RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3538, 25 June 1874, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Tijujisdav, June 25. (Before J. Bathgate, Esq., R.M.) An Impudent Way of Getting a Dinner.— Edward Toughey was charged with having no visible means of support.— Prisoner : All I can say is that I went into an eating-house and had a meal, but could not pay for it.—His Worship : What ? Do you say that you went into a boarding establishment and got something to eat, although you had no money Prisoner : Yes; and I further say that 1 would go and do the same to-day if I had no money in my pocket. I would never go hungry so long as I can get a meal in any manner.—ln answer to the Bench, prisoner said that he had tried all over the country for work, but was unsuccessful. When he went to any place in answer to an advertisement, he was told that they were “ full ” or to “ call again His Worship : Do you wish this case continued, so as to bring forward witnesses to prove wjiat you have said?— Prisoner said he did not.—His Worship said he could hardly believe what prisoner had said was true. He could not send able-bodied men to gaol as vagrants without giving them a chance. He had no doubt that prisoner could get work if he was willing to work for suitable wages, and that he was well able to maintain himself. He ought to be ashamed °f jnmsejf for going into another man’s house and’disposing of hip victuals without paying for them.—Prisoner, who replied that he was not so disposed to think, was discharged With a caution), * i

Drunkenness —George Watt* for this offence was fined ss, with the option of forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. An Unlicensed Entertainment —Thos. Guthrie Carr, better known as Dr Carr, the phrenologist, was charged on the information of Inspector Bain with giving and presenting a stasia entertainment at the Masonic HaU without a license.—Defendant said that he had received no official notice that the license was required. In no other , part of the i olony where he had given his performance had he had a license. He never refused to pay for a license, for he was never asked to do so. When he received the official notice, he called upon the Town Clerk to pay for the license, but he refused to take payment, saying that the matter must go into the Court. He objected to the words of the information. It was noc a “stage entertainment,” since there was no scenery, and none of the appliances necessary for a dramatic entertainment. He did not depend on anything else than his own power for his scientific experiments. He wished to impress on the Bench that he had never been asked to pay for the license, though he would most willingly have paid any demands had he received notice. The first official notice received by him was the summons being placed in his hands. —His Worship said that he could not stretch the law. He must interpret it in its literal sense. Had defendant got his advertisement with him?— Defendant : If you could get this morning’s papers you will sea it there —His Worship : Send for the ‘ Times’. —Defendant then said that besides going to the Town Clerk he called on the Mayor and, solicited him to put an end to the proceedings. That gentleman referred him to this Court. —(Laughter,) —lnspector Bain; I may state that Dr Carr did not call and offer to pay for the license till after he was served with a summons. With regard to his not knowing that the license was required, I am now prepared to prove that the Doctor called on the 16fch of this month at die office, and paid for four nights. He had no license for the 20th, 22ud, or 23rd inst., the first date being the one complained of. Defendant: I said that I had received no official notice. , I understood from what Mr Hudson told me, that the collector would call on me and receive the fee, but instead of the collector I find this summons is put in my hand. (Laughter.)— The bailiff then came into Court with a ‘ Guardian ’ in his hand, and handed it to the Bfinch.—His Worship: The Ordinance in its interpi elution states “stage play or any other entertainment of the stage.” These words are held to extend to and include any “interlude, tragedy, comedy, play, farce, burlesque, burietta, melodrama, pantomime, opera, musical entertainment, singing, ballet, stage dancing, jugglery, tumbling, horsemanship, exhibition of animals, or other similar exhibitions,” and also that kind of entertainment known as the “drawing room entertainment,” and every sort or kind of entertainment, exhibition, or amusement to which admission shall or may be procured by payment of money or by ticket. This entertainment by Dr Carr appears to be a lecture upon phrenology or mesmerism. I am afraid I cannot stretch the Act t > meet this case. I will not decide the question altogether, as I have some doubts whether an entertainment of this kind comes within the Act.—ln answer to rhe Bench, Inspector Bain asked whether it was necessary for him to fu ly prove the offence, or to prove there was a man to take money ?—Defendant admitted that there was a money-taker.—lnspector Bain said that he was authorised to see that all places of amusement were property licensed. Last Saturday night there -was an entertainment in the Masonic Hall, and he went to see it. The first part he admitted was a lecture, but to the second part there was no lecture. He considered it a farce in every sense of the word. A number of men went on to the stage, hut witness could not say whether they wore properly under the influence of mesmerism or not His Worship; Under mesmeric power ? Were part of the people strangers, or do obey belong to the town ?—Witness : One or two of them were townspeople. Mr Sykes played throughout the night as accompaoyist.—a is Worship; What is the practice of these entertaiments; do they usually have licenses ?—Witness: The Superintendent has power to allow entertainments to be given free of charge.—His Worship: Now with regard to a philosophic lecture • would you charge for that ? (Laughter).— Witness : I am not prepared to answer that question. I would net say that Dr Carr, strictly speaking, gives a lecture.—His Worship ; Perhaps it affords instruction and is a source of gratification to h ! s audience People go up to get their bumps felt, and are perhaps greatly astonished when they hear their characters truly told. His Worship, ia dismissing the case, recommended the doctor to pay the fees.—A second information of a like nature was withdrawn, his Worship saying that he would leave it an open question whether an entertainment of the kind referred to came within the Bastardy.-— Wm. Kerr was charged, on the information of Janet Ward, with refusing to contribute towards the support of his illegitimate cEiid,=rTbe Clerk of the Court stated that he had received a confession from the father, who was ordered to pay 8s per week towards his child’s maintenance. Neighbors’ Quarrels. —Sarah White was charged with assaulting Ellen Power.—His Worship said the assault was so trivial—defendant having only “spat” at and noton .complainant—that he was obliged to dismiss &—Power v. Gorman, a charge of using abusive language j and Gorman v. Power, a charge of a like nature, were both dismissed. Mr Mouat appeared for Power.