POLICE COURT.—THURSDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 94, 28 April 1870, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—THURSDAY.

(Before T. T. Turton, Esq., H. D. Morphet, Esq., J.P.'s.) DRUNKENNESS.

J. McGuffy, W. Bills, Jeremiah O'Keefe, Henry Brown, Patrick Nagle, Peter fecott, and William Ifobson were charged with being drunk, and were punished in the usual manner. x David Kelly pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly, and was fined 20s and costs, or in default of payment, ordered to suffer 48 hours' imprisonment. " . Grace Condron was charged with a breach of the Vagrancy Act, in having no visible means of support. The defendant eaicl that she came in from the country latoly with a sum of money, which she had spent in drink; but if the Bench would let her off she would never come before it again. . . Mr. Naughton said that tho woman had been brought up for her own sake. She lived in Chancery street, and associated with the worst of characters. Detective Murphy gave evidence. The Bench then (sentenced her to three months' imprisonment. ANOTHER CASE. Mary Quinn was charged with'a similar offence She pleaded guilty. Mr. Naughton said this was a much, worse case than the last, the prisoner being a very old offender. She lived in a state of gross immorality, and he would ask that she should receive a heavier sentence than the other prisoner. She had already undergone twelve months imprisonment for a similar offence. Sentenced to six months' imprisonment. ANOTHEK CiSE. Charles Spalding, a big, strong looking man, was charged with a similar offence. Mr. Naughton said that the prisoner was a horrible object to look upon, being absolutely covered with vermin. He appeared to be a very strong man, but unless some change could be made in his appearance, it was impossible that he could get work. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge. Constable Clark said the prisoner had no means of support but by beggiug. He was in a filthy state, being crowded with vermin. The Commissioner said he wished there was some other means of dealing with the prisoner, who was in a sad state. The Bench observed that the prisoner seemed to be a. strong man and perhaps after having been in prison he would be in a better condition to get work. He was then sentenced Co one nonth's imprisonment with hard labor. THE CHARGE OV ASSAUiT ACAINST MR. CHAS O'BRIEN. This case appeared again before the Court. The prisoner was formerly charged with striking Mr.' "W. H. Newton on the face with a riding whip, on the Bth of the present month. Mr. Joy appeared for the complainant; Mr. Bennett for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. All witnesses were ordered out of Court. Mr. Joy opened the case and stated the facts connected with it, and in conclusion he said he would urge the Bench to inflct the heaviest penalties which was in their power under tho Justices of the Peace Act. The complninant deposed he was living in Nelson-street. On the day mentioned in the information he saw the defendant in Queenstreet, near the British hotel. They went into the hotel together, when witness told him he did not want any provery, or defending, as my wife was mistress of her own house. Souie conversation then occurred with Mrs. Seeats, and after she had left the room witness said something to him about a row in the Exchange hotel, when O'Brien said, " Oh, you , I will slog you," and struck him in the jaw with the riding whip and his fist, holding the butt end of the whip tightly clenched in his hand. Defendant then threw the whip down and struck witness with his fist. Witness then left the " snuggery." As the result of tho assault, complainant had been in bod for twenty days and attended by a medical man, and Jduring that period the doctor had pronounced his life to be in danger. Cross-examined; I was an actor, but. at present lam a newspaper reporter. At one time I entered into an arrangement to form a company. At the Thames I had to lay an information against him for threatening my life. . Dr. Marshall deposed that he had attended the complainant for the last twenty days or so, suffering from a very severe abscess in bis jaw, which rendered his life extremely dangerous at one time. He was still in a very debilitated state. A blow from the fist alone would be sufficient to produce an abscess; with a riding whip, doubly.so. Cross-examined : I have known Mr. Newton for some years, and he was a man of very good health. This was the case. Mr. Bennett admitted that the case had been very clearly proved against his client. There had been a misunderstanding formerly between the parties, and he hoped that the Bench would inflict the slightest amount of punishment which the law allowed. Mr. O'Brien had already been in prison for eight days. In conclusion, Mr. Bennett drew the attention of the Bench to the fact that tho Evening Star had, in his opinion, committed a contempt of Court by publishing certain statements which were not correct, to wit, that an ulcer had gathered in his tonsils, while it had in point of fact gathered in his jaw. [For our own part, we must say that we fail to see any contempt in tho mater, and.can only suppose that Mr. Bennett must have misinterpreted the meaning of a very simple paragraph.] The Bench considered the case fully proved, and said that Mr. O'Brien had not himself to thank that Mr, Newtoa was now in Court, considering the very severe injuries inflicted

upon him. The Bench would notW^p their duty if it did not mark its senjse of tir assault. He would be fined £10, or six Tr ee v * imprisonment, and would be bounlkoTer himself in £100, and two sureties in £5Q^7" keep the peace towards Mr. Newton fort] next six months. c Mr. Bennett asked that the Court would give time for Mr. O'Brien to pay the money The Court acceeded to the request, but said that it must be paid before Saturday. SMASHING- WINDOWS. James Hayinas, charged by Walter DudW with breaking one pane of glass at the House of informant, in Hobson-street. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr. Naughtoa explained that there -were two men concerned in the affair. One had been punished. The defendant had escaped at the time, but had since been found out and the evidence to be given would, he thonght be sufficient to convict. . Evidence having been given," and tile' %\ 6 clearly proved, the prisoner was jSentenced to six months' imprisonment" with Jiard1 labour. This was all the business.