CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4244, 3 October 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Tuesday, October 3. (Before H. S. Fish, Esq., and Dr. Niven, Drunkenness.—George Patrick was discharged. Daniel Berry, charged with causing a breach of the peace, was also discharged Political Differences.—John M'Laren was charged with provoking a breach of the peace last night. The case was proved by Constable M'Leod. He was then charged with assaulting and beating George Proudfoot:—Prosecutor said that as he was going across the Octagonlast night, accused accosted him, and coupled his name with certain Governments in an invidious manner. Witness proceeded to walk away, whaeeupon accused assaulted hun and threw him on the ground —M Laren : Did you not want to lodge a charge of vagrancy against me ?- Witness : I don t know that I did; but I have always looked upon you as a vagrant.—M'Laren (excitedly): You say you were knocked down: did you receive any physical injury ?—Witness : I never allow myself to be injured.—M'Laren: Did you strike me?— Witness : I don't think so—it would have served you right if I had.—(Laughter.)— Prisoner, on being sworn, said that informant first accosted him, addressing him as " You Abolitionist," and then assaulting him. Proudfoot had instigated the proceedings for the purpose of "damping" him and getting him into disrepute as a notorious character! —Prisoner was further charged with damaging a pannakin of the value of sixpence in the police cell.—On the first charge he was faned ss, in default twentyfour hours imprisonment; the second case ' was dismissed, it being oath against oath, and the last case was also dismissed. Impudent Theft—Louis Barnett waa charged with stealing, on September 30,165, the piopeity of Caroline King.—Prisoner iiad called at the prosecutrix's house and complained that he was thirsty. She sup. P a J lB . waata °y giving him a mea\ and having occasion to gp outside she found on her return that he was picking the pocket of her dreES hanging behind the door. He made off, andshe found she had been robbed of 16s. -Prisoner made a rambling statement as to having met WW prosecutrix in town last nigHgoittg

home with her, and stopping at her house. When he left in the morning he had 16s, and the woman threatened to accuse him of robhery if he did not give her the money.— Tho Bench characterised prisoner's story as a most viliianous one, Mr Fish stating that he had never heard a more ingeniously concocted statement since he sat on the Bench. They declined to believe what he had stated, and considered prisoner's offence much aggravated by his line of defence. He had nrst robbed the woman, and then tried to traduce her character in a shameful way. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

Forgery. John Tirrell, clerk, was charged, on remand, with forging a postoffice order telegram for the payment of 10s. —lnspector Mallard said that the original telegram had been forwarded to Wellington in the usual way, so that he would have to ask for a remand for eight days till he could produce it.—Mr Lewis, who defended, submitted that the police should have been prepared with evidence of the crime before bringing the case on.—The adjournment was granted, prisoner being admitted to bail in his own recognisance of LSO, and one surety of a like amount.

The Licensing Ordinance. William Bastings was charged with allowing porter to be sold in his licensed house (the Victoria Hotel) at ten minutes past midnight, while the license was only in force till ten o'clock. —Mr Finn defended, and submitted that no time was specified on the license. - Defendant was dismissed with a caution, the Bench holding that there had been an infringement of the Ordinance. . Insulting Behaviour.—Joseph Hindes v. W. E. Barrowman was a charge of using insulting language. Mr Finn appeared for complainant; Mr Bathgate defended. A fine of 10a and costs was imposed.