SORRELL, John A.

John A. Sorrell

Magistrate's Court, Christchurch. This Day.

Assault.— Hurst N. Davis was charged with assaulting John Sorrell, on the Sumner road, on the previous day. Mr Stringer appeared for the accused. The evidence showed that complainant was an itinerant photographer, who was at the regatta on the day before, plying his calling. Defendant was with some ladies in a carriage, which complainant selected as a suitable group for the exercise of his art. He took a photograph, and went up and offered it for sale. Defendant said that complainant made himself objectionable, would not go away when requested, and called defendant a "cad." The application of this opprobrious epithet before ladies raised defendant's ire, and he followed the photographer and struck him several times. Constable M'Gill witnessed the assault. Defendant said that he had first asked the complainant to "put up his hands" before he struck him. He admitted that he had taken the law into his own hands. A fine of 10s was imposed.
Star, Issue 5546, 18 February 1886, Page 3

Larceny.— John A. Sorrell and Thomas C. Spain were charged with stealing an American flag, a German flag, a bottle of ink, and a pen, value £2 10s, the property of A. H. Hardecke, on Feb. 23 last. It appeared that the accused Sorrell was a travelling photographer, and Spain, his assistant, who had been stopping together at the Golden Fleece Hotel, of which Mr Hardecke was licensee. The flags, &c., were missed from the linen closet where they had been kept. Detective O'Connor was called in and searched the house. Accused were absent, and the flags were found in a portmanteau, to which they both had access. The detective went out and found the accused, who told him they knew nothing about any flags. Spain now said that he had taken the flags without Sorrell's knowledge from the man who was employed as "boots" at the hotel, who told him they would be useful to him, and not to let Hardecke know anything about it. The "boots" denied this statement. Sorrell said he knew nothing about the flags being stolen till he saw them in the portmanteau in the presence of Detective O'Connor. They would be no use to him. The Bench gave Sorrell the benefit of the doubt, and discharged him. Spain was convicted and sent to gaol for a month with hard labour.
Star, Issue 5554, 27 February 1886, Page 3