came up behind him, and knocked 'him down and ' kicked him. Mr Cassidy*s examination of the witness elicited the fact that there hawi been trouble between the parties over a bag of chaff, and it was owing to a dis- ; agreement that the assault took place. ' For the defence, it was stated that the complainaftt had threatened the defendant, and i had then struck hinm with a stick. Defendant promptly knocked) his neighbour down, : or rather, as he put it, "Simply shoved him out of the way." Defendant did not kick him. The Bench decided to inflict a fine of 20s and costs. „- -