CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3796, 24 April 1875, Page 3

CITY POLICE COURT.

Saturday, April 24. (Before H. Bastings and A. Mercer, Esqs., J.P.’s.) Charge op Abduction.—Wm. Roberts was charged, on the information of Thomas Laurence Brown, with having, on April 19, unlawfully taken an unmarried girl—complainant’s daughter, Florence Maud Hrown—out of his possession, and without his sanction, she being under sixteen years of age, to wit, fifteen.—Mr E. Cook prosecuted, and Mr M‘Keay defended. —ln referring to the case, Mr Cook said that he should h% v § to Rsk for a remand, because his evidence was not so full as he desired, and also to ask that the prisoner be refused bail, as the girl was still absent from her parents, and if accused were allowed to be at large he would have opportunity of being in goqstant GQiqmuni cation with her,—The Bench decided that they would not be justified in granting the applica tion unless they heard some evidence.—Mr M‘Keay contended that the charge was a misdemeanor, and to refuse bail would be monstrous). The Bepgh decided to hear the case for the prosecution.- Mr Ccqk then submitted that the charge was an indictable offence and one of a very grave character. If it was proved that the girl had been taken away fronp her parents it was decidedly an offence which should npt bp overlooked but should be rigorously put down. He cited ‘ 1 Archibald on Evidence” to show that the takingneed not be by force or that the girl had consented to accompany the defendant, in order to prove a case. After further remarks he called complainant, who deposed that he was a soda-water maker residing in Maclaggan street. His wife and six children had resided with him almost continually. His daughter Florence was under sixteen years of age. Ho had not seen her since Monday evening. Up to that time she had been sleeping in his house nightly for some time. In the day-time sht was employed at the Pier Hotel as housemaid. He last saw her on Monday night between nine and ten o’clock, she was then in company with the accused in Melville street. Witness saw them come out of - the Golden .Age Hotel together on that night and followed them to Melville street, where he overtook them, and struck accused, saying “You villain, what have you done with my daughter?” Accused replied, “Nothing; she is the same as ever she was.” His daughter and accused then disappeared, and witness communicated with the police. He saw accused at the Golden Age next morning. The latter said he knew nothing about his (witness’s) daughter'; he had been in company with her three or four times; and added that very likely she would be frightened t j go home. He never saw accused before Monday night. He had been unable to recover his daughter, and she was still away from home, She last slept at home on Sunday night, and had never before stayed out without his knowledge.— Alexander Waugh, laborer, was in last witnesses company on Monday night last. While he was struggling with accused in Melville street the girl got away, and accused ran off immediately afterwards. Sergeant - Major Bevan yesterday afternoon arrested accused, who said that he liad been keeping company with the girl for a couple of months, but that he did not know where she now was.-Mr Cook here applied for a remand, and asked that accused be not admitted to bail—Mr M’Kcay submitted that the application was a monstrous one; indeed he should ask that the case be dismissed with* out his entering into clearly laid down that the girl must be taken irom her father s house: the mere meeting her in the street —even though seduction should follow, which, however, was not the case here, accused haying acted most honorably-did not the charge. Accused did not know a the girl had a father till Brown accosted him in Melvdlestreet.—The Bench adjourned wT. 1 ? Fnd /I ne *f at two o’clock, admitting the accused to bail.

Petty Larcenies.— Jane Hamilton Blackie, charged with stealing a pair of stockings of the value of 2s, the property of Catherine Webster, was sent to gaol for twenty-one days: and for stealing an umbrella from the door of Messrs Brown,,Ewiug and Co.’s shop, to three months additional- both with hard labor. Mr E. Cook defended,—Robert Hunter, for stealing a pocketBible of the value of 7s, was sent to gaol for fourteen days; and Thomas Hewson, for stealing an innumerable quahtity of small articles of th© value of 30s, the property oi Frances M'Grath, was sentenced to thi ee months’ imprisonment, with hard labor.

Breach op the Peace.— Henry Walden for this offence in Jetty street; was fined 20s, in default three days’ imprisonment. • Matrimonial Squabbles. -Phoebe Barker charged her husband, Thomas Barker, with Assaulting her. Defendant Was lined 20s, in default three days’ imprisonment, and boundover to keep the peace towards his wife for six months, in his own recognisance of L 25, and two sureties of LlO each.