RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3771, 25 March 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT PORT CHALMERS.

Wednesday, March 22. (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq., E.M.) Vagrancy. Albert Prosser and Henry Drury were charged with having no visible means of support. Thomas Bateman stated tnat; at j a.m. that morning he was woke up by Constable Nicol, who informed him there were two men m his cook-house. Witness got up and accompanied the constable, when they round the two prisoners there; and on the fire was a form belonging to the Government.— Constable Nicol said his attention was attracted to the reclaimed ground at Mussel Bay by hearing the craekling of timber burning, and on proceeding to the cook-house he found the two prisoners lying |on (v form, and on the hre was another form. He woke up Mr Bateman, who told him they had no permission to be there,—Sergeant Neil stated that, on the prisoner Prosser, he found a bank-book. There was an entry in the same for L 5; and on Drury he found a bill, unpaid, for Ll6, a i °f keys, and a pawn ticket for a suit of clothes ; but no money on either of them,—ln defence Prosser stated they had come from 1 imaru, and walked down from Dunedin, naving no money and no place to sleep. A man told them that was the barracks, and they had better go there. Seeing.no one, and not thinking there was any harm, they went in and laid down. The form was burning at the time they went in. He had money in the Savings

Bank, but could not draw it out—His Worship stated he had ho wish to punish the young men aadgave them the benefit of the doubt concern’ ing the form, and, in discharging them with a severe caution, informed them they were liable if brought up again, to be sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment under the Vagrant Act.