CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3272, 15 August 1873, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Friday, August 15. (Before His Worship the Mayor; and J. Black, Esq,, J.P.)

Drunkenness. George Griffiths and George Jones were each fined ss, with the option of twenty-four hours’ imprisonment; Benjamin Farra 20s, or seven days’; and for being an habitual drunkard—he., having been convicted of drunkenness three times during the last twelve months—one month’s imprisonment with hard labor. JSkglkcted Children. —John Gately and John Mullaghan, two little boys, were charged with being neglected children. —SubInspector Mallard said the boys appeared on the charge-sheet as neglected children, but he would ask for a remand till Tuesday, the reason being that they had committed a large number of thefts, some fifteen or twenty dozen bottles having been taken by them from off the jetty. Gately had been sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment by the Lawrence Bench; had undergone two months’ imprisonment in the Dunedin Gaol for stealing some moneys, besides having been in the Industrial School—he was, in fact, a hardened criminal.—The remand was granted. Detaining Private Property.— George Bussell, architect, was charged by Lowland T. Doraett, builder, with detaining two plans of the value of L‘2o, for the erection of a building.—Mr vV. W. Wilson appeared for the defendant.—Complainant said defendant obtained possession of two large plans of a house belonging to a Mr Hcffman, and he acknowledged having them. They had been taken from witness’s shop by him.—By Mr Wilson : Defendant calls himself an architect. The plans were not given to him for the purpose of making au estimate, Defendant never asked witness for them.—Constable Anderson executed a search warrant to search the house aucl premises occupied by defendant. He went to Jetty street and saw defendant, who said that witness might have the key and search the house ; but that he would not find them there, he (defendant) having given them to a party in town, and he did nob intend to deliver them up till he was paid for them. - Frederick Hoffman delivered to defendant two plans, which were to be returned on Monday morning. He had lent them to plaintiff, and he held him responsible for them.—By the Bench : Defendant drew up the plans.—By Mr Wilson : Witness paid defendant L 5 for them, that being the price agreed upon.—Mr Wilson contended that the case must be dismissed, as it appeared from the evidence that defendant claimed a lien on the plans, and the case was, therefore, beyond the jurisdiction of the Court —Defendant was perfectly willing to give them up when the amount owing to him was paid.—Complainant, who was re-called by the Bench, said the value of the plans was L 5, but they were worth live times that amount to him, as he was bound to do the contract in a certain time.—Defendant stated that the charges were made according to contract. The building would cost LI,OOO. He received a cheque for L 5 from Hoffman on account. A verbal agreement was made, by which he was to receive 2 per cent, on the contract; but if he supervised the erection of the building per cent, on the contract, and 1| per cent, for supervision. If he got the Lls due to him he was willing to give the plans up. The contract was usually kept by the architect as a means of reference. Blaiutiff brought the plans to his house on Sunday morning, and he could bring witnesses to prove this. —The case was remanded till to-morrow to enable all witnofiQPß Annp.ftrnftri in the case to be Droduced.