POLICE OFFICE.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 27, 8 February 1844, Page 3

POLICE OFFICE.

Wednesday, Star January, 1844. Thomas Fagan, alias Tommy tbe Shingler, was arranged on a charge of stealing a side of bacon from the store of Messrs. Williamson and Crammer. The examination occupied some time, there being several witnesses. [We decline publishing tbe evidence which wa 8 given in the above case, as the prisoner (it will be seen) was oommitted for trial, and oor publishing the evidence might cause an impression on tbe minds of some of the Jarots.] Thursday, Ist February. * The Office was closed against tbe public this day, in order to enable the Chief Police Magistrate, who was assisted ty several J. P’s. to revise tbe Jarors List. After erasing some few oames aod making a a few other alterations tbe List was completed for publication. Friday, 2nd February. This morning two Psrkhurst boys were placed at the bar on suapieioo of robbing Mr. Chisholm, Butcher. From the evidence it appeared that tbe two boys were sent to Mr. Goodfellnws for tbe purpose of gettiog tbeir rations of bread and meat, but as Mr. Gaodfellow had no meat be gave the boys an order to receive it from Mr. Chisholm, one of the boys pieseuted tbe order and got tbe meat, but tbe other boy suddenly disappeared, and at the same time Mr. Chisholm also missed a leg of pork and a shoulder of mutton, when he asked the remaining boy, where the lad was that came with him? He replied, “There was no one with ne” ! The boy then left, and during the evening Mr. Barry the Superintendent seen some dogs about u.e Barracks where the boys stopped, and on looking underneath, discovered a leg of pork and a shonlder of mutton, whan he gave information to Mr. Cbis= holm, wbo onuld only identify the boy Parker. The Police Magistrate asked Parker whether he would tell tbe name of the boy who stole tbe meat, and who was in company with him f The boy res plied be did not know. The bench thou directed that the boys might be removed until they would tax their memory,-and endeavour to recollect something about the matter, Thomas Fagan, alias Tommy the Sbirytler, was then called, when the bench directed that the 3rd clause of the Police Magistrates Ordinance be read, which on beiog done, Tommy was asked, whether after hearing tin# evidence which was produced against him. and hearing the clause read from the Ordinance, which gave him the power of dealling summarily with psisoners provided they wished to confess. Totnmy'denfcd havingany knowledge of the stealing the bacon. He was then committed to taks his trial at the next County Court. Saturday, 3 rd February, 1844. This morning a man named Grant, was convicted for druukenness, and he being an old hand was fined 20s. and costs. Iu default of payment, to be imprisoned aud kept to hard labour for 48 boars. Wm. Smith, a Parkhorst boy, was charged by Capt. Rough with absoonding aboot six weeks since. The boy in his defence said he worked for tbe Government for sometime, and was wearing his clothes, and not knowing where he would get more, lie thought it best to look for work elsewhere. Tbe bench told him it was very wrong to leave the Government employ until a proper master could be found, who would take him as an apprentice, and if his clothes were worn out by working for Government, no doubt they would procure him more, it was therefore no excuse. He was sens tenced to one month's imprisonment and bard labour. Three Parkhurst boys were then placed at the bar, two of whom had been remanded since Friday for examination, when a womau named Aldwell de-

posed to having seen one of the boys (Hopkina) plant meat underneath the house where the boy lives. The meat was produced, which Chisholm identified. Two of the boys were discharged, but Hopkins was sentenced to three months imprisonment and hard labour. Two Parkhust boys were then brought up charged by the Chief Constable with being, at large without any visible means or support. The Bench asked the boys what means they had of get: ting their living?—wbeu ooe of them replied, he got some work now and then. Captain Rough here informed the bench that he had applied to the government for permission to employ tbo free boys, who could not get work in -Auckland, and received permission to employ all that applied, provided their condoct be good, and in return for the work, they would receive board, lodging, and clothes: The Police Magistrate told those boya that a« it was the first time any of them bad beet* brought up ooder the present circomstaoce, and as they had been confined for the night, he would discharge them, but they must bear in mind if they or any other of the Parkhurst boys were found loitering about the streets,, the constables ,bad orders to apprehend them, and when brought before him, it would be his duty to commit thepn as vagrants to prison, as there mas no excuse for their idling about when they coaid get employment from government. Tuesday, Feb. 6th. Tbe bench was occupied some considerable timd this morning in taking the depositions of NJr. Houston, of Coromandel Harbour, wbo has been robbed two or three times within the last three months. R. A. Fitzgerald, Esq., J. P. James Coates, Esq., J. P. and Percival Berry. Esq.. High Sheriff, then took their seats with the Chief Policy Magistrate, for tbe purpose of hearing any legal objection that might be made by any of the inhabit tants whose names appeared in the Govemme Gazette to act, when oalled on, as Jurors: Dr. Campbell applied to be taken off, be being in practice as a medical man. Mr. McKenzie, Druggist, made a similar application, bat the bench dicr not hold oat auy hopes of complying with his request The office was then cleared, for the purpose o£ coming to a conclusion. . S This morning, Dr. Lee was brought before tbe bench on a charge of killing two ducks, the property of Mr. O’Leary at Epsom. Mr. O'Leary staled that some time since he losttwo-daoka, and was told lately by Catherine Hutchinson that Dr. Lee killed them, and she was prepared to go to court and state the qircomataDce, for she would transport the Doctor. Hearing this, he was determined to have the matter investigated, and conaew qoently had brought the Doctor before his WorshipAll this witness knew of tbe affair was that he had been told of the circumstance. Robert Austin being sworn, said, I’knew Mr. O’Leary in November last—l beard that he bad lost two ducks, Catherine Hutchinson told me tbe Doctor had killed them, and she would prose* cute him for so doing. O’Leary asked Mr. Hutobiuson about the docks?—be said he had a pair from the Maories, but to make out his bill and he would pay for them. Calheriue Hutchinson was then sworn: thia witness said that Doctor Lee had been living with her and her husband uutil lately: about twp months since; at dusk we were sitting under the verandah —the Doctor aaid whose docks are.they-—he tbeu got up ao(f t drove them into the kitchen and killed them, and put oo a pot of water, and they were cooked the next day —the colour of them was grey—they were plucked directly—l did not know to whom they belonged—Dr. Lee bad none of his owo. Bench ; have you any questions to ask this witness ? Dr. Lee: will you swear I was present when the duoks were killed ? Catherine :■ I will swear you were there, aod you know it. Dr. Lee.* did you not say the ducks belonged to Mrs. Connor, and you had taken them as a set off for money she was indebted to you? Catherine; I aaid no suoli thing. ’ Benoii .* have you been in the habit of porchasibg ducks ? Catherine; no your Worship, I have purchased fowls from the Maories. Chief Constable: was the Doctor’s boy at homo >vheo they were killed ? Catherine. yes, and the Doctor told hiip to say if any one enquired about their-ducks, they came from Mrs. Connors, or -tbe Doctor would swear any thing to get him iuto trouble. O’Leary was then recalled, aud asked by tho Bench to give a description of tbe dooksl O’Leary: one of the duoks were grey, and tho other was a kind of drab with a blue head. Bench ; did you ever ask the Dootor to pay for tbe duoks? O'Leary: l never Doctor to pay for them. George Aldin, a boy about ten years of age was then oalled : before putting the book in his hand. Mr. Mathew very prudently cautioned him as to the nature of taking a false oath. * Bench; do you know the Lord’s Prayei ? Boy: yes Sir. Bench: do you know tbe consequence of takings false oath? Boy : Yes Sir, I shall be punished by God if T do. He'was then sworn, after some few more cautiosp',. by Mr. Mathew. About two months since soma , ducks were passing outside the house, I was in the C For continuation of Police Report , Original Correspondence and Adoertite* ments, sec first page of Supplement,J