RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

West Coast Times, Issue 219, 1 June 1866, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

("Before G. G. FitzGerald, R.M.) i Drunkards.— Alfred Rawlings was fined 5s for beiug drunk, and 15s for disorderly conduct, or in default 48 hours imprisonment with hard labor. Mary Ann Sullivan was fined 5s for being drunk, or in default 24 hours imprisonment with hard labor. Larckny. — Alexander Thompson was charged with stealing a saw, valued 15s, the property of Mr J. B. Clarke, ltevell street. The prisoner was sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labor. OIITAININO MONBY UY FALSE PItETEVCES. — James Rohertson, charged with uttering a valueless cheque, drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, for L 5, which he gave to Solomon Sheppare for goods bought by prisoner. The magistrate committed the prisoner to take his trial at the first sitting of the Supreme Court. Larceny. — Alexander Thompson was charged by Sergeant Dyer with stealing a hand-saw, of the value of 15s, the property of Mr Clark, of the Red House, Revcil street. Sergeant Dyer, sworn,, stated that he saw the prisoner walking down Revell street yosterday afternoon, with the saw in question partially concealed under his coat. He told the witness that another person had given it to him, and requested him to sell it for him. The witness arrested him on suspicion, and took him to the watchhouse , and when there the prisoner admitted having stolen tho saw from Mr Clark's store, Revell street. Mr Clark was called, but could not identify the saw. lie said he had similar ones in his possession now. The prisoner was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labor.

Obtaining Money on False Pketencks by means of a valueless 'cheque. — ja3. Robertson was charged with this offence. Mr Button appeared for the prisoner. Solomon Shappere was called, and being sworn, stated that he was a watchmaker residing in ltevell street} that on the evening of the 29th inst., a woman camo into his shop and bought some jewellery, amounting to 14s, and in payment tendered him a chequo for £5 on the Bank of New Zealand. The witness returned her tho balauce, £4 6s, and requeued the woman to endorse tho cheque, which was signed by James Robertson, and drawn in favor of himself. The witness sent the cheque to the bank the next morning, when it was returned to him marked "No account." Cross-examined by Mr Button— The woman Margaret Anderson, told the witness at the time sho gave him tbe cheque, that if it was not all right, she would pay him the money. Margaret' Anderson sworn, said the prisoner came to her tent on the morning of the 29th instant, and asked her to cash a cheque for five pounds, but not having sufficient money to do so, she lent him Ll, and took the cheque, promising to cash it, and return the balance— L4— which hi did the same evening. The witness identified the chequo produced as the one she had received from the prisoner. The rest of her evidence corroborated the evidence given by tlve former witness. Matthew Whylan sworn, stated that he was ledger keeper at the Bank of New Zealand, Hokitika, and that a cheque for L 5 signed James Robertson, was presented for payment on the 30th instant, and returned marked " lso account. The witness further slated that there was no account at the Uank on that day in the name of James Robertson, nor had there ever been one. Constable M'Blroy sworn, proved the arrest of the prisoner, and said that when he asked him, previous to arresting him, where he got the cheque, he replied that he had received it from Mr Eicke. On going with the prisoner to Mr Eicke, the prisoner told witness that tho person who had drawn the cheque, James Robertson, had given it to him. Tho prisoner said that Robertson had left towu, whereupon witness asked Mr Eicke if he know Robertson. He replied that he did, and at the same time pointed to the prisoner. He theu admitted having committed the offence, and offered witness £5 for tho cheque. Cross-examined by Mr Button— Prisoner told witness he had gone in search of the jeweller's for the purpose of paying him the money. The prisoner reserved his defence. Mr Button then called Mr Turner, who said that the prisonor went to Mr Kleine's shop on the 30th instant, and asked if a woman had bought a keeper ring the night before. The magistrate said that ho had no option in the case, and committed the prisoner to take his trial at the ensuing Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court. CIVIL CASES. M'Beath v. Welsh— Judgment by dofault for Ll7 15s, and costs, amount of promissory note. Klein v. Butchell— Judgment by default for L 5 10s, and costs, for jewelry. Proctor v. Solomon— For jewelry. Judgment by default for amount claimed, L 8 4s, with costs. Burko v. Rawlings— The plaintiff sought to recover the sum of L 9, due for wages for three weeks, at L 3 per week. Judgment was given for L 7 16s, with costs. Brown v. Williams — For goods supplied. Judgment by default for L 2 18s, and costs. There were a few more civil cases heard, but they were of no pvMc interest ojr importance.

In the cases of Lewis v. Shannon, Meyerstein v. Griffiths, Barnard & Co. v. Throckmorton, Campbell v. Payne, Mac Gregor and ilavvey v. Johnston, Chesney v. Pain, Raphael v.-Keenan, Brown v. Brown, Anderson v, McGrath, Gviflto v,

Cliamberlayne, Griffin v. Connor, Stanford & C«. v. Throckmorton, there was no appearance of plaintiffs or defendants. The Court was then adjourned until eleven o'clock this day. The following list of civil cases is set down for heaving this day :— O'Driscoll v. Williams, Lewis v. Sweeney, Allen v. Lampton, Day v. Thompson & Co., Hirsch v. Nahr, Thompson & Co. v. Ready, Tracey v. Bow, Hall & Moray v. Frisk, Dixon & Simmonda v. Gibbons, Cleve v. Mendelson, Casaius v. Connelly. Sproul v. Caßsel, and McGregor v. Bastings.