CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4023, 18 January 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Tuesday, January 18. (Before V. Pyke Esq., and J. Black, Esq., J.P.’s.)

Drunkenness. John Todd and James M‘Pheison were each fined ss, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment; John Reekie, 40s or fourteen days’. Todd, for using abusive language, was further fined 10s: in default a week’s imprisonment.

Obscene Language. Anne Purcell, f< using obscene language, was fined 20s, in d fault a week’s imprisonment; Margaret Lyncl a young girl, who had used most disgustin language, 20s or fourteen days’. Rash Conduct. —George Murdoch, a wel known professional athlete, was charged wit throwing bottles in George street on January j Mr Hay, who defended, said the case had bee already adjudicated upon. tGeorge Morr stated that on the day in question dcfendar broke the windows in his house, and thre bottles out of the frame into the street. B was somewhat excited, andappeared to be “shi ing” for amusement’s sake. —Mr Pyke said th* was the most extraordinary case that had eve come under his notice. —Mr Hay contends that the case had been already adjudicate upon. Defendant had been fined for drunker ! and disorderly conduct on the same daj aiH i tu a P reaent charge was merely an inoidei of his q^kenness.—The Bench held that: was not a: fit to , be brought under the by. laws, and the charge Disorderly' Charles Griffin wa charged with being" Jk 0 keeper of a house a Kensington on January u » frt dented hj persons having no lawful v ,e ?, u^ 1 support Mr Hay defended.-James 4. e , * depose that he rented the house in KeD<v n^ton to , feudant. —Constable Binds stated W° tutes named Mary Heffermau and Hickey were living in defendant’s house o» day in question. He had seen them there budl before and since January 11. He had cautioned defendant’s wife against having the women it the house. —Sergeant Anderson stated that tin woman Heffernan arrived here in the Carnatu two years ago and bad led the life of an aban doned character ever since. Hickey had beer doing the same for several years. She had been convicted for larceny { and vagrancy. A {[complaint had been made to the police of the nature of the conduct of the house.—Mr Hay submitted that the offence was incomplete unless the women were in tire habit of frequenting the house. There was no offence in admitting notorious characters into a house, provided they did not remain there. The summons should nave shown the women were in the house during a stated period, eo that it might bo proved they, were there on more than one occasion during that time.—lnspector Mallard contended that it had been proved that the women had been in the house both previous and subsequent to the date in question,—Mr llaj'then called defendant, who deposed that he was a tailor. Besides his family, one Margaret Hickey lived with him. She was kept by a young man who paid for her board. He did not know she walked the town.—lnspector Mallard : Do you know whether a deputation of inhabitants has waited on the police with the view of putting down the nuisance in the right of-way known as Bellett’s right-of-way at Kensington?— Witness: I do _ not. No rowdyism or disorderly conduct exists in my house.—The Bench we:e of opinion that neither defendant nor his wife seemed to know what lluy were doing, andjfor that reasonjallcnient view of (he matter would be taken, would be scut to gaol for a week, and it was to be hoped that he would rid his house of such characters. —James Cairns was charged with a similar

Defendant rented the house from Bellettand sublet it to two prostitutes named ’ l aughan and Mary Leary. .vs it could not; be proved that the defendant was the (though it WHS stated by h n i' ved *V. he ri *ht-of-way and v bet .^ een hlB own house and iftSis fhl -a the wemen above-named lived) the .charge was dismissed, the Bench expressing a wish that the police would keen their eyes on defendant, for they had no doubt he dodged about os hod been represented. If the charge could be brought home to him the Bench would be very glad to give him accommodation in Her Majesty’s gaoL Defendant, who had been frequently to during the hearing of the charge for keeping his tongue continually wagging, was strongly urged to keep a be ter restraint on his tongue, otherwise, Mr Pyke remarked. it would likely lead him to the gallows or soma other uuwished-for place. Fighting.—Joseph Ireland was fined 20s, in default fourteen days’ imprisonment, for this offence.

Impbovino an Acquaintance. Thomas Hewson, alias Molan, an o’d offender, was con* vioted of obtaining goods by means of false pretences from Thomas Josling.—Mr Pyke (to prisoner): You are known to the police, tne gaoler, and the Bench. I had the pleasure of your acquaintance some time ago, and no doubt you recollect it.—Prisoner: I do.—Mr Pyke : Well, you will benefit by it on this occasion by three months’ impr sonment, with hard labor, in the Dunedin Gaol.—Prisoner (to Sergeant Be^an): That increases the attachment. Expensive J okino. —James Bobbin and James Darter were charged with breaking the knobs off the gates of John Thomson, Oastlo street. -Mr Cook, who defended, said the defendants, who were the worse of drink, were merely “ eky-larking ” They had recouped Mr Ihomson for the injury done.—The Bench expressed their strong determination of puttmg down “ sky-larking,” and fined each of the defendants 20s and costs. Indecent Assault,—Thomas Wilson, an a»rod man, was charged with indecently assaultinti a little girl named Esther Yates. This case was heard with closed doors. The facts, shoitly stated, are these:—Yesterday, as is her custom on Monday mornings, Mrs Tates went to town, leaving her daughter, seven yearn old, and a younger brother m her house at the comer of Grange and Forth streets. She returned home half an-hour earlier than usual, and found prisoner, who lives in the neighborhood, in the aet of committing the .alleged offence. The boy was -playing outside the house.—Prisoner was committed for trial