RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5732, 13 August 1879, Page 3

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Tuesday, August 12. (Before Capt. Holt and Messrs. O. C. Graham and Moore, J.R.’s) VAGRANCY. A woman named Sarah Hall was charged with being a vagrant. She pleaded not guilty, but said she was out of employment. The police gave her a very bad character, and the Bench sent her to gaol for a month. LARCENY. Thomas Hitchens and William Leevers were charged with stealing an oar, valued at 7s. 6d., the property of Andrew Pany. The evidence of the prosecutor, a fisherman, was taken to the effect that on Saturday he left four oars in his boat, and on Monday he found one of them in the prisoner’s boat. He recognised it by a private mark. Other evidence in corroboration having been heard, Detective Warren deposed that when he arrested prisoners ;they admitted having taken the oar, but said it had been theirs some time before. For the defence it was contended that the oar was one the prisoners had lost, and when they saw it in the boat of prosecutor they took it away. Evidence in support of this statement having been heard, The Bench decided that there was an absence of felonious intent, and dismissed the case. The prisoners had acted foolishly in taking the oar, as there were other and more legitimate means of obtaining possession of it. The oar would be returned to the prosecutor's boat, leaving it to prisoners to obtain possession of it by legal means if they thought fit, EMBEZZLEMENT. The charge against Morton Quin of embezzling funds of the Foresters was again postponed to Tuesday, upon the application of Mr, Gordon Allan,

BREACH OF THE LIQUOR LAWS. A charge of this nature against Ann McAlister was called on, but Mr. Fitzherhert, who appeared for defendant, applied for a remand for a week, as he had only beeu instructed the previous clay, and he desired to secure the attendance of witnesses for the defence from the Wairarapa. There would, however, be no objection to the case for tho prosecutor being heard ; in fact, if it was, it might be found that the police had no case, and there would then be no need for him to call his witnesses for the defence. Sergeant Anderson opposed the application, on the ground that the defendant had had plenty of time to procure witnesses. If the case was adjourned he would prefer not to go into the proaecutfon. After some discussion, an adjournment was granted for a week, the costs of the adjournment to abide the event. BREACH OF BY-LAWS. Wm. Firth, who was charged with leaving his express in the street unattended, obtained an adjournment for a day, to enable him to obtain a witness. Thomas Gros pleaded guilty to.driving too fast round a corner, and was fined ss. and (Before T. A. Mansford, Esq., 8.M.) interpleader. In re Woods v. Phillips.—ln this case plaintiff had obtained judgment against defendant, and was about to levy upon a cart, horse, and harness, hut defendant’s father-in-law, Rush, put in an interpleader claim to these goods. Mr. Ollivier appeared for the judgment creditor, and Mr. Fitzherhert for the claimant, and evidence having been taken, his Worship dismissed the claim.