RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT,

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 146, 23 August 1866, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT,

. ' This Day. . ; [Before J. Poynter, Esq., R.M.] Drunkards.— -Richard. Green was fined 10s. for drunkenness. Michael Maloney, found in an outhouse, and who could give no satisfactory reason why he was there, was charged with drunk and disorderly conduct, and fined 20s. and costs. COAL STEALING. A man named Cummins was charged by Mr. Jas. Thompson with stealing coal from the wharf. The charge was not denied. The prosecutor stated that he had charge of the ; - premises, store, and property, of Mr. Levick, during his absence. Last night between 10 and 11 o'clock, he saw the prisoner between the Albion and Jasper's Hotel. He proceeded to a heap of coals from which ! he selected a lump and walked off with it. Witness , was standing a little aside watching him, but on discovering the theft he stept forward, secured the prisoner, and handed him over to the police. The prosecutor said he had suspected the prisoner a long time. He lived in one of the tents opposite the wharf. Many things had recently been missed in the neighborhood, and the prisoner had been suspected, and watched but had managed to escape tUI last night. The prisoner said he was a little the worse for drink last night, and did not think there was any harm in taking a piece of coal. The Magistrate said there had been several complaints from persons losing their property, and the, persons occupying the tents had no business there as they were erected on private property. He should sentence the prisoner to 7 days' imprisonment with hard labor. The prisoner said be was waiting to get away from Nelson, and would not wait a moment longer than he was compelled- to -wait. The Magistrate said there would be no objection to persons remaining in the tents for a few day ; but they had no right to fix their permanent residence there. He doubted not the police would look sharply after the inmates of the tents after what had occurred. In stating yesterday that judgment was postponed in the case of He Carle v. Guildford, to obtain a witness to. the signature of the promissory note, it j should have been added, that a witness is rendered necessary because the woman sighed with a cross, ! she being unable to write. !