POLICE COURT.—Wednesday.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 380, 29 March 1871, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—Wednesday.

[Before J. O'Neill and Cr. B. Owen, Esqs.j

Justices of the Peace.]

Dhxtnkenness. —Walter Scott, Pidina (a Maori), Catherine Regan, R.Snrcefield, J. Hill, W. Campbell and R. Doran were punished in the usual manner as drunkurds.

Vagrancy. — Annie Stewari and Mary McManus were sont to prison for 14 days each, as vagrants.

ASSA.ULT. —Alfred Larkins was charged with having assaulted John McDougall on the 26th March. —Air. Wynn for complainant j Mr. Joy for the defendant, who pleaded guilty and expressed regret. —The case was amicably settled, defendant paying a fine of Is. and costs. Desertion. —John Cronin was charged by Ann Crouiu with having neglected to support his two children, under 14 years of age.— Case dismissed. Laeceny. —Edward Good was charged with having feloniously stolen one silver watch, tbe property of J. W. Knigt, on December 5. The same prisoner was also charged with having stolen from J. Kane, on Januury 13, » »iU.» wa.hnh .Albert r-l»un_Jfc»raaeh. and locket, value £b.—rieaciea guilty to butt, charges, and was sentenced for each to two months' imprisonment.—[Mr. J. S. Macfarlane here took his seat on the Bench.]

Assault. —Donald Stewart, master of the schooner Onward, was charged with having assaulted two Islands natives.—Mr. Beveridge and Mr. Brookfield for tbe prosecution ; Mr. Tyler for the defence.—Me3srß. Beveridge and Brookfield objected strongly to Mr. J. S. Macfarlaue sitting on the bench, on the grounds of his being an interested party, as part owner of tho Onward.—Air. Macfarlane denied that he was interested in the case, and a warm scene occurred, during which Mr. Macfarlane maintained his right. Subsequently, during the progress of the case, Mr. Macfarlane retired from the bench, and took his seat in the body of the Court. —Eliza, a male native of the Fijis, being sworn through an interpreter, detailed a long case of alleged filthy conduct and cruelties. Ou tho passage from Levuka to Nandi tbe captain had given him a pipe filled with gunpowder and covered with tobacco, which had burnt him on exploding. [The remainder of tho evidence was unfit for jmblication.J—The examination of this witness was continued at great length, and he was subjected to a severe cross-exami-nation by Mr. Tyler. At one o'clock, on the conclusion of his evidence, the Court adjourned till two.

The Bench resumed at 2.20 p.m. —Mr. Brookfield applied for an adjournment, a3 Mr. Owen, who was leaving the colony, could not be present on the Bench.—Adjourned to 10.30 a.m. on Thursday.