POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1678, 5 July 1875, Page 2

POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

(Befoie Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.)

DREAMS AND REALITIES,

The following spectres from the shadows of night were introduced into Court this morDing, one after another: some with Scratched faces, others with black eyes, and nil with features distorted by dirt and drink. These declining persons (wrecks of their former Belves !) were dealt with in the following order : George Blake fined ss; Patrick Moran, alias " Tippling Pat," 5s ; Thomas Richards, 20s; John Kelly, 15s ; George Colville, 20s ; Nicholas Swanton, alias " Nick of the Woods," 10s; and John Lewis, 10s and costs, but who pleaded hard for his liberty as he had an appointment in the Bay of Islands. The fine was therefore remitted. SISTERS IN ERROR. Jane Gould, alias " Golden Jane," and Ellen Coulon, a young woman, were fined for drunkenness, the former 10s and the latter ss. TAKING SHELTER FROM THE STORM. __ William Ford, a 3eaman, was charged under the Vagrant Act, with being found without lawful excuse in an enclosure in Customhouse-street, on the night of the 3rd instant. Prisoner said it was true that he sought shelter in the shed, but he had a drop of beer in his head, or he should have gone to his hotel. He bore a good character and meant no harm. Sergeant-Major Pardy said that nothing was known against the prisoner, and he was discharged with a caution.

MESSRS. BRYAW AND YOTTNO

Edward Bryan and William Young (on remand) were again brought up on a charge of reposing on the premises of Messrs. Seccombe and Son, Ponsonby. Prisoner Bryan said he was guilty ; he was a little drowsy, and laid down ; it was raining at the time; he had just landed from Honolulu. Constable Thomas Graham, of City West, deposed to going his rounds on the night in question, and on looking into the premises discovered something by the dim light of the : stars, curled up. He went and found the living body of prisoner who could give no good account of himself. He took him under his wing. Prisoner protested that he was innocent of any bad intention; his object was simply rest. Detective Martin Grace characterised the prisoner as a "regular loafer." Prisoner : Explain yourself, sir ; what is a loafer? I have sought in vain for the term in the works of Johnson and Webster. Constable Grace, a loafer is a fellow that lounges about at corners of public-houses, wears a dirty shirt, drinks beer at other people's expense, and who will never work." Prisoner : That will do. I'm not a loafer then, for I earned sixpence that very day by carrying a parcel. Mr. John Davis, contractor, knew nothing of prisoner. He did not give him leave to repose on the premises. Prisoner made an appeal to the Bench. He was a genuine working man ; had travelled in many parts of the world, but had been unsuccessful since he had been in this city. The Bench cautioned the prisoner, and discharged him. Young protested that he was also unfortunate; and poverty makes a fellow acquainted with strange bet]fellows, as the poet said ; he was very sorry. He was also discharged in like manner. THB CROW IN THE POULTRY YARD. William Francis Crow, a man of middle age. again appeared in answer to a charge of stealing four hens and two ducks, value 12s, the property of Stephen Hooker, on the 22nd of June. Mr Joy for prisoner pleaded not guilt}, and asked that witnesses might be ordered out of Court. Louisa Anne Hooker, wife of Stephen Hooker, deposed that she resided in Mount Eden Road. On the morning of the 2Gth of June, she missed from her poultry yard six hens, a duck, and a drake. (Mrs Hooper here described the poultry in a minute and graphic manaer.) She had seen them at the Police Station, and recognised them in a moment. She reared them herself. (The fowls were here introduced into Court, and made a great noise.) Witness knew them at once. To Mr Joy: She did not know the prisoner, but there was no mistake about her fowls and drakei; she had been in the habit of feeding them daily. Stephen Hooker corroborated the statement of hi wife. The Berch wished to know if the Police could bring the matter home to the prisoner. Sergeant-Major Pardy thought he could establish Ihe case by a witness against the prisoner beyond a doubt. Thd prisoner was well knowa to the police. Mr. Joy objected to this, as in previous cases the prisoner had always been acquitted. Detective Grace deposed that he saw the prisoner en the day when the fowls were missed with the poultry. He said they were his own. He had reared them. He took the hens from him and brought them to the station, where they were placed with other fowls. Mrs. Hooker recognised the fowls at once. He arrested the prisoner at his house at Newton, where the ducks were discovered ; prisoner wondered how they came there. To Mr Toy : He was aware that prisoner dealt occaaonally in fowls. Ha disclaimed the ownership: of the fowls. Mr. Jof addressed the court at some length for! the prisoner, and contended that the evidence had failed entirely in nixing the crime upon the prisoner; the information was bad, and the whole thing was but a repetition of the farce of " Fo(w)ul play." (Here the ducks commenced quacking to such an eitent that Detective Grace was obliged to take them out of court.) The bench. said that taking the facts into consideration, and the point raised by Mr. Joy, which was made clear by Judge Johnson, that this ought to have been an indictable offence, they had no other alternative but to dismiss the caae. OTHER PEOPLE'S BOOTS. James "Vfatson was charged with stealing a pair of boots, the property of James Mc'G-ee, value 203. on the 21st inst. Piisonerßaid he took the boots by mistake. James Mc'Gee of Tamaki East, deposed to missing his boots which were found npon the feet of prisoner in a hotel. Constable Nanghton, stationed at Howick, tookjthe prisoner into custody, who made a similar statement, and when he found another man's booti on his feet, he waß ashamed of himself, arid had not the face to take the boots jback, There was nothing known of the prisoner beyond his being a drunkard. Thf Bench said that as the prisoner had wornjthe boots for three weeks it was pretty clear/that ho did not intend to take them back again; he must go to prison for three months with hard labour. Tiis was all the busineaa. j ■