POLICE COURT.— Wednesday.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 577, 15 November 1871, Page 2

POLICE COURT.— Wednesday.

[Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.]

Dkunkenness. —Twe drunkards were punished in the customary manner for this offence, and Mary llowley, being an old offender, was sent to gaol for seven days.

1S ti:lil!:ctfulDkivehs. —Peter Smith pleaded not guilty to a charge of being absent from his vehicle—The cousinble who gave the information said that, on the9i.li inst., he saw the horse and cab dashing down the footpath of Queenstreet at a furious pacts and the defendant running after them. —Jonas Foster, for the defence, s;iid tho defendant had been standing close to the horse's head, when it took fright and rushed off. Defendant caught tho reins, but failed to etop the animal. Witness thought, defendant hud not neglected his duty in any way, aud had endeavoured to stop the horse until his own life was in danger. —Peter Mellon corroborated the evidence. — His Worship thought the driver should have been sitting on tho box, arid not standing a few feet from the horse's head.—Mr. Inspector Brohtun said that, by the regulations, a driver was allowed to dismount as long as he remained within a yard of the horse.— His Worship dismissed the case, with a caution to defendant to be more careful in future. — Thomas Richard Dalton pleaded guilty of committing a similar offence. Jle said he had been waiting at a concert, aud was very tired. He left his cab and fell asleep, and when he awoUe could n/)_yindJii3_j^bJc)^_T J^eI jjpE||gs,

and costs

Careless Driving-.—Thomas Carr was charged with being the driver of a public vehicle, aud endangering the lives of the passengers, by being in a state of intoxication. — He pleaded not guilty, and Mr. Joy appeared for his defence. —Carr appeared very ill, and his head was bandaged, severe injuries having been received. —Constable Driver deposed that on the 9th instant, he saw defendant in Hardington's yard, in the afternoon between halfI ast 4 ami 5. He was drunk, aud having admitted he was, the driver said that the accident had happened in consequence of the bmko being insufHci. :it. Witness had previously seen the omnibus coming down Queen-street tit a furious pace, and apparently not under tho driver's control. The coach was full of passengers. The horses turned sharply round Iho corner into the yard, to all appearance of their own accord. They were galloping.—Sergeant Pardy deposed that when defendant was brought into the lock-up he wa3 undoubtedly drunk.—Henry Hardington, coach proprietor, deposed that, on the 9th instant, defendant was driver of ono of his coaches. —Thomas Williams, ship chandler, one of the passengers, said he was sitting beside tho driver, and in coming down Queen' street he thought he was driving (oj fast, and on coining opposite the entrance to the stables tho horses turned sharp round, and a concussion ensued, by which witness was noa;ly thrown off. He " got as far to windward as possible." He thought the driver was quite capable of taking caro of fie horses ; ho drove steadily down the steep hill. After that " the horses ahead were galloping, and those astern were trotting."—Thomas Leader, publican at Waitara, deposed that, after getting half down the hill of Upper Queen-street, defendant increased his pace, and appeared to lose his control. Witness was on top of tho 'bus, and on suddenly turning into Ha'-dington's yard, fouud himself "suddenly embracing tho lingstones." Witness said defend.mt seemed tohavo been driving carefully, but when the horses increased their pace he appeared to lose control of himself, aud became frightened.—David Graham thought the driver had not proper control of the horses after tho leaders made ;i bolt, when ho appeared to become frightened. He did not use the whip when coming down tho hill. Witness thought the driver was not " badly drunk."—William Hoskina gave evidence as to the swift pace at. which the vehicle was travelling.—M. E. B. Nicholson, a legally qualified medical practitioner, was called for the defence, and deposed that; defendant was decidedly under tho influonce of liquor, although decidedly not drunk. —His Worship, taking into consideration all the circumstances, and particularly tho fact that defeudaut had been already severely punished, ordered the defoudant to pay a penalty of £5 aud costs. Ldnacy.—On the evidence of Drs. Lee and Kenderdine, a person of unsound mind was ordered to be sent to the hospital for the insane for medical treatment.