CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4017, 11 January 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Wednesday, January 11. (Before Y. Pyke, Esq., J.P., and C. H. Street, Esq., J.P.)

Drunkenness. —Peter Boyhen was fined 10s, in default three days’ imprisonment; Louis Connelly and Andrew Hoss each ss, or twenty four hours’.

Obscene Language —Ann Purcell, Emily Cooper, and James Edwards were each fined 20s, in default seven days’ imprisonment. Gambling’ at the Games. —John Greenford and Thomas Cunningham were charged with playing at a. game of chance called “ steeplechase” at a public (reserve—to wit, the Caledonian Gathering—on January 3. Mr Stout defended. —Constable Gilbert deposed that on the 3rd inst. defendants were playing at the Caledonian Gathering at a game called “grand steeplechase." Witness cautioned them, and they knocked off for a time, but recommenced afterwards. (Witness explained the modus opemndi of the game. Defendants issued tickets and participated in the profits, but did not take part in the game ] By Mr 6tout: Charge was made for admission to the grounds. Part of the money received for the game went to the players, part to the owners of the board. By Inspector Mallard: The ground is a public reserve of the City, Mr Stout submitted that the case must be dismissed on two grounds. Neither of the defendants had been proved to have been playing the game within the meaning of section 14, sub B«'tiov,«7 of the Att under which the charge was brought. The evidence was that the persons who took tickets were playing, and not those who owned the board, who only took a certain payment for the use of the board from the ticket-holders. If the police bad wished to take anyone up they should have taken_ up those who played. In the second place it had already been held that where payment was made for admission it was not a public place. A theatre, for instance, was _ not a public plaoe. The Bench declined to express an opinion as to the Caledonian Grounds being a public place. He (Mr Pyke) might say he bad a conviction that it was an open plaoe, as persons had got into the ground without paying when they had insisted on being admitted, The Bench were quite with Mr Stout on the first point—that the accused were not pDying themselves—and the edge would be dismissed accordingly. Fighting, Richard Beaton and David Jenkins were charged with conducting themselves (hj. a manner calculated to provoke (a breach of £he peace at the Provincial Saleyard j, on December 28. -The defendants pleaded that they were only “ sky-1 irking.”— Constable Shtrfev deposed that the men were fighting in the sale-yard. Both were the worse for liquor —The 'Bench advised the defendants to get out of the sight of the public the next time tney wanted to have a friendly fight. They were each fined 10s and casts. Seeing the New Year in.—Archibald Miller and John Washer were severally charged with behaving in Princes street on New Year’s mom in a manner calculated to provoke a breach of the peace.—The evidence showed that defendants and a number nf others had congregated in the street and aniused themselves by letting off fireworks, &c. The defendants had particularly distinguished the.Tiselvea hy pelting Sergt. Anderson with Hour. They were each fined 5s and costs

Evading 'J olls —Wm. Roberts was charged with unlawfully and forcibly passing through the Hillside toll-gate on January 4, with a waggon and two horses, thereby evading one shilling toll payment. Wm. O’Connor, toll-keeper, deposed that when witness had to open the tollgate at a quarter to one on the morning in question, defendant, with h's cab, forcted his way through the toll-gate, and refused to pay. Witness seized the rein?, whereupon defendant struck him with the whip. Y itness then raised his lantern, and, looking at defendant, said, “I know you, Robertson /you have whipped me, and I will make you pay for it.”—Two witnesses were called for the defence, but they failed to prove anything.—Defendant was fined 40s and costs, tho Bench aaying that keepers of toll-gates must be protected. Stone Throwing. —Frederick Barnett, a very little fellow, was charged with throwing atones in Stuart street, on January 1, to the danger of passers by. Inspector Mallard stated that the boy’s father had called on him and explained that he had given his son a good thrashing.—Mr Pyke, in discharging the lad, told him that if he again came up he would have au opportunity of breaking stones on Bell Hill, and nnt alone of throwing them.