CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 4285, 20 November 1876, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, Nqvember 20.

(Before T. Birch, Esq., and A. Mercer,

Esq., J.P.'s.)

Drunkenness.— Vincenzo Lamboro was fined 103; George Williams, 40a, or fourteen days' imprisonment; and for habitual drunkenness was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labor.

Disorderly Conduct.—Augustus Bain, a colored gentleman, was charged with attempting to provoke a breach of the peace. Prisoner stated that he was an awfully quiet man, but unfortunately for him it appeared from the statement of Constable Dick that he was quarreling and fighting with several men aud women in a right-of-way off Walker street, on Saturday night, and that when arrested he fought and bit furiously, which necessitated the assistance of Sergeant Anderson to convey him to the watch-house. —The prisoner wa3 fined 40s, or in default three days' imprisonment.

Vagrancy.—John Samuels, a young man, was charged, on remand, with having no lawful means of support, at Dunedin, on November 16. Mr Lewis defended.—Detective Henderson stated that prisoner was the associate of several convicted thieves and a notorious prostitute. Witness had not known him to do any lawful work for many months. Cross-examined : One Lee was an associate of prisoner. He incited men, decoyed them into haunts of vice to fight, and when they were stripped rifled their po-kets. Some time ago witness asked prisoner as to the antecedents of one Johnstone, who, it was reported, was concerned in a garrotting case in Sydney, but prisoner said he knew nothing about the matter. Witness did not promise to "give him a turn " if he did not supply the information asked for.—Detective Neil partly corroborated the last witnesses's evideuce.— Constable Conn stated that he had frequently advised accused to be cautious of the company he kept, otherwise he would fet into trouble, but had always got abuse for is good counsel. On Monday night last witness ordered Clarkie (who was fighting in the Provincial billiard saloon, and boasting that he would show the " Sydney touch") out of the room, when accused turned roucd and said he was d—d if any policeman would turn him out. He warned witness that he had got one hiding for officiousness, and was bidding for another. Witness's officiousness consisted in his having advised aoouaed for his good, and also speaking to his friends.—lnspector Mallard complimented the constable for bsMag followed the prime duty of a police-officer in endea-voring-to maintain order.—The accused, who was examined by Mr Lewis, said he was, a general dealer and produced a number of receipted accounts. During the time he had beea in business ho had expended upwards of L3OO. From several tradesmen in the town he could reoeive credit to the amount of LSO. Recently he had not been carryirg on his business, as he had been employed collecting moneys due to him.—Solomon De Beer stated that accused was a customer with his firm, He

reoeiyedor«ditinliiitnm«aotioni. He had made no purchases during the past six Weeks.—C. E. Blackie, in the employ of Brown Ewing, and Co., stated that aocused had purchased goods from the firm for "tally-shops." He had not purchased goods for the last two months.—Similar evidence was given by Jas. Morrison (salesman to Beaver Bros.) and A. S. Levy. The v/ifcnesses all Btated that they were much surprised with the evidence given for tho prosecution, as they had regarded prisoner as an honorable man.—The Bench took till tomorrow to consider the case.