POLICE COURT.—Yesterday.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 45, 28 November 1871, Page 3

POLICE COURT.— Yesterday.

(Before H. C. Lawior, Esq., J.P., and Dr. Kilgour, J.P.) Drunkenness. —ComeliusSully,AA illiatn Oates, John Russell, Samuel Brehan, Patrick Mulligan, and George Robertson, were subjected to the customary pains and penalties for being drunk. Vagrant Cattle. —Patrick Nolan was 2s. Gd., for permitting a horse to wander at large in the public thoroughfare ; and Thomas 'Williams, for a like offence in respect to two cows, was fined 55., with the alternative in each case of 48 hours’ labor in case of non-payment. Stealing Bank Notes. —William John Young was charged with stealing from the coat of George Adolphus Adams, at HapeMCreek,on the 24th inst.,two £1 bank notes.*—The prisoner pleaded not guilty.— George Adolphus Adams, miner, deposed: I know the prisoner, and have been working with him on the liape Creek. On Friday last about half-past 9 p.m. lie and 1 were in my wliare together. I had two .Cl notes rolled in a piece of paper in the breast pocket of my coat. The prisoner knew I had it. Went to bed. Put the coat on a bench close to my head. There is only one room to the wliare. Prisoner slept at one side and I the other. AY as awakened some hours afterwards by prisoner getting up and lighting a fire, and cooking a steak. Just as I was going to sleep again prisoner was fumbling at my coat, and said to me, “ Don’t disturb yourself. I only want your pipe.” [At this stage of the proceedings, a friend of the prisoner's came forward and asked if the prisoner could have legal assistance.] Air B.illen said it would be inconvenient to adjourn at the middle of the evidence. Had the application been made at an earlier stage of the case, he should have offered no objection. —The case then proceeded.—AVitness went on to siy:—l went to sleep, and got up next morning about half-past six, and went to work about an hour afterwards, leaving prisoner at the wliare. I first missed the notes from my coat-pocket on Saturday afternoon, about 5 o’clock, when on putting my hand into the pocket I found the two notes missing, and two pieces of paper rolled up in their place. No one but prisoner had an opportunity of getting at the coat except myself. On discovering the loss, I went to the Black Forest Hotel, and found the prisoner drunk and playing cards. I said “ AVilliam you have done a nice thing on me.” He replied “ AVhat do you mean ?” I told him I’d speak to him privately after his game was finished, and did so, accusing him of the robbery, which lie denied at first, but afterwards said he’d make it all right. I asked him to give me what he had got left, and I would let the matter drop. He replied “It is all gone.”— Air Dodd here came into Court to defend the prisoner, and cross-examined witness, who said : —The house belongs to Young, the prisoner. I was staying there and paying for board and lodging. I was drunk on the evening in question. —Constable Furlong deposed to the apprehension of the prisoner at the Black Forest Hotel, in consequence of information received from last witness. Asked the prisoner if he had got any money. He said he had not. At the station 18s lid were found upon him : he was drunk. He declined to make any statement.— Mr Dodd addressed the Court for the defence, urging that the evidence was too slight to convict the prisoner. He called evidence as to character : —Henry Driver, ironmonger, said he had known the prisoner for a long time, and had always found him an honest straightforward man —The Bench found the prisoner guilty, and sentenced him to three months’ hard labor.

Extension of License. Alargavet Cairns applied to have her license for the British Empire Hotel extended to Tararu, on the occasion of the Caledonian sports. The application was granted on the usual conditions.