CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4030, 26 January 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Wednesday, Jandabt 26, (Before V. Pyke Esq., J.P.) Drunkenness. William Watson, John Adams, John O’Laughlin alias Griffin, were each fined 10s, or seven days’ imprisonment; Margaret Naughton 6s, or three days’. There was a second charge against Naugh'on. Prisoner was bailed out, and immediately got drunk, when she was rearrested. She was farther fined ss, or three days’ imprisonment. Charge of Theft.— A charge brought by J. R. Mills, publican, against Mary Miles, alias Doyle, of steal ng from the National Hotel one bottle of gin, was dismissed for want of sufficient evidence.Obscene r angdage. John Bames, inspector, was charged by Thomas F. Brenchley with using obscene and abusive language on January 21, in Castle street. Mr Adams, who appeared for complainant, said that the language was used not only in the presence of prosecutor, but alsoof two orthree females who were in ear-shot of defendant. It was with regret that complainant was obliged to proceed against defendant, who was a public officer in the Corporation employ, Complainant said that on the day in question defendant accosted him and accused him of interfering with his men. He used the language complained of.—Defendant asked that the language (which had been committed to paper and handed to the Bench) be read out in court, but the Bench held it was too obscene. The language was then read over to defendant, who said : 1 deny using that language in toto. I only said I would wring his nose, and I wish I had done so.—Defendant then cross-examined witness at length, but as he failed to improve his case he said : Then I will plead guilty, and you can make the tine what you like. —He was lined 40s and costs.—Defendant: I will give you 40s more than that for the Benevolent Institution. Deep Sea Fishing.— Samuel Crafts was charged by Detective Bain with selling on tbe 22nd inst one dozen deep sea oysters, contrary to the Statute. >Mr Aldridge defended.—luspe tor Millard s'aid that from information received from Stewait’s Blind, he le rnt that Port Adventure oy.'ters were sent from there to Dunedin. He bent a detective to see if any were exposed for sale, and the detective bought some from defendant. The Act provided th vt ai y person exposing them tor s le was amenable to it. He could not find the cr ft, as it hj d left Port Chalmers.— Detective Bain produced some oysters which he bought from defendant's daughter. - efendant was in the shop at the time. Kvidence was given by two experts that some of the oysters we e what were known as deep sea oysters - Inspector Mallard did not ask for a heavy penalty, andliad brought the charge with a vie v of stopping the illegal traffic.—Mr Aldridge submitted the charge must be dismissed Defendant was chained with selling the oyste s, and assuming some were sold out of defendant’s shop, it was a penal offence, and the person sellin i must be the person char ed. —Mr Pyke held that the servant selling in the regular way was a sale by the master. Ho regretted to hear Mr Aldridge oompla ning that his cheat had been entrapped into selling the oysters, and he thought that Mr Aldr d e had gone further than he ; ntended, and regretted using the word. —Mr Aldridge : I do not regret it. —Mr P ke : : hen > am so r - to hear vou sav so. So far as my knowledge of the police goes I never knew them in one single instance to be guilty of

what mi' ht be construed into entrapping ; nor do I think they would soil the r angers by it As this is the first case, and it will probably act as a caution to those engaged in tn s illicit traffic, a fine of L2 and co-ta will be impo ed Indecent Assault.— Frcunate Locker, an Italian, and a strongly-built man, was charged with indecently assaulting Ha riet M r ison at t'averaham, on the 25th inst. Mr Pavletich acted as interpreter. The case was hea>d wi hj closed doors.—C omplainant, a very intelligent girl, fourteen years of age, stated (hat about 4 p.m. yesterday her mother sent h>r on a messa e. As she was returning home by a short cut up the Caversham road, and when near the railway,! prisoner came up behind her, and catching hold of her, told her to lie down She struggled, and he kicked her. He also shut her mouth, as she was crying out “ Murder,” and then committed fthe alleged offence. J'risoner, who had nothing to say, was committed for trial.