RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3750, 23 July 1883, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

This Day. (Before Captain Preece, E.M.) VAGRANCY. Alexander Leitch, a native of Scotland, was charged on the information of Constable Villors with being a vagrant having no lawful visible means ot support. The prisoner pleaded guilty. Sergeant Burtcnshaw stated that Leitch had been living- with tho Maoris at Taradale for some little time, but several complaints having been made by them respecting him he was at length removed and charged with vagrancy. His Worship remarked that the prisoner seemed to be a strong able-bodied man, and might get plenty of work. There was no excuse for him, and he would bo sentenced to three months' impribonincnt with hard labor.

The prisoner said he had been a long , time in hospital at Portsmouth, whence he shipped to Quebec, arid thence to Melbourne. At the latter placo ho could not got anywork, and he came on to Wellington, where lie shortly aftorvrards served three months for vagrancy. He was afflicted with lightness in the head, and palpitation of the heart. He was; desirous to bo sent to Wellington.

His Worship said ho could not commit tho prisoner to the Wellington gaol. His wants, however, would be attended to by the prison surgeon here, if he (Leitch) represented the matter to the gaoler. Prisoner : Thank your Worship. LUNACY.

Robert Edmund, on remand as a suspected lunatic, was discharged, tho R.M. remarking that the country had been put to a good deal of expense through the prisoner's drunken habits. ALLEGED DESERTION. Frank Williams (who did not appear) was charged with having deserted his three childron at Olive. Mr Hawkins, of Palmerston North, represented the accused, and explained that Williams was quite willing to execute a private agreement for tho support of two of the children. The paternity of the other child he denied. If an adjournment for a month was granted the agreement would be prepared and laid boforo the Court. Sergeant Burtonshaw offering no objection to the course proposed, the case was adjourned until the 20th proximo. The Court then rose.