R.M.’s Court, Gisborne.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1068, 2 May 1882, Page 2

R.M.’s Court, Gisborne.

Saturday’, 30th April. [Before M. Price, Esq., R.M.] E. A. Drury, charged with drunkenness on the 28th inst. Fined 10s and costs. Win. Barton was charged with the larceny of a hat. On the application of Sergt. Bullen (no evidence being produced) accused was discharged. Joseph Bradley was charged with assaulting T. Stewart on the 27th inst. His Worship considered the assault was an unprovoked one, and fined accused £5 with costs of Court. ARSON. John King surrendered to his bail, charged with arson on the 28th inst. This was the case quoted elsewhere in our columns, of fire in the Albion Club Hotel. Mr Brassey asked leave to withdraw the charge as he did not see that a prima facie case could be made out. His Worship said that this being an indictable offence and many fires having occurred in Gisborne, the origin of which never had been traced, he should like to hear some evidence. In reply to His Worship, Sergt. Bullen said the charge could not be sustained. The fullest enquiry had been made, and no malicious intent could be attributed to accused. After hearing the evidence of Mr S. M. Wilson, Mrs Gillice, Henry Thomas, Eva Cox, Harry Maynard, and Constable Farmer, His Worship said that there was no evidence to warrant a committal. He was glad, however, to have heard the evidence as he did not approve of these grave charges being made, and then withdrawn without any hearing. He attributed the origin of nearly all these fires to drink. The accused was discharged. Monday, Ist May. Richard White, charged with being drunk in Gisborne on the 30th instant, was fined 10s and costs, or 24 hours imprisonment.