RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5304, 26 March 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Monday, March 25. (Before J. C. Crawford, Esq., K.M.) Six persons were subjected to the customary pains and penalties for being drunk. ■ VAGRANCY. Michael John O’Connor was charged with having no visible lawful means of support. From the evidence of the police it appeared that accused had been convicted previously, and had given himself up to the police as a vagrant. , . Prisoner : I fail to see that it is a crime to be in ill-healtb, to suffer poverty, and to be unable to obtain employments It that be called justice, it is unworthy of a so-called civilised community. The Magistrate: The Legislature decides that ; it is not a matter for my consideration. It will give me no satisfaction to send you to prison to be supported at the expense of the public, but : l am afraid I must commit you there in order that you may have lodgings. Accused : Listen to my tale, your Worship, and then say whether lam a vagrant. lam subject to epileptic fits, and that has been the cause of my misfortune in the world. I belong to the medical profession, and am a member of the. Royal College of Surgeons. I have nothing wherewith to commence practice, and my infirmity would, prevent me properly attending to a practice if I had one. When I was last released from gaol I endeavored to stow myself away in a steamer to get away to Melbourne, as I had no money to pay my passage, but I waa discovered. My friends are all in Melbourne. l For some time I was in the Lunatic Asylum there, but they sent me away to New Zealand, paying my passage aud giving me £l. Since I have been in Wellington I have not been out of gaol three consecutive days, for no sooner was< I let put than I was put in again. I went to Nelson, and was there for three months, the greater part of the time being spent, of course, in gaol. The governor of the gaol wished to get rid of me, and gave me a deal of good advice, in which he was liberal, for it cost him nothing. Ho advised me to represent my case to the Minister of Justice in order that I might get a passage to Melbourne.

The Magistrate.: But, you .now. apply to-be put into gaol. , Inspector Atoliesdh said if the accused was not a drunken loafer the members of the medical profession in Wellington would assist )iim ' Prisoner, who said he had given up his habits of intoxication, Was let off with a caution. . Richard Perry was also charged with vagrancy. The accused was remanded for a week. HABITUAL DRUNKENNESS. John McAlister, an old offender, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for habitual drunkenness. . CIVIL CASES. Waddle, McLeod, and Wen-, v. C. Moody. This was a claim for £34 16s. Id. Judgment was given for £27 10s. Id. . E. W. Mills v. T. Armstrong.—Chum for £23 11a. 2d. Judgment was given for plaintiff for the full amount claimed, with costs.