CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4123, 15 May 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, May 15. (Before E. ff. Ward Esq., and A C. Begg. Esq., J.P.’s.)

Drunkenness. .Andrew Simpson and Hugh P. Stuart were each fined ss, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment; Thomas Bremuer, Matthew Clydesdale, and John Adams were all fined 20s, or forty* eight hours’ imprisonment; Thos. Griffon and Wm. Thomson each 40s, or seven days’. George Hunter, who on Saturday was sent to the Hospital as suffering from delirium tremens, demed that such was the case, and said it was extreme prostration. He waa discharged with a caution.. Obscene Language. —Matthew Clydesdale was further fined ss, in default fortyeight hours’ imprisonment, for this offence. Fraudulent Representations.— Charles Coleman, alias Holloway, pleaded guilty to obtaining goods of the value of 6s, by means of false pretences, from Thomas Eooertspn, grocer, George street. Prisoner had got the goods on the statement that they were for one Harvey, a compositor.—He also pleaded guilty to obtaining small goods from James

Russell and Rd. Connell,'store-keepers.—In-spector Mallard asked th atprisonerreceive the longest sentence possible.—Mr Ward stated that the Bench must pass such a sentence as the circumstances warranted.—lnspector Mallard apprehended that accused, having pleaded guilty, he could refer to his previous career. He had been three times charged with larceny, once with vagrancy, and tod been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for false pretences. —Prisoner was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each charge—six months in all. ; Horse -stealing. —Charles Coleman was -then charged with stealing a horse of the value of L 7, the property of John Grant, maltster.—Prosecutor, a maltster, stated that on the 11th instant he tethered a pony in the old Botanical Gardens. In the evening he found it gone.—Thomas M‘Naught on, general dealer, living at the Water pf Leith, deposed that he agreed to purchase a pony from accused for L 6 on the 6th instant, to be paid in monthly instalments of L2 each. By nis direction the pony was tethered in a paddock. Accused was to receive the first payment on the 14th instant, but on that morning the mare was claimed by the prosecutor.— Benjamin Jones stated that on Thursday, the 11th instant, he took possession of a pony for the last witness from accused. Prisoner told him that he had been working the pony at Blueskin,—Prisoner was committed for trial.

(Before E. ff. Ward, Esq., and A. Mercer, Esq., J.P.’s)

Affiliation. —John. King, engineer, wad charged by Margaret Rabbitt, of Caversbam, with refusing to support an illegitimate child of which he was alleged to bo the father.—Complainant: stated that the child produced was defendant’s, and wad born in April, 1875. The other child in court was also defendant’s, and in the early part of 1876 defendant was payingber 10b a-week towards its support. In November, 1876, she lived with accused for six weeks. Defendant continued to pay her 10s weekly for the support of the older child till three weeks ago. On the last occasion defendant visited her house he remarked to Mrs Edmond, a neighbor, that he had three sons and three daughters, and triumphantly inquired if he was not well off. He had three daughters and one son by his first wife.—Mr Denniston: Are these the only two children you have got?— Witness (reluctantly) t It makes no odds to you. —Mr Deruuston: I am afraid I shall have to preßß the question. How many children have you?— Witness (saucily): What’s that got to do with you ? That’s nothing to do with you, sir. - Mr Ward (coaxingly) j New, come, how many little responsibilities have you ?—Witness ; Thr« e, your lordship. One is seven years old, but King is not his father. I receive no money for that child.—Mr Denniston ; I want to knowhow you have been living lately. Witness (shaking her head defiantly): Mind your own business. If you will know, I have been working hardL: .When I lived with .King ho led mo a dog’s life.—Jane Edmond stated that she remembered the birth of complain*

ant’s youngest child. Shortly afterits birth, and while speaking of it, defendant boasted of having three laddies and three lassies. Some time after witness asked him why he did not "ive 5s to buy the baby a pair of shoes, whereupon he replied that the father had more need of a pair of boots, at the same time putting out his foot. When defendant boasted of iiis six children he claimed to have beaten witness.—Mr Denniston : And, as a fact, he has beaten you?— Witness: I won’t say that; I have five boys and two girls now. —Mr Cook : And so you have beaten him since. This was complainant’s case. —Mr Denniston submitted that the time for bringing such informations was limited to within six months of the time of refusal.—The Bench

held that there was no limit, and Mr Denniston asked that a note be taken of his objection. If such was the case, it showed the necessity of a limitation.—Mr Ward agreed that it was desirable that there should be a limit.—Mr Denniston pointed out that till now complainant had never made a claim for the maintenance of the youngest child. She had only brought the action in consequence of defendant marrying, simply out of revenge.—Defendant, on being put into the box, swore that complainant never made a claim on him for the support of the youngest child, or asserted that he was the father, till she knew he was married. He then repudiated the paternity. —Complainant: What a lie ! God forgive you.- (Laughter.)— Cross - examined : He would swear that he did not know the child was registered in his name. He was never consulted as to the child’s name.—The Bench considered that there was not sufficient evidence to corroborate the complaint, which was accordingly dismissed. Assault With a Knife.— John Hay and Hugh Walker were charged with assaulting Andrew Freestone with a knife at Mosgiel on the 4th inst, Mr Stout defended Hay.— Both prisoners were discharged.