RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3703, 5 January 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Tuesday, January 5. (Before E. ff. Ward, Esq., and T. Birch, Esq., J.P.’s) Drunkenness. —A lezrander Thompson and Robert Ivesou, for this offence, were each fined 40s, with the option of throe imprisonment. The last-named offender, for being an hah'tual orunkard, was further sentenced to one month’s imprisonment, ‘ RESPVSS. —Michael Goldie, charged with being illegally on the premises of Thomas Pavßtich at 12 20 o’clock last night, was let off with a caption. Charge of Emremxement.— Peter Jamieson Macgregor was charged on the information of Constable H enderson with embezzling at Invercargill, on the 3rd ult., a cheque of the value of L7O 10s 6d, the property of his employer, David Macrorie, auctioneer, Invercargill.—Prisoner was remanded to Invercargill. Theft.-— Mary Fleming was charged, o» remand, with stealing, on or about December 14, a quantity of drapery and goods of the value of L 67 la lid, the property of Herbert, Haynes and Co. Mr F. R. Chapman defended —.Samuel Haynes, draper, said that the accused had been in the employ qf his firm for over two years. During that time she lived upon the premises in Princes street. Her duties were those of a cook and domestic. She was discharged from the firm’s employ on December 28, and later in the day witness, at the request of a Mr Souness, sent Mr Alien, oleßr. to the firm, to Mr Souness’s house. He returned with the goods produced, which witness recognised as the property • f the firm. Theinvo ce produced, and in the hand wr ting of Mr lien, refers t<> the goods, the total of which is L 52 10s lOd. Witness recognised the second invoice now produced, which also is in the handwriting of iVH’ and refers to the goods produced, the property of the firm, and of the value of LI 3 15s 9J. The goods were not sold or given to the prisoner. i be third invoice refers to an ther parcel now produced, and of the value of 15s 3d, and also the property of the firm,—At this stage of the proceedings Detective Henderson called the attention of the Sub-Inspector to accused, whereupon Mr Ward said that he did not consider her iu a fit state for the case to be proceeded with. She was evidently in too weak a condition to understand what was being said, and it was not right to see her placed at a disadvantage.—Sub-Inspector Mallard said that he had had the opinion of the resident surgeon of the Hospital taken, and it was to the effect that she was likely to remain in the state iu which she then was for some months,— Mr Ward considered that

anyone placed in the dock on a serious charge j like this ought to be in a sufficient state of ; body and mind to be able to understand what evidence was given.—The Sub-In-spector quite coincided with the Bench, but the police were placed at this disadvantage : when the case was before the Court, and after the charge had been adjourned, the accused begged that it might then be gone on with.—Mr Chapman explained that he only watched the proceedings on behalf of the accused. When making the request mentioned by the Sub-Inspector, the accused labored under an hallucination, thinking that the case might be disposed of summarily.—Mr Ward remarked that he understood accused was better since the last adjournment. In a week’s time she might be in a fit state to enable the case to be gone into. The case would be adjourned for a week, and the evidence already adduced might then be r.sed.—The Sub-Inspeetor : Does your Worshipj?ule that the accused is not in a fit state for the case to go on ?—Mr Ward: Yes, we do ; and the case will be adjourned for a week.—The accused was carried out of Court in a fainting fit. Obscene Language. —Hetty Barnes, for whom Mr B. Cook appeared, charged with using obscene language within the hearing of persons passing in Maclaggan stieet, w;>b let off with a caution ; Anne Vaughan and Martha Loxton were each fined 20s and costs, or seven days’ imprisonment: Henry George, 5s and coats.

Assault.— Alexander v. Hay, a trumpery charge of assault, was dismissed.