RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3445, 7 March 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Satuuday, Maecu 7* (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.) Drunkenness.—Mary Thomson, .a very old offender, was charged:with being drunk at the Police Station at 6.50 this morning. Prisoner denied the charge, and said that she only came out of trouble on the previous day, —His Worship : Wha!. do you mean by saymg you came out of trouble ? —Prisoner explained that she meant she came out of gaol. Last night she. was stopping at a friend’s house, and being accused of having taken her boots, she went down to the station to speak about the matter, whereupon the cell-keeper locked h©r up. She hj id only had a bottle of lemonade hud a glass qf raspberry syrup from the time she lefjb the gapl. Although she had frequently begn convicted of drunkenness, she swore she was not drunk op this occasion.—His Worship ; Where yas this house you were in?— Prisoner: In Maclaggan street.—His Worship : How far from the Police Station?— Prisoner: Only a few yards. Constable M ‘Kinlay will inform you. —ln answer to the Bench, < 'onstable M'Kinlay stated that the home referred to was a few yards beyond the station, on the same side of the road, -i—Prisoner stated that the woman who accused her of removing her boots was one Ryder. She could not be drunk at that hour of the morning.—Constable Lipscombs stated that at about ton

minutes to morniflg Sergeant Deane went followed him, eajringi ttyi&riie to 'sec th .- watch-ljiouse beingapokcn tt* she said thatshe'did uofißare for the'police SivSlxe -was! very allusive' to\ . -Deane, and, witness lookedher' up. judged tHatish.e was drunkby her| conduct. She might have been excised.— His Worship said the police must always makt-some. allowance, as some persons were likely, to get into a state of frenzy or excitement, though they vyefeiiot drunk., - This was probably the case "With.prisoner, - for she hs jd gone right into the “ lion’s den,” which was not likely if she had been suffering from drink. Prisoner would be discharged, but if she again came. before the Court and were convicted, she would be sentenced to the full term of imprisonment.— Henry Pearce was charged -with-- drunkenness, in St. Andrew street. Prom the evidence of Holder it appeared that Pearce had been guilty of gross indecency in the street while a lady’ passing. For drunkenness he was fined 10s, or 3 days’ imprisonment, i Larceny.— Henry Pearce was further pharged with stealing a silver watch and chain with a miniature pistol, of the vltue pf L 5, the property of Watson Braithwaite, from the Anchor Hotel, on the 27th July, Prisoner pleaded not guilty.—'ub-Inspecfor Mallard ; The prosecutor Braithwaite having removed hisresM ence, we havebeeuunableto find him, but I think we shail be able to do so before prisoner has.’served his three-days’ imprisonment.—His Worship remarked that the sth section of the. Act said that the offence must have been committed within six months of the time when the Charge was heard. The robbery was alleged to have taken place oa the : ,2Tth July— eight months a *S°* —The Sub-Inspector said prisoner, who was a professional thief, knew the law as well as the police, hence his boldness when stopped by Sergeant - Holder,—r>ik-Worship ,sa\d that, ia the face of the enactment, he could not go on with the information. He would not, however, dismiss the charge, which might be continued till'he had given the matter further