CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4047, 15 February 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Tuesday, February 15, (Before V. Pyke, Eaq., R.M., and A. Mercer, Esq., J.P.) Drunkenness.— Neil MTntyre and Anne Kenny were each fined ss, in default twentyfour hours’ imprisonment; George Williams, who { remised to leave for the country irmrm. di itdy if given ‘an 'opportunity, 20s, of seven days’. Fighting.— John Liston and Michael Meldrum, two powerfully-built fellows, each standing about 6ft Sin in his sock*, were charged .with provoking a breach of the peace in Walker afreet. Liston, whose face here testimony to the encounter in which he had been concerned, pleaded guilty; the other prisoner denied the charge, Hindea stated that both prisoners were creating a tremendous ; disturbance, and were using bad language. Each of the offenders were fined 20s, in default fourteen days’, imprisonment. * Vagrancy. —Sarah White, alias Gorman, and Anne Harper, were chafed' -with -having no lawful means of support. Mr E. Cook defended.—Sergeant O’Neil, at present'in charge of the night-duty section of the police, deposed thit both prisoners were walldng the town last night. White, who was an old offender, was continually knocking about town and kept abrothel. Harper had been charged with soliciting prostitution, but the ease was dismissed on her f roodse to leave the place. < She left the town, ut only went to Kensington and was now living at Anderson’s where she kept a brothel.— ■Other evidence having, been'given, Mr Cook submitted that both prisoners being married women were not amenable to the offence, and muat, therefore, be discharged. The marriage certificates of both women were produced.;— Mri G rman’s father deposed ’that Gorihan' contributed towards his wife’s support, and had written for her to join him.—The Bench would not require further evidence. The pr of 9f marriage was sufficient, unless it was : sE6wh’i that the woman had been guilty of soliciting S restitution, which would ensure a conviction, t could not be said that a married woman hal no lawful means of support,—lnspector Mae lard ; The , dictum of the Resident Magistral: Htherts has been this, that any woman who walks the street for a living shall be deemed to have no lawful means of support.- Mr Ryke: Well, that is wrong. How anyone can say a married woman has no lawful means of support I cannot possibly see. It must be shown that they get their living by an indeK cent manner. 1 take it that so'icitation is an indecent manner.—The Inspector: The reason why they am charged is this, because, as I said before, the Resident Magistrate has laid' down this axiom that any woman who walks' the streets for a living is a prostitute.—Mr Pyke whs very sorry to differ from the Resident Magistrate, but he must really do so,— Mr Cook contended that, the Inspector bad-over-stated the law.—The Inspector had fiiirly stated the ruling of thejßesident Magistrate. The Supreme Court had al-o ruled that any woman having no lawful means of support 1 was a prostitute.—Mr Pyke: If. married V/The Inspector Surely aworaah oaq be , married and etui a prostitute.— Mi - Pyke : She might be a prostitute fiftjf times over and still means of support. She has lawful means of support whim rhe women were soliciting prostitution I Would send them to gaol .-pndec'gnbw&ticn which provide! for dealing rift p«hsupftiying ia

an indecent maimer. I have a very strong conviction that have toybuild a new saol if all such: married wonen to be .eemed prostitutes*. > , \ Obscene with using in Walkfertreetonv.February or serisnMays’ s s ‘. \ fM- ■■■■ ■ »i rn? : mmmm