CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4184, 25 July 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Tuesday, July 25. (Before E. ff. Ward, Esq., and J. Paterson, Esq., J.P.'s.) Drunkenness.—James Strain, for having committed this offence, was fined 10s, or, in default of payment, forty-eight hours, it having been his second offence. A Number of Charges.—Anno Johnstone pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness, one of using obscene language, and one of having damaged the arresting constable's coat. She had previously undergone one month's imprisonment for vagraucy, and Inspector Alalia d gave her a very bad character.—On the first charge she was fined 40s, or seven days ; on the second, L 5, or one month ; and on the third to pay the value of the coat (L 3 10s), or fourteen days, the sentences to be cumulative.

Remand eh Charge—Wm. Geo. Sale was again charged with having, on the 18th May last, converted a silver watch, of which he was the Vailee, to his own use.—lnspector Mallard said his reason for producing the

evidence yesterday was to let their Worships know the facts of the case. If the prosecutor wished to withdraw the charge, he (Mr Mallard), of his own accord, could not proceed ; but he would do so if their Worships were of opinion that the ease should be gone on with. He wished to show the absurdity of the Government being put to such expense, and then to have it said there was no case.—Mr Chapman, who appeared with Mr Hayfor accused, gave an explanation of the circumstances of the case, and spoke for a considerable time as to the accused's respectability and the iigh position which he i-ad occupied in England. Counsel said he had a number of witnesses in Court who had voluntarily ottered themselves to speak to accused's character.—The Bench were quite satisfied with the explanation given by Air Chapman, and had no doubts about acquitting accused. The man Taylor had acted in. a very extraordinary, manner, which showed the necessity of Justices being careful about signing warrants until they know the circumstances.—Accused was discharged without a stain upon his character.

Fraud.—George Vantright, alias Allen Wright, was charged with ■ having, on the 12th July, fraudulently obtained a passage fromTimaru to Dunedin in the s.s. Taiaroa. —From the evidence of James Scott, purser of the Taiaroa, it appeared that when ne, as usual, went to collect the tickets, accused produced a letter signed Jas. Buchanan, ' Guardian' Office, and on the strength of which ho was allowed to pass. It was found, however, on arrival that no such person had ever worked there, and search was made for accused. Scott saw him several days afterwards outside fte Resident Magistrate's Court, but he denied having come down in the Taiaroa. Accused was seen again by Scott in Rattray street, when he was followed to Wain's Hotel and arrested. Detective Henderson made the arrest, and accused asked to have an interview with the purser, so that he might settle the matter. — Accused maintained that he came down in the Wellington, and denied ever* having asked for an interview with the purser.— Inspector Mallard said that if their Wor ships were not satisfied that accused was the man more evidence could be produced. Tneir Worships thought accused sufficiently identified, and wondered at his deceitfulness. Lie was sentenced to one months' imprisonment.