CITY POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 4197, 9 August 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT

Tuesday, August 8. (Before T. Birch, Esq., and A. Mollison, Esq., J.P.’s.)

Drunkenness. Arthur Alexander, charged with this offence, was fined ss, with the alternative of twenty-four hours’ imprisonment. Wednesday, August 9. (Before T. Birch, Esq., and A. Mollison, Esq., J.P.’s.) Drunkenness.— Bobt. Whitmore, Joseph M'Lean, and John M‘A Ulster for this offence were fined ss. with the usual alternative. The last named offender was further charged with damaging two beer engines, valued I 5, the property of William Bidler, of the Auld Scotland Hotel. He was fined 40s for commuting the offence, and ordered to pay the damage of the beer engine, in default of payment one month’s imprisonment. Breach of the Peace.— Jane Crawford pleaded guilty to havingcommittedan offence of this description in Machin’s right-of-way. Accused pleaded hard for their Worships to di miss her on this occasion, stating that she committed the offence through great provocation, being called a “gaol-bird" by one of the residents in that lane ; and also statecraft she signe 1 the pledge last Saturday, not having tasted a “ drop” since.— Their Worships stated that they would like to see a reformation in her character, but so many different charges had been recorded against her that they could not overlook the case, and fined her 40s, with the option of seven days’ imprisonment* Violation or the Licensing Law?.— Robert Fenwick, proprietor of the Adelaide Hotel, was charged with 1 eing guilty of keeping his hotel open on the 4th inst. after the recognised hour. After hearing the evidence of the Police-Sergeant wh gave the information, their Worships thought that a violation of the law had been proved, and imposed a fine of 20s,—,Mr Birch took the opportunity of remarking that on account of the house being of good repute, this nominal fine would be imposed; but he would have defendant know thaljit was in their power to inflict a fine of L2O. Burglary. —Edward James DonneUy, with a number of aliases, was charged with having entered the dweUing-house of Bishop Moran on the 2nd August, and stolen therefrom a number of-articles, valued at L 9. On the application of Inspector Mallard accused was remanded for a week.

(Before T. Birch, Esq., and Louis Thoneman, Esq, J.P.’s.)

Perjury. —domes Dickenson was charged with having, on the 3rd August, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, given false evidence in a civil action to recover L3O, in which case accused was the defendant. Mr Denniston appeared for the accused.—John Bathgate, R.M., gave evidence as to the statements alleged in the information being sworn to by accused, which were that “he had never been in the Empire Hotel on the sth of July, 1875, with the plaintiff, and never had received any money.”—Mr Denniston then stated that Mr Bathgate having given evidence as to the specific charges in the information, his examination should not be continued fur ther.—Mr Birch wished to know how the Bench were to arrive at a decision unless they heard the circumstances of the case, and after a rather uncomplimentary argument taking place between Mr Birch and Mr Denniston, Mr Bathgate’s evidence was continued.—Mr F. R. Chapman, solicitorj who appeared for the plaintiff on the occasion of the hearing of the case of Miller v, Dickenson (an action to recover a loan of L3O) in the Resident Magistrate’s Court, said the statements alleged were made by accused. A few days after the decision, which was in favor of plaintiff, accused came to his office soliciting time to pay the money. He then spoke to this effect; “ 1 do not know how I came to have done such a thing ; I must have lost myself when I done so.” This was in reference to accused’s evidence in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. —Bichard Bolton, cabman, sold he was a barman in the Empire Hotel about fourteen months ago. He recollec ed Miller and accused having monetary transactions in the hotel about that Miller, carpenter, deposed to having lent the accused L3O on the sth April in the Empire Hotel.— This concluded the evidence for the prosecution, and their Worships'committed the accused for trial. He was allowed bail, himself in LSO, and two sureties of L 25 each.