CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4212, 26 August 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Saturday, August 23. (Before J. Logan, Esq., J. Hißlop, Esq., and A. 0. Begg, Esq., J.Ps.) Druxkenxess.— Two persons for this offence were lined in the usual alternative. IvOBBERY BY AX EMPLOYE.—WiII : am Carlyle, a respectably-dressed man, was charged with stealing 4s, the property of Hogg and Hutfcon, grocers. Prisoner plead* d guilty.—lnspector Mallard said that prosecutors having missed money for a considerable time deemed it necessary to mark Borne coins. The marked money was abstracted from the till, and found upon prisoner.' James Hogg, one of tho prosecutors, said that witness had on a previous occasion to dismiss one of his servants for a similir offence. Prisoner had been in their employ for nine or twelve months. Witness having occasion to suspect him recently marked some coias, which were afterwards found on prisoner. "This being prisoner's first appearance before any Court, the Bench expressed their intention of dealing leniently with him, and sentenced him to twenty-feurhours' imprisonment. Ik-ckcency. Jeremiah Burrows was charged, on remand, with this offence on the Town Belt on Thursday last. Mr Stewart, who defended, said ho was instmcted by prisoner's friends that for the last two or three years prisoner had been gradually getting worse, bo far as his mental faculties were concerned, in fact particularly during the last six months he had manifested symptoms of insanity. He merely mentioned the circumstance so that the Bench, if they thought proper, might remand the accused for medical examination. Inspector Mallard woidd admit that the statement he (the learned counsel) was now making was not being made for the first time. Under the circumstances he thought it would be desirable to remand the. accused for medical examination.—lnspector Mallard asked that the evidence miyht be taken first, seeing that accused had positively pleaded "Not Guilty,' and then an adjournment granted to test his sanity.—The Bench pointed out that there was no evidence of insanity before the Court.—Mr Stewart submitted that when a plea of insanity was made, the Court must have that point decided before trying the case. At Timarn, recently, Judge Johnston refused to impanel a jury when a plea of that nature was set up, holding that the accused's sanity or otherwise must first be decided. Mr Logan : But the best medical authorities say all prisoners are insane.—lnspector Mallard thought the best course would be that the Court should first hear the evidence, and then. Mecide whether prisoner was guilty of the offence or not. Then if their Worohips thought judgment should" be stayed, pending medical testimony as to sanity or not, let it be done.— The Bench agreed that this course would be | the most desirable. •-■ Inspector Mallard I said that the parents of the female witnesses did not wish their daughters co give evidence in - open Court. —Mr Logan pointed out that as this was the hearing of the case and not a formal inquiry | they had not the power to clear the Court. —Mr Hislop thought that as a matter of good taste, seeing they had no power to compel the Court to be cleared, it would be as well if those present would leave the Court. Thereupon the public left the Court, and the .hearing of the charges three in number—was proceeded with and clearly proved.—Mr Btewart merely ad? dressed himself as to prisoner's sanity or otherwise.—Mr Begg said that prisoner must be either sent to prison or to the; Lunatis Asylum. Jf he was in the state of mind describtd by the learned counsel he was unfit to be at large. —lt was decided to adjourn the case for a week to enable the prisoner to be medically examined.