CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17687, 26 July 1919, Page 15

CITY POLICE COURT

Fridat, JTTLT 25. (Before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M.) Drunkenness.—A first offender waa fined 20a, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. William Neilson Maekio waa remanded until this morning on a similar charge. Idle and Disorderly.—Anthony Adam Smith was convicted and ordered to oomo up for eautence when called upon on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person with no lawful visible means of support.—Subinspector Matliieson stated that a resident of Burneide had offered to find work for aooused and to look after him.

Charge of Theft. —Georgo living Garland, charged with stealing a wallet, valued at ss, the sum of £9 12s Bd, and a postal note for 3s. of a total value of £10 0s Bd, the property of James William Phn.llia was remanded till Monday, bail frping allowed—self in £100,

Alleged Indecent Assault.—Walter George Perry and William Andrew Boyoe Pledger were charged with indecently assaulting a girl over the age of 12 years and under 16 years of age about June 13, and William Edward Gillespie was charged in rcspect of the same girl that 1m attempted to carnally know her on June 20. —The three accused were remanded until Monday, bail being allowed—each in £50 (or. pafenta' bond for thia amount) and on® surety of £50. .

Maintenance.—Albert Edward Morris was proceeded against for the disobedience of a maintenance order for the support of an illegitimate child of whom he was alleged to be the father. This arrears amounted to £25.—Defendant applied for the cancellation of the order.—Mr Irwin, who appeared for Morris, said that the application was on the l ground that the order was obtained by evidence which amounted to perjury. The order was made at a time when Morris was absent on active servioa—in fact, at a time when he waa a prisoner of war in Germany, and. he did not know it had been made until he returned to New Zealand last April. No proceedings had been taken bofore he left the dominion although ha had actually made some payments. The complainant, in a letter to the defendant, stated that another man had got her into trouble, but defendant to ehield her had said no- ; about the matter. The complainant had Mnce been married. Counsel produced a letter in which the complainant stated tnat another man .was responsible for her trouble, ana she asked defendant not to say anything about it.—Mr Neill, who ap poared for the complainant, produced a number of etters written by the defendant to the complainant—-The complainant, in exw£n?°- letter written to the defendajit she blamed another man, Uft w irT 8 d her 6116 left Wellington to write him 1 letter statin e that it was a man b Eleventh Reinforcements who waa responsible for her trouble. Defend^? wanted the letter written in order that he could show it to her people if anything bethat he would TWrt" Tu see - her trough every, thing Two other witnesses gave evidence 2L • °/ and tlio Magistrate intimated that he would take time to consider the correspondence between the parties. He would probably give his decision on Monday. Gaming Act Charges.— Joseph Hoporaft waa charged with that being the occupiaTof premises m Carr street, North-East Valley M w i M , a comm °n gaming house! for defendant, stated that it had been agreed that the case should be heard next Wednesday if suitable to the court-The case was ao cordingly, the same bail being allowed as pwviously.-—WUliam Pollock was charged with that, l»ine the occupier of premises in Carr street, North-East Valle, he kept them as a common gaming house. He was further charged with that,-being the owner of premises, he kept them as a common gamtng house, and also that he knowingly and- wilfully permitted the premises to' be kept as a common gaming house by Joseph Hopcraft.—Mr- Hanlon appeared for defendant.—Chief Detective Bishop said that witnesseahad to ■be brought-from Wellington and Uhnstchurch, and . several documents had to be searched at the Post Office at Wellington. An adjournment was granted tiir August 6, bail being allowed— self in ; ?«^r-r an i one tare ty of a. similar amount.—■■ Mr Hanlon stated that it was desirable that the charges against both defendants should, be taken at the same time, and the magistrate agreed to allow Hopcraft's case also to stand over til] August 6. Mrs Wm Pollock was oharged with assisting Wm. Pollock in conducting the business of a common gaming house.—This case was also adjourned til) August 6, but the magistrate deemed it unnecessary to fix bail. Committed .for Trial.—Victor Fanning Eraser Kett waa. on two informations with assaaltine. two girls, each about six years of age.—The magistrate made an order clearing the court and prohibiting the publication of the evidence.—Accused, who was not 'represented by cousnel, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on the first charge. The second charge was dismissed on account of the evidence being