MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 51, 29 July 1874, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, July 29. [Before C. 0. Bowen, Esq., R.M.] LARCENY. George Wedge, a young lad, fourteen years’ old, who had been employed as message boy at the Government Buildings was charged with stealing 6s 6d in silver from a cash-box which had been placed in a drawer in the office of the Steward of Reserves. Chief Detective Feast, examined, stated— In consequence of a report made to me by the messenger in the office of Mr Jollie the Provincial Secretary, of money and stamps having being missed from the offices in the offices in the Government Buildings, I last night, in the presence of the messenger in Mr Jollic’s office, marked four shillings and one half-crown. I made an entry of the dates of the coins and the marks I put upon them in the presence of the messenger. Wo afterwards placed them in a cash box in the drawer in the office of the Steward of Reserves. I locked the door and left the key with the messenger. From what I heard this morning I went to the Buildings, I examined the cash-box and found the money gone. I afterwards saw the prisoner in the messengers office. I asked him what money he had on him. He first said none, and then said,he bad Is 6d. I then searched him and found in his waistcoat pocket the 4s, (2s 6d and Is 6d produced.) Those produced are the fire coins I marked, and correspond with the entry I had previously made in my pocket-book. The prisoner then said that he had taken the money from Mr Lean’s office. This was when I told him the money found on him was the money I had marked. I also found the stamps produced on him. He said he had found them behind the messengers desk. I spoke to Mr Jollie and afterwards took the prisoner to the lock-up.

Richard Whish stated—l am a messenger at the Government Buildings. From instructions I received from the Provincial Secretary, I recently communicated with the police, I was present last night in the office when the detective marked a half a crown and four shillings. The money was then put in the cash box, in the Steward of Reserves’ office. . I saw it put there. This morning between 9 and 10 o’clock I went up there, and found it was gone. I then sent word to the police. Prisoner was in the office this morning, lighting the fire. The coins produced are those that were marked. I can’t swear to the stamps produced ; but I have missed stamps from the office recently. The boy had nothing to say in defence, but said he, was thirteen years old the 16th of 'October last, and had been five months employed as messenger-boy at the Government .{.Buildings. Detective Feast, in reply to his Worship, said the bby’s father worked in the gardens. He (the dective) knew that the boy was continually hanging about the Theatre with other boys at night-time. His Worship, told the boy that the Bench thought the best thing that could be done was to send him to the Industrial School, where he would be broken of the bad habits he had got into lately. They would, there- ' fpre, not 'convict him of this charge, but would send him to the Industrial School for three years; and he (his Worship) trusted he would behave himself while there, and if ■he didiso he would find the benefit of it through life. The boy, in reply to his Worship, said he attended the Church of England.

His Worship said he would not make out the order until he saw the boy’s father, and knew under what teaching he desired him to be brought up; LYTTELTON. Tuesday, July 28. (Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.) BREACH or PUBLICHOUSE ORDINANCE. John Savage, of the Mitre Hotel, was charged with neglecting to keep a light burning over his licensed house in Lyttelton during thc prescribed hours. After hearing the evidence, the charge was dismissed on the payment of costs, which amounted to 4s. ADJOURNED CASE OE ASSAULTING THE DOCTOR OF THE EASTERN MONARCH. . This case was adjourned from yesterday for further evidence. The defendant, William Jones, after a Strong cdution from the Magistrate, was s p n on board the ship, his three days’ incarcera tion being considered sufficient punishment.