CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4119, 10 May 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Wednesday, May 10. (Before E. ff. Ward, Esq., and 0. Flezman, Esq., J.lVs) Drunkenness. —John Gibson, who was drunk in charge of a horse and cab, was fined 10s; Wm. Muir was discharged with a caution. Matrimonial Differences. William Topping was charged with using obecefce language to Margaret Topping, his wife, at Blueskm, on May 2, Defendant pleaded that his wife first assaulted him,—The Benoh

were of opinion that defendant was hot of sound mind. —Defendant was sure the Bench were laboring under a mistake. He never had a sore head in his life; and was perfectly willing to be examined by any doctor. —The Bench remanded him for medical examination.

Fighting it out. Charles Gibson, a young man, pleaded guilty to conducting himself in the Cricket Ground at 9.30 o’clock last night in a manner calculated to provoke a breach of the peace.—Defendant stated that he was merely acting in self-defence. He received the first blow, and was only fighting it out.—Constable Porter saw a crowd of about thirty men in the cricket ground last night, formed into a ring, with two men in the centre. When his appearance was noticed, a cry of “police’’ was raised, and the duellists were advised to get away. He managed to secure defendant, but the other escaped.—A fine of 40s, or, in default, forty-eight hours’ imprisonment was imposed. Assaulting the Police. —Wm. M‘Donald was charged with assaulting Constable M‘Donald in Manse street, at 12.40 a.m. on the 10th instant.—Prosecutor stated that accused came up to him and handed him a despatch, saying it was for the Inspector of Police. Witness asked what it was about,

whereupon accused told him to mind his own business, and then assaulted him.—ln answer to the Bench, Inspector Mallard stated that the despatch referred to was a memo, which accused had brought in for him from the constable at West Taieri. Accused was a prize wrestler, and he was in the habit of making a boast of his abilities in that direction.—The Bench considered the circumstances somewhat exceptional, and fined defendant in the mitigated penalty of 40s, with the option of forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. Assault. —John M‘Guare was charged by Richard William Davis, proprietor of the coffee-stall in Stafford street, with assaulting and beating him at 12.45 this morning. •—Three witnesses— Kenneth M‘Lennan, John Dwyer, and Alex. M'Lennan—called for the defence, swore that defendant threw

yahkee grab with complainant for drinks before the quarrel commenced, and that complainant supplied brandy out of the stall for which defendant paid. Complainant was the first to provoke the assault.—The Bench considered it rather curious that men should be allowed to sell spirits out of coffee-stalls. —lnspector Mallard intimated that it was his intention of asking that an information against Davis for sly-grog selling be drawn up immediately.—The Bench had no hesitation in discharging M'Guane, and had no doubt that defendant had acted in an improper manner, and also that he had been guilty of selling spirituous liquors. This was clearly proved by the evidence of three witnesses, and unless that testimony was considerably shaken, there could be no doubt that Davis had sold the drink and received money for it.—lnspector Mallard asked that an information be drawn up immediately against defendant under the 6th section of the Licensing Act. As the witnesses were present he would proceed at once with the charge.—The Bench thought the case should not be gone into immediately as Davis was taken by surprise. The police would have no difficulty in finding the witnesses when they required them. Moreover they might be biassed to a certain extent, and probably more evidence could be obtained.—lt was ultimately decided to hear the charge to-morrow. Alleged Theft. —Thomas Pyle and Alice Pyle, his wife, were charged with stealing a quantity of furniture from a dwelling-house at Naaeby. Accused pleaded that the furniture referred to, and which they had sold, was their own property.—lnspector Mallard mentioned that the warrant had not yet arrived. They were arrested in consequence of a telegram received.— The charge was remanded till Saturday, the accused being admitted to bail.