POLICE COURT-—Monday Oct. 23rd.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 15, 24 October 1871, Page 2

POLICE COURT- —Monday Oct. 23rd.

Before W. Fraser, Esq., R.M. Drunkenness. Bernard Martin was charged with being drunk and incapable in Brown-street, on Saturday evening last, to which charge he pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s. with the alternative of 48 hours’ hard labor. Matrimonial difficulties . Maria Smith was brought up by warant, on the charge of using abusive and threatning language towards Carol Smith herhusband, tending to create a breach of the peace.—Mr Tyler appeared on behalf of the husband,and said this was a sad case, the wife was in the habit of getting drunk almost continually, behaving in a very violent manner, threatening to kill her husband, frequently throwing bricks and other missies at him. He (the husband) had been compelled to give up business in consequence of his wife’s misconduct, and although he was very unwilling to adopt this course, he was compelled to bring her before tho Court for the sake of his family. He was really in fear that she would do him some bodily harm or his children.—The defendant admitted the charge, and said she was willing to be bound over to keep the peace.—The R.M. said this was the first case that had come before him of a husband praying for surities of the peace against his wife, but under tho circumstances the husband was quite justified in the course he had taken. As he (the R.M.) was going home op Saturday, ho saw the defendant in the street in such a state that he thought she was mad.—He would order that she find two surities of £25, to keep the peace for the next six months.

Stealing a watcii and chain.— Michael Breen, a boy ten years of age, was charged with stealing from the dwelling of James Matthews, of the Waiotahi Creek, on the 21st, inst., a silver watch and chain value £4.—The boy pleaded guilty.—His mother, a very respectable woman was in attendance, and stated that the boy was employed in selling newspapers, and had got into bad company, she was about to take him away from this employment in consequence.—She never knew him to steal anything before.—When the boy was first charged with the offence he denied it, but afterwards admitted that he had the watch in his pocket, and produced it to the police.—Sergeant Green said the boy went to the prosecutor’s house to deliver a newspaper, and took the opportunity of taking away a watch and chain which were lying on the table, and which he now produced. —The R.M. said he would remand the boy untill Thursday, and ordered the watch to be handed over to the owner.—The mother said if his worship would let him go, he should never sell another newspaper as Jopg as ho lived.—The R.M. said it was to serious a charge for him tp deal with it in that manner. The yquthful prisoner was then removed into custody, and will be brought up again next Thursday,