CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3298, 15 September 1873, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, September 16. (Before His Worship the Mayor, Messrs J. Black and J. Brown, Esqrs., J. P.’s.)

Drunkenness. —Thomas Glenn was fined ss, with the {usual alternative. Ann Hardy and Jane Gibbs, each 40s, with the option of fourteen days’ imprisonment. Mary Jarvcy was charged with being drunk in Pall Mall, with using obscene language, and with habitual drunkenness. She pleaded guilty to all the charges, saying that she was so drunk that she did not know what she was doing. While the Bench were deliberating, accused said she hoped they would inflict on her the highest penalty the law allowed, for she richly deserved it. On the chatge of drunkenness she was fined 40s, with the option of fourteen days’ imprisonment; for using obscene language, L 5 or one month’s imprisonment; and for habitual drunkenness she was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. Detaining Private Property —Michael M ‘Carthy, laborer, of Chain Hills, was charged with detaining one rntr, one sheet, and one pillow-case, of the value of L2, the property of James Bradford. Mr Howorth appeared for the defendant. Complainant said he went to stop with defendant about three weeks ago. He was to pay at the rate of 15s a week, and paid L 3 15s, receiving L2 change after stopping a fortnight and three days. He had also got drinks, but they were not included in the “ score,”, the money only being for “tucker.’—Mr Howorth said the defence was simply that complainant went away, and returned on the Saturday, stopping till Wednesday, for which time-hq had not paid for his board, and the things were kept as a lien for the amount. The charge was not of allowing liquor to be sold, but of wilfully detaining the property. He submitted such was not the case, as defendant only kept the goods till the money was paid.— Defendant stated that the charge fer board and lodging was 15s a week if paid by the month, or Is by the meal. He refused to answer a question ’put by the complainant, whether' it was himself or tfie Mrs yrtigj served the drinks. The ease was dismissed the goods to be returned when the amqun{i owing was paid. Larceny from the Person. Dapigl O’Brien was charged with stealing, on the sth instant, from the person pf Felix Pyrke, steward of the s.s. Wa'lqbi, six Id notes, half-a-sovereign, some silver, and a two-and-a-half dollar piece. Sab-Inspector Mallard conducted the prosecution, and. the prisoner was not defended.—Felix Pyrke \ I am second steward on the steamer Wallabi, On the sth qf the present month the boat was lying alongside tqe Battray street wharf. I “turned in*’ about half-past eight, having my troqsers on. In my left trousers poefcet 1 had six LI notes, and in mj other pocket a half-sovereign and some silver. J also had A gold ring in one qf the pockets. On waking at about 6.30 o’clock on the following mowing I missed from off my chain a two-and-a-half dollar piece, I also found that the notes, silver, gold ring, and the half-sovereign had been taken from my pockets. On the night in question 1 slept in the cabin, the door being closed, but not locked. I was the sole occupant of the cabin, and was perfectly sober. Not having had any sleep on the previous evening, I slept sounder than usual. The steamer left the jetty to proceed to sea on that morning (the 6th). Beyond seeing the prisoner discharging and loading the Wallabi, I am not acquainted With him. Although I did not see the prisoner working on the steamer on the trip in question, he might have been doing so. The ring now produced was iu my possession oh the night m question, and was taken away with tike other money. (Mr Black: Was the ring found on the prisoner ?—Sub-Inspector Mallard : No, your Worships; but it was traced to him almost immediately alter the robbery was committed. When the property was traced to a third person, it was quite sufficient to prove a priina facie case against the prisoner.—His Worship (to the prisoner): Have you any questions to ask ?—The prisoner : No, your Worships. I plead guilty to the offence. It is not necessary to go on with the case any further.—Sub-Inspector Mallard asked that the statement made by the prisoner at that stage be taken down bn the depositions. Of course, he would have been at liberty to cross-examine the witness, but that showed he did not wish to do so. The present was not the proper time to plead. —James Shields: I am a licensed victualler residing in Maclaggan street. I know ,the accused. He called at my house on or about the sth inst., had some drinks which he paid for, and stayed all night. On the-followiag morning (Saturday, l -! think it sqid his money had run out, tp . /■ i : • i • ■ -•

* take charge of the ring produced, saying ho would call for it on Monday. From some' thing Detective Farrell subsequently asked me, I gave up the ring in ouestion, which I have heard the witness Fyke identify as hia property. T>etective 'Farrell : On tine 6th. matant the ring now produced was handed to me by Mr shields, of the Australasian Hotel. It is the same ring as the one identified here to-day |by the prosecutor as the one stolen from him. I know the accused. 1 have seen him working on the Rattray street jetty discharging steamers; and he was so employed on or about the £th instant. To his Worship : The prisoner had undergone a sentence from Oamaru, and since his discharge he has been hanging about town. He is one of the most dangerous class of men I have had to deal with. —In answer to the usual question, prisoner said he bad nothing to say against the charge,—Prisoner to Mr Black : 1 do not adhere to the former statement made by me that I am guilty —He was then fully committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Remand Case.— William Rouse, alias William Heard, was charged with stealing from the Immigration Barracks, on the 11th instant, one overcoat, the property of William Davies, an inmate. On the application of Sub-Inspector Mallard he was remanded till to-morrow, to enable a necessary witness to attend.