POLICE COURT.—Tuesday.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 277, 29 November 1870, Page 2

POLICE COURT.— Tuesday.

(Before T. B. Gillies, 3. M. Dargaville, and

T. Henderson, Esqs., Justices.)

Drunkenness. — John Woods for being drunk, and Mary (an aboriginal), Patrick Mulaly and Eliza Rice for being drunk and disorderly, were punished in the usual manner. Joseph Ormond forfeited bail. Breach op the Licensing Act.—William Nieol, proprietor of the Exchange Hotel, was charged with having allowed an unlawful gatre to be played in his licensed house on the 18tb November. Mr. MacCormick for the defence. Mr. H. H. Manning was sworn in as Interpreter.—Hohepa Whare deposed, I live at the Bay of Islands. Do not know defendant. I know the Exchange Hotel. That is the house where I lost mv money. Remember Friday the 18th hist. Went into the hotel! that day with my wife and a person who invited me iv. This wa3 in the forenoon. I had drink with the person that had brought me in. One that had came in afterwards produced cards from his pocket, and they played among themselves at first. They afterwards asked me to- play. There were three cards used in the game. They said to me, if I gave them £5 they would show me the game and return me the money. I did so. After seeing the game, I asked them to give back tlie^money ; they said yes they would return it. They showed me the faces of the cards, then shuffled them. (Witness described the card trick as played). I did nob bet. I lost £8. The man that had brought the cards put my money in his pocket. They said they would not give me the£s unless I gave them £3. They caught my hand and took tho £3. They had played, one game among themselves before asking me to join them. No money whs placed on the table or passed between thorn. —Cross-examined by Mr. MacConmick : There being no case of gambling made out, the charge was dismissed.

City Ratks.—ln the charge of non-pay-ment of city rates laid against Gk Nash and Co., Mr. Wynn for tho prosecution and Mr. Joy for the defence, an adjournment till tomorrow was agreed to, Stealing fbom the Person.—F. Best, Simon Full, andrPatrick Ryan were charged with having, on the 18th insrant, feloniously stolen and taken away from Hopepo Whare the sum of £B.— Mr. Brookfield for the prosecution. Mr. Wynn and Mr. Joy appeared for all the defendants. Mr. Bennett for Best. —On the application of Mr. Brookfield, the information was amended so as to specify the sum of £3 aB the amount taken. — Mr. H. H. Manning was again sworn in as interpreter. The evidence adduced was a recapitulation of the circumstances detailed in the previous case.—The prosecutor, Hohepe Whare, deposed : Alter Full had taken tho: three pounds, as related, the man put some of it in his pocket, and gave the rest to his two friends. Kyari and Full went away, and Best remained till I wont to get a po'icemitn, when Best also went away. I attempted to follow tlss two, when Best told we to stay, that they were coining back. This was in the forenoon. —Cross-examined by TVl'r. Wynn and Mr. Joy.—Hene Whare, wife of last_ witness, deposed to the . circumstances previously narrated. —The three learned counsel for the defence severally addressed the Bench.—The Court held that the case was proved against all the prisoners. It appeared that pi-osecutor had been inveigled in for the purpose merely of gaming, and that on finding he had more money than they had expected, the money was wrenched from his baud. The amount being under the sum of £5, the prisoners were sentenced each to six months' imprisonment, with hard labor.