MAGISTERIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9303, 1 August 1908, Page 4

MAGISTERIAL.

CHBISTOHUHCH

Saturday, Auctjst 1. <Before Mr V. G. Day, S.M.)

INDECENCY. — Harry Atkinson, who was also fined os and costs, in default twenty-four hours' imprisonment, for having been drunk, was fined 20s and costs, in default seven days' imprisonment, for haying committed an indecent act within the view of passers-by in a public street.

Discharged. — George White was charged with having wilfully and obscenely exposed himself. Mr T. I. Swail gave evidence, and said that, though -the exposure had been indecent, the accused was not in a fit state of mind to comprehend that he was committing an offence. The accused was discharged.

Habitual Drunkard. — Benjamin Cook was convicted under the Habitual Drunkards Act, 1906, and was ordered to come up for sentence when called on.

Theft of a Bicycle. — Leonard Hamilton Hay, (Mr Alpers) was charged with having stolen a bicycle, valued at £14, the property of Leslie J. Lorrie. It was shown that ho had taken the bicycle from the back of Cockayne's Leviathan Hotel, where both Hay and Lorrie were boarders. He pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence. Bail was allowed, the accused on his recognisances for £100.

(Before Mr H. W Bishop, S.M.) A Feil*xe Thief.— Mabel Norton (Mr Leathern) was charged with having stolen household goods valued at £8 183 3d from Mrs J. Bonnington. ChiefDetective Bishop said that goods to the value of £2 7s 6d had been recovered, and the accused had admitted taking them. Mrs Bonnington said that thei accused was in her employ as s&rvant in her house for a little over two weeks. Sho discharged the accused because she did not do her work suitably. Tho accused said that she came from Invercargill, and on oai<h denied having taken any goods other than those admitted by her and produced. She said that she was twenty-six years of age. Mr Bishop said that he had' no sympathy with the accused, who had been receiving good wages, out had by her action placed herself on the level of a common thief, even lower because in tho case of ia thief with a record 1 there was sometimes an. excuse. She would be fined 60s and costs, in default on© month's imprisonment, with hard labour. The evidence given was not sufficient to show that she had taken the res* of the goods, and she would be given the benefit of the small doubt; but he had his own idea of the matter.

• Vagrancy. — Emily Andrews, a girl aged, seventeen years, appeared on a vagrancy charge. Evidence was given to show that the girl had been away from 3ier home for six weeks and had been loading an immoral life. Mr Bishop nominally sentenced her to three montlis' imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended if she remained in the Samaritan Home. He ordered that his Excellency tine Governor should be recommended to deal with her under Section 25 of th© Industrial Schools Act.