MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 292, 19 May 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday, May 19. [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R.M.] Threatening to Illuse his Wife.— Thos. Wild was charged on remand 'with this offence. Mrs Wild stated that since the case was last before the Court her husband had behaved very kindly to her. He was always a good husband when sober, and had now joined the Good Templars. His Worship, after adivsing defendant to keep his pledge, permitted the case to be withdrawn. Stealing from the Person. —John Keeling was charged with this offence. Alexander Beattie, cabman, stated that he was in the bar of the Warwick Hotel the previous afternoon, he saw a man now in court, a stranger to him, in the bar at the time. The man seemed to be a little the worse for liquor and in a stooping position. The prisoner was sitting alongside of this man, and he (witness) saw prisoner put his hand under the man’s coat, and immediately afterwards a knife, pipe, and watchguard fell on the floor. Prisoner’s hand was under the other man’s coat, but he could not say whether it was in his pocket or not. He (witness) picked the knife and pipe, and watchguard up and gave them to the landlord of the hotel, remarking when he picked them up, “ Come, that won’t do.” Prisoner said, “Hold your tongue, and I’ll go you halves.” Prisoner had nothing in his hand before he put it under the other man’s coat. He (witness) afterwards went for a police man. Wm. Simmonds, landlord of the Warwick Hotel, gave evidence of the previous witness having handed him the articles produced, which he said had been taken by prisoner out of a man’s pocket in the bar. A policeman-was then sent for, and before his return prisoner handed him a gold or brass guard out of his pocket. He (witness) handed the prosecutor the articles before the policeman arrived. Harry Smithers stated the articles produced belonged to him. He was the worse for liquor, and could not say whether he might have given prisoner the things or not, as when under the influence of liquor he would give anything away. Detective Feast stated that prisoner had been living with a woman named Clarke, who was committed some short time since for stealing from the person. Sentenced to one months’ imprisonment with hard labor. Drunk and Fighting in the Street.— John Keeling, the prisoner in the previous case, was charged with fighting with a man named Alexander Beattie in front of the Warwick Hotel. Keeling, who was the aggressor, was fined 10s or forty-eight hours, and the charge against Beattie was dismissed. Drunk and Creating a Disturbance.— Henry Stevens, charged with being drunk and creating a disturbance in Barrett’s Hotel, was fined 10s. Drunk and Disorderly. —J. McClare, arrested for being drunk near the theatre, was fined ss.