CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4163, 30 June 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Friday, June 30. (Before A. Mercer, Esq., and C! S. Reeves, Esq., J.P.'s.)

Drunkenness.— Mary M'Donald, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined 20s, or forty-eight hours' imprisonment Inspector Mallard asked that a"charge of drunkenness against Mary Ann Winter be adjourned, ishehad been found by the constable in a ditch at the Forbury this morning with a severe cut on one of her legs. She was now in the hospital, aud unable to attend the Court. Wm. Bumham, for being drunk while in charge of a horse and express, was fined 20s, or forty-eight hours'. Breach of the peace.—Charles Peterson, charged with the above offence, was fined 20s, or three days' imprisonment with hard labor. * "

Theft.—-A charge against Wm. Brown of stealing a horse belonging to Mr Allen, of the East Taieri, and a saddle and bridle, was remanded until this day week to enable the police to find the owner of the two latter articles.

Assault.—James Hutton, of the Caledonian Hotel, charged Fred. George with assaulting him. It appeared from the evidence, which was conflicting, that George, who was cook in the hotel, had smashed a large dish over the* latter's head. The assault had not been witnessed by anyone, but the Bench were of opinion that an assault had beea committed, and fined defendant 20s, in default to undergo forty-eight hours'imprisonment. Having No Lawful Means of Support. —John Coleman, one of the sporting fraternity, was charged above Accused could not understand why he was there to answer such a charge. He had come to the Colony about two years ago as agent for Murray's Circus, and had left that company six months afterwards with L2OO in his possession. Since then he had become part-owner of a racehorse, which was sold by public auction a short while ago.— Inspector Mallard said he would prove the character of the accused, and called Constable Henderson, who stated that he had known the accused since his arrival here with Murray's circus, but had never known him to follow any honorable occupation since. He was in the habit of inducing men to go into public-houses, where, after getting them to drink, he would commence gambling,-and thus rob them of all their money. These cases were numereus, and witness instanced one in particular where accused, by the above-mentioned practices, swindled a man out of L 25, a locket, -and a gold albert chain. Immedidiately after this the accused went to Christchurch, and returne I shortly afterwards. These statements were corroborated by Detective Bain.—The Bench, at accused's request, granted a remand until to-morrow, and allowed him bail, himself in L 25 and two sureties of LlO^each.— Nath.-n Green was also charged with having no lawful means of support, for whom Mr Cook appeared, and pleaded not guilty.—The Bench, after hearing toe evidence produced by accused's counsel, considered there was not sufficient evidence to convict, and dismissed the charge.