POLICE COURT.—Thursday.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 339, 9 February 1871, Page 2

POLICE COURT.— Thursday.

[Before J. May and J. M. Dargaville, Esqs.,

Justices.]

Deuxkenxess. —Four for first offences, and one for a second offence, were punished in the usual manner, for drunkenness. Two persons failing to appear, forfeited bail. Assault. — 11. P. Kirkwood was charged by J. Lillevvall, witli having assaulted him. — Mr, Wynn for the prosecution.—Pleaded guilty. Mr. Wynn stated that prosecutor had been compelled to take this course being in fear of receiving bodily harm.—Defendant was bound over in his own n-eognizanees for £50, and two Buretics for £25 each to keep the peace for six months. Theeatee^iXG Language.—W. R. Dixon was charged by his wife witli using threatening language. Mrs. Dixon did not wish to press the charge as her husband hud promised to refrain from drink.—Case dismissed. Luxact.—A man was brought before the Bench as a lunatic. On the desire of the man's friends and their promises to take care of him, the Inspector withdrew the charge. Fobgixg and Utteking.—W. Walls was charged by Cooinbcs and Johnston witli uttering a forged cheque on the Bunk of New Zealand, purporting to having been drawn by E. J. Wilson. S. Coombes deposed that on the GLli inst.. prisoner bought certain goods at his store, and tendered in payment the cheque produced, purporting to be for £7 12s 6" 1. The bill for the clothes was £6 7s 6d, and he gave prisoner the change. Prisoner said lie had received the cheque in wages from the purser of the Clio, lie endorsed the cheque E, J. Wilson, and on my remarking the signature lie said the names were the same. On' presenting the cheque at the bank, found that the " name was unknown," Had dealings with prisoner before. Jfe was slightly under the influence of drink at the time he presented the cheque. The articles produced are those sold him. To (lie Bench :—Have never known a cheque having the amount in figures in the body of it paid at the bank.— John Davis deposed : I am ledger keeper at the Bank of New Zealand. No person bearing the name on the cheque produced has an account at the Bank. The cheque (having figures instead of words written in the body of it) is irregularly drawn. Would not have been paid had the signature been genuine.— B. Marks, pawnbroker, deposed : Shortly after four o'clock on the 6th instant, prisoner pawned the articles produced. I advanced 36s on them. He said his name was Watts, of Shortland, and that he was scene shifter at the theatre. Ho seemed sober.—Detective Ternahau deposed to having arrested, the prisoner on the 7th instant for drunkenness. On the morning of the Bth I informed him of the present charge. He admitted having written the cheque out himself, and said he must have been mad. Prisoner was cook to the Commodore on board the Clio. The Bench held that the ease was not made out as one of forging and uttering, that there had been carelesness in accepting such a document as the irregular cheque in question, and dismissed the case.

Assault.—John Cox was charged by Charles King with having assaulted him. —Mr. Wynn for the complainant, Mr. Jas. Russell for the defence.—Charles King, deposed : On last Sal urday I met defendant in Albert-street. Had not spoken to defendant for eight months. He caught me by the shoulder and struck me.— Cross-examined by Mr. Jas. Russell: Asked a policeman to take him in charge. Know defendant's mother and sister. Had formerly told the young lady then walking with defendant thab he wanted to speak to her privately.—James O'Neill, deposed : I was coming down the street when I saw defendant lay hold of complainant and strike him. Complainant told me to go for a policeman and he would give me a shilling. Defentant said he would give me half-a-crown if I did not. —Cross-examined by Mr. Russell.—For the defence, Eleanor Cowell Renwick, deposed to having been walking in company with defendant on the occasion. Both had been her admirers. She called out to King what he wanted to say to her. Cox said he need not be afraid to say what he had to say. King said ho would not, and would call a policeman. Cox caught him by the arm to persuade him to not do so. Is quite certain that defendant did not strike complainant, but only caught him by the arm.—James Waite deposed : Saw Cox have hold of King by the arm; he was not striking him.—Fined 10s and costs.