POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 610, 30 January 1872, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY. Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R;M

DRUNKENNESS

Three drunkards were punished in the usual manner ; and Brigdet Moris, having committed a breach of the Vagrant Act by being a habitual drunkard, was ordered to be imprisoned one month with hard labor. BREACHES OP VAGRANT ACT. Wm. Costello and and John Walker, charged with behaving in a public thoroughfare so as to provoke a breach of the peace, pleaded guilty, and were ordered each to pay 20s and costs, or be imprisoned seven days with hard labor. VAGKANCY. Anne Fynne pleaded guilty of having no visible lawful means of support. Evidence, however, was taken as to character, and, as in the following case, prisoner was discharged, having been already sentenced as a drunkard. EOGUE AND VAGABOND. Peter Fynne was charged with being a rogue and vagabond, in being the occupier of a house in Mills' lane frequented by disorderly characters and persons having no visible lawful means of support.

He pleaded not guilty. A considerable amount of evidence was taken, which clearly proved the charge, and, according to two of the witnesses, the house was more like a pig-stye than a human habitation. . . His Worship, however, was of opinion that the police bad exceeded their duty in entering the house to take people out; and dismissed the cases, thinkingthat they had already been sufficiently punished, BREACH OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ACT. James May was charged with leaving his cart unattended without having a chain attached to the wheel. Defendant pleaded ignorance to the act. He lived at Panmure. Fined Is and costs, 11s. Johanna Mahoney, charged with a similar offence, also pleaded ignorance to the Corporation regulations, and was finod Is and co3ts, 9s 2d. LARCENY. Henry Clarke was brought up on a charge of stealing some gum and a keg of beer from H. R. Sayce. There seems to have been a kind of drunken spree somewhere aboui Eiver head, during which one man told another that he had abstracted a certain quantity of gum, and had also wheeled a keg of beer out of the brewery of the complainant, in order therewith to inspirit his friends. One of these turned traitor, and gave information. The evidence, however, was incomplete, and the case broke down. ALLEGED FORGERY. J. C. Davis, charged on remand with forging a transfer of scrip in the Tokatea G-oldniining Company, pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr Cooper. Mr Inspector Broham informed the Court that he was not prepared with evidence that would warrant him in proceeding with the case. He had paid great attention to it, and did not believe any forgery had been committed. The prosecutor, however, insisted on giving his evidence, he was therefore sworn, and informed by the Court of the unenviable position in which he would place himself, if he did not establish his cas<j. Benjamin Evans deposed that on the lth October he bought three shares in the Tokatea G-.M.C. from the accused, and signed a transfer. He had received a dividend since on the shares of 215., and also in December a dividend of lGs. on two of the shares. They refused at the office to pay a dividend on the remaining share, becaase he had transferred it to Mr. Albin Martin.

The prosecutor fenced at all the questions, but at last said that the signature to the transfer produced was his. Mr. Cooper urged that the matter could not go further, the prosecutor haying admitted that the alleged forgery was his own signature, and hoped His Worship would express himself strongly on the subject, so that Mr. Davis should leave the Court without the slightest slur on his character.

His Worship discharged the accused, and said he had never seen a case break down more signally upon the evidence of the prosecutor.