CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4180, 20 July 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Thursday, July 20.

(Before A, Mercer, JEsq.,' and J. Logan,

Esq., J.P.'b)

Drunkenness. —Mary Ann Tapper, for this offence, was fined 10s, or forty-eight imprisonment ; Michael Fahey and George Williams, having previous convictions recorded against them, were each fined 40s, or fourteen days. Breaches of the Peace.— Geo. M'Cormack, James Bussell, and James Freeman were each fined 20s, or, in default of payment, forty-eight hours’ imprisonment; and Thomas Warn, for obstructing Constable Hunshall in the execution of his duty, was fined 20s, or seven days’ imprisonment. Petty Thei-t.— Agnes Robinson pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing three bedsheets, the property of Daniel Black. The accused had pawned the articles, and Detective Henderson, who happened to be in the pawnshop at the time, had his suspicions that the goods had not been honestly -come by. He therefore made inquiries, and found them to be the property of Black.— Inspector Mallard knew nothing bad against her previous character, and the Bench sentenced her to fourteen days’ imprisonment, which was as lenient a sentence as they could impose. Indecent Assault.— William Marshall, on remand, was charged with having violently and indecently assaulted Jane Anderson on the 28th June.— Joseph Lawrence Anderson, carpenter, residing at the top of York Place, stated that his daughter, Jane, was eleven years of age. In cross-examina-tion, witness said he had never had occasion to reprimand his eldest son or any other boy for having taken indecent liberties with his daughter. —On Jane Anderson being put in the witness-box, Mr M'Keay objected to her being sworn, on account of her being too young to understand the nature of an oath, quoting authorities for his objection.—The Bench overruled the objection, and the oath was taken.—Witness stated that she, in company with another girl named Maggie Robertson, went to the house of accused 6u the evening of the above date, about 5 o’clock, to get some milk for her mother. They met the accused wh'le on the way, and he accompanied them to his house. On their arrival at the house he gave them some milk to drink, and asked witness for a kiss, which she refused. He then took her into a bedroom and committed the assault. Accused gave her a shilling and Maggie Robertson a penny not to say any thing about the affair. Amongst other answers in cross-examination, witness stated thaPher mother was not aware of the offence until last Friday.—Dr Hulme, Provincial surgeon, said he examined the last witness about Saturday last, and there was nothing to lead him to suppose.she had been violated. —Margaret Robertson give evidence as to what took place while in company with Jane Anderson. -Margaret Anderson gave evidence as to what her sister told her regarding the offence which accused had committed. - Margaret Robertson, mother of Jane Robertson, said she did not know anything of the assault until last Thursday, when she heard of it from Mrs Robertson. The following day she became acquainted with the circumstances and reported the matter to the police. Her daughter had not been well since the day of the offence.—Mr M'Keay addressed ' the Bench upon the charge, saying that the evidence showed that there had been no case of rape—everything went to show consent. Had the offence been committed upon a child of under ten years of age, then, under any circumstances, the offence would be rape.—The Bench reserved their decision until to-morrow, when a charge against the same prisoner of committing a rape on Susan Robertson (aged eight years) will be heard