POLICE COURT.—Yesterday.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 93, 26 January 1872, Page 3

POLICE COURT.— Yesterday.

Vagrant Quadruped. Joseph Walton and Joseph Letham were each charged with permitting a calf to wander at large on the 20th inst. in Mackay-street.—Both pleaded guilty, and were lined 2s 6d and costs. —John Hanson and Edward Hyde were each charged with a like offence in respect of a goat, and were mulcted in the sum of Is each and costs.—Thomas Williams for permitting 4 cows to stray was fined 10s and costs. Breach of Licensing Act.—David McMaster was charged with neglecting to keep a lamp burning over the principal entrance of his licensed house, the Black Forest Hotel, on the 20th inst. The defendant pleaded not guilty.—Constable Furlong deposed that on the night in question there was no light burning at halfpast 8 p.m., and he called defendant’s attention to the fact.—The defendant called Joseph Harper, who stated that he lighted the lamp at about a quarter-past 7 p.m., and that it was burning next morning.— Frederick Buslmell deposed to the lamp being a light at half-past 5 o’clock on the morning of the 21st inst. It was burning at 20 minutes to !• the night before. —The R.M. said he was quite satisfied that the lamp was not burning at sunset on the 20th, and lined defendant 10s and costs. Nuisance. —Robert Dougins was charged with neglecting to keep clean his premises, in Willoughby-street, whereby a nuisance was created.—The defendant pleaded not guilty.—Constable Brennan stated that, on visiting defendant’s premises, he found the yard and pig-stye in a very filthy state. —The R.M. said the highway boards had now power to prevent people keeping pigs in the townships; but Shortland being less densely populated than Grahamstown, the practice of pigkceping was less objectionable, perhaps, in the former than the latter place. Defendant must pay 10s and costs for this offence.—The money was immediately paid. Indecent Exposure. —Edward Wilkinson, charged with this offence, and said lie was drunk, and did not know wliat occurred. The charge having been proved, defendant was fined 40s, with the alternative of 14 days’ imprisonment in case of non-payment. Robbing a Till. —Patrick McNulty was brought up on remand charged with stealing from the till in the bar of the Imperial Hotel, Tararu, on the 23rd inst., the sum of .Cl 13s in silver, the property of George William Tucker.—Mr Tucker, landlord of the above hotel, stated that on the day named lie saw tho prisoner in the bar about eight o'clock in the morning, and remained there until about half-past nine. Witness then went out, leaving prisoner there. It would be possible for a person standing outside the counter to reach over to the till. There were £2 and more than 10s in silver in the till. At half-past nine witness gave the charge of the bar to Mr Clark. Shortly afterwards one of the omnibus-drivers told him that a man had had his hand in tho till. Cn making an examination it was discovered that 33s were missing. Witness, in consequenceof what was said to him, gave prisoner into custody.—S. R. Clarke deposed to seeing prisoner in the bar on the morning in question, and had the opportunity of seeing Mr Tucker put money into the till. Witness went out of the bar for a short time, leaving prisoner alone in the bar.— A lad named John Morrow, an omnibus conductor, depose to seeing prisoner put bis hand into the till. Witness told “ Nat,” the driver, wliat lie saw. and “ Nat ” informed Mr Tucker. Could not say whether prisoner abstracted any money from tho till or not. —Constable Brennan deposed to the apprehension of the prisoner.—Mrs Vaughan, of the Tararu Hotel, deposed to prisoner being at her house on the evening of tho 22nd. He changed a £1 note, and he had more money about him. He spent 4s or 5s in tho house—The R.M. said the evidence against the prisoner was very suspicious, especially that, of tho boy Morrow, but at the same time lie (the R.M.) bad a doubt on the matter, of which lie would give the prisoner the benefit, and discharge him.— Prisoner was accordingly discharged.