RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 820, 21 December 1865, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

THIS DAT. {Before the Hon. A. C. Strode, R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Samuel M'Lean, charged with this offence, was fined 20s, with the usual alternative. BREACHES OF THE LICENSING ORDINANCE. Michael Biordan was charged by the Police authorities -with having abandoned his licensed house. The defendant stated that he had suspended business, and wished the license to be cancelled. Sergeant Deans stated that the furniture had been sold under power of a bill of sale, and that the house was shut up, but he could not say whether it was occupied or not. Tho magistrate considered that sufficient proof of abandonment had not been proved, and therefore the information must fall. Chas. Edward Bird was charged with permitting billiards to be played in his licensed house, known as the Provincial Hotel, Stafford street, after 12 o'clock p.m. The Commissioner of Police said that the publicans were under the impression.that the game could be played at any hour in private or "subscription" rooms, and that this case had been brought to settle the question. The Magistrate said it was imperative to close at the hour stated in the license, but under the circumstances he would inflict the lowest penalty named in the statute, 5s and costs. Michael Murphy, charged with the same offence, was also fined 5s and costs. Chas. J. Hoyt was charged with a similar offence, and the Magistrate imposed a fine of L 5 and costs. Robert Blake was charged with permitting card playing in his licensed house after 12 p.m. on the 15th inst. In defence it was pleaded that the house was closed punctually at 12 o'clock, and what the defendant was charged with as an offence was a game of whist played between a boarder and the defendant prior to going to bed. The Magistrate said that card playing was certainly an offence against the law, but if an hotelkeeper after the finish of the day's labor sat down and played a quiet game he did not think any harai was done. The Commissioner of Police then asked permission to withdraw the case, which was granted. Christian Peterson, against whom were two charges of a similar nature, was fined respectively 40s and 20s and costs. Henry Williamson was charged w.ith neglecting to keep a lamp burning over the principal door of his licensed house. Being a first offence, the Magistrate did not impose any fine. A number of petty offences were heard, and summarily dealt with.