COURTS.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 189, 17 May 1872, Page 3

COURTS.

POLICE COURT.— Wednesday. (Before 11. C. Lawlor, Esq., J.P., and 11. Goldsmith. Esq., J.IV) Drunkenness. —Ann Hootor, James Mason, and Edward Fenny were fined in the usual amounts with tho customary penalties in case of non-payment, for being drunk.

Stealing a Tent. —Francis Conroy was charged with stealing on the 14th inst., from an unoccupied allotment off Greystreet, a tent value 7s fid, the property of James Thompson. The defendant pleaded guilty, and said the tent was his own. — Mr Bullen said ho believed it was a case of disputed property, and he should not offer any evidence. He believed the man took the tent thinking he had a right to it. —He was accordingly discharged.

Breach of Sanitary Regulations.— John Shaw was charged with neglecting to keep clean his premises in Rollestonstrect, whereby 7 a nuisance was caused. The defendant said the late heavy rains had caused an overflow, but tip;re was no intentional neglect.—The defendant was fined 2s fid and costs'.

—Alexander Phillips was charged with neglecting to clean his premises in Mackay-streot, whereby a nuisance- was created. The defendant pleaded guilty but said that the nuisance arose from an overflow from a closet on adjoining premises.—The Inspector of Nuisances deposed to the nuisance, which he said was of a very offensive character. This was a first offence.—The Bench fined the defendant 2s fid and costs.

Using Obscene Language. Henry Lusty was charged with using obscene' lai gunge in Williamson-street, the previous day. Mr Dodd appeared for the de-„ fendant, who pleaded not guilty. Detective Murphy stated that lie knew the defendant, who is the proprietor of an oyster saloon. Witness arrested Jane Crick in his house, and after locking her up went to make inquiries of defendant and his wife about the case. Defendant would give no information, but made use of very bad language, which could be heard in the street. The d- fendant was under the influence of drink.—Mr Dodd cross-examined the officer to show that provocation had been given by irritating language on the part of the latter, but this was denied. After the’bad language was used witness told Lusty lie would swear

anything. Mr Dodd having addressed the Court contending that Murphy had irritated Lusty, but what occurred took place in the back room of the latbw’s bouse, and no obscene language was used so ns to be heard by persons passing by in the street.—The Bench fined defendant 40s and costs, or in default of payment 14 days’ hard labor, observing that th • police ought to be supported in obtaining information with a view to detect crime. Stealing from the Person. Jane Crick was charged with feloniously stealing from the person of John Harris at Grahamstown, on the 11th inst., four £1 notes and a broker’s note for the sale of ten shares in the Cure G.M.Co. —Mr Dodd appeared for the prisoner who pleaded not guilty, —John Harris deposed : I am a miner. On Saturday last I went to Lusty’s ovster saiooti, Williamson-street. Philip Harris, my cousin was with me. Si veral miners were there, and Mrs Crick was there. I and my cousin had some oysters. Mrs Crick served them. I lorn a £lO note, tr?e £1 notes, a half-sovereign, and some silver, also a broker’s sale note now produced. This was in my waistcoat pocket rolled up in two separate parcels. The pocket handkerchief now produced I had in my coat pocket when I went into the saloon. My name is upon it in my own handwriting. Mrs Crick when sewing the oysters asked if she could not have some herself, and on receiving a reply in the affirmative had some. I invited her to take a walk with me on the beach, but she put her head on my chest and said “Go along with you!” I then went out, and walked toward the beach. She followed me, and then went back towards a house in Williamson-street, and invited me to come in. I did so. She asked for some money. I said I had none. She said she knew I had, because she had seen it. She said she wanted a little money to pay a washing bill. I did not then 'give her anything. She said wait a-wliile and i’ll come back. She went out and soon afterwards Mrs Lusty came in, and asked what I was stopping there for.

On putting my hand to my waistcoat pocket I found that the four £1 notes had been taken from my pocket, and also the scrip note. The £lO note and £1 note weie still left. I went back to the oyster saloon and found Philipllarris there. There was a half-caste girl and 2 or 3 others there. 1 said I had been robbed. The prisoner was present. Lusty and his wife came in, and asked me if I accused them of taking the money. I said I did not. Prisoner asked me if I accused her. I said, “ Go along, I’m not going to mention any names.” William Dunn said Mr Dodd here objected to what Mr Dunn said being taken down. The Bench intimating that they would hear the case, Mr Dodd said he would leave the Court, and did so. —The prisoner called out “ Don’t leave me, Mr Dodd, to the mercy of two villains.”—The Bench told prisoner she must not make use of such expressions to the Bench. —Mr Dodd returned, and the Bench told him it was unfair for him to leave his client. —(Witness stated that Dunn called him a liar, and struck him.) Witness went on to say :—After this talk I left and went up the street. I never gave prisoner the handkerchief nor tbe sale note, nor did I give them to anv other person. I cave my cousin a £1 note after tbe affair was all over. I afterwards saw prisoner at Lusty’s door, when D-tective Murphy accused prison* r of

taking the money. I aided that there was also a sale note taken. The prisoner then started off towards the bench. Murphy followed. I beard him ask her what was in her band. She then put her hand behind h r hack arid dropped the sale note. Murphy picked it up, and turning to me, said, “ Perhaps I’ll have the money presently.” Tin* sale note now produced is the same. This was about 10 o’clock at night. I saw Murphy take from prisoner tbe handkerchief, a. £1 note, and 8s in silver.—Cross-examined by Mr Dodd: I had £ls with m> that night. I don’t know what I spent. I was not drunk, nor was I sober. I I dropped the money, and my cousin picked it up, and I rolled it up in two parcels and put it in my waistcoat pocket. The prisoner could see me. She was sitting close by. I did not offer her any money on the beach. I told her I had none. That was not true. I gave her no money. I gave my cousin £1 to pay for a pair of trousers. I had then £l4 left. I saw Murphy pick up the note. I did not see her diop it. About an hour elapsed between

the time I lost the money and the time the sale note was picked up. There was a fight between Dunn and my cousin. I had no occasion to offer the £lO note for change, because I had other money. I never offered the prisoner £2. —Phillip Harris corroborated the testimony of last witness as to what took place at Lusty s oyster saloon on the night in question, —

Alexander Sheddon, assistant to Messrs Cosgrave, drapers, &c, deposed la prisoner purchasing from him on Saturday night go 'ds to the amount of ss. The articles now produced are similar. She tendered half a sovereign. Detective Murphy deposed to going with John Harris to Lusty’s oyster shop, and to seeing prisoner with a parcel in her hand about 10 o’clock that night. She was going along the street and witness followed her, and he and Harris went to Lusty’s where the prisoner was. She must have heard Harris say he had lost a sale note. She came out aud walked towaras the Beach. Witness followed her. Observed her take her hand out of her pocket and, hold something in it. Witness asked her what slic’d got in her hand, and she threw her hand back and dropped something. Witness picked it up, and found it to be a sale note, rolled up just as it is now. It dropped close to her feet. There was a light from the lamps at the Royal Hotel, the opposite one, and from Lusty’s. Witness afterwaids took from her pocket a handkerchief marked “ John Harris,” a £1 note, and 8s in silver. She said it was her own money, and that she had £1 12s that morning. Site afterwards made a statement that she got money from Mr Phillips, who was going to take her to Coromandel, and that she had bought things at Mr Cosgraves. —By Mr Dodd : John Harris had evidently been drinking, but was not drunk.—Phillip Harris stated that on Saturday night the prisoner told him that she had no money at all, and lie gave her two half-crowns.—Constable Brennan deposed to escorting the prisoner from Grahamstown to Shorthand, on Sunday, when she made a statement that John Harris gave her £2, at Lusty’s house, and that she had committed herself with him because she wanted money to go to Coromandel. —Jane Lusty, wife of Henry Lusty, deposed that prisoner had been living with a man named Phillips for some months, near witness’s house. On Saturday evening she asked witness to lend her a shilling to buy a belt with. This was between 8 and 9 o’clock in tho evening.—By Mr Dodd: John Harris was drunk, and flashing his money about that night.—This was the case for the prosecution.—Mr Dodd said lie did not propose to offer any remarks.— The Bench found prisoner guilty, and sentenced her to 3 months’ imprisonment. Breach of Licensed Victuallers Act. —Robert Easter, landlord of the Ancient Briton Hotel, was charged with causing unnecessary delay in admitting the police into his house on tins night of the 7th inst., and also with permitting piostitnfes to remain in his house. Mr I’yler, who appeared for defendant, said a necessary witness who had been subpoenaed was not in attendance, and it was subsequently stated that, he declined to appear. Mr Tyler said he would proceed without him. It was admitted that defendant was a licensed victualler within the meaning of the act. —Constable Coughlin deposed that on the day in question he was on duty at Grahamstown, and was in uniform. Knew the Ancient Briton. It is a ten o’clock house. About half past twelve •>Vlor-k p.m., witness demanded admission into the hotel. There was a light in the bar, and witness could hear people talking inside. After rapping for some time with a baton at the door, some one inside asked who was there. Witness called out “ Police,” ami said he wanted admittance. There was no reply. Witness stopped for ten minutes and then went away, but remained near at hand, and soon afterwards saw two women whom he knew to be prostitutes come out. Witness then went to the hotel, and, on going inside, saw five or six men sitting at a table in one of the rooms. Saw a man named Moore there, ami another named Hazard. Made a search to see if there was another girl there, but could not find her. Asked the landlord why he had delayed to open the door? and lie made some excuse about not remembering, and being upstairs. —Mr Tyler said lie should be able to prove that the defendant was busy up stairs making beds, and, as soon as ever he knew the constable was seeking admission, he came down-stairs and let him in.—William Donelly, hawker, stated that he was at the hotel on tho night in question, when there came a knocking at the door. A man named Hazard asked who was there ? Someone called out, “ Police,” and Hazard called the landlord, who came down-stairs shortly afterwards, and opened the door. Witness stopped there that night, hut had not a bed, because their beds were all occupied.—Edward Moss, cab proprietor, deposed that on the night in question two girls, known by the names of Annie Seagar and Kate Walker, were in the Ancient Briton for about ten minutes. It was after 12 o’clock. —Mr Tyler submitted that there was no evidence to sustain a conviction.— The Bench fined the defendant one shilling and costs for the delay in admitting the police, and dismissed tho case of harbouring prostitutes.—Mr Tyler said lie was taken by surprise. He had thought the Bench was with him entirely in his argument for the defence, and therefore he had not called another witness. He asked the Bench to rehear the case. —This they declined to grant; and Mr Tyler said he should appeal.

Thursday. (Before E. 11. Power, Esq, J.P.)

Negligent Riding. —John Murphy was charged with negligently riding a horse on the Hape Creek on the 30th ult.—The defendant pleaded guilty, and said the animal was unmanageable. —Mr Bulien said that defendant was under the influence of liquor at tbe time, and was riding in a verv careless manner but not furiously. The Bench fined him a shilling, with, a caution not 1o I t the offence occur again. •Breach of Sanitary Regulations.— Robert Turner was charged with neglecting to clean h's Demises in Augustastreet, on the lOlh inst., whereby a nuisance was treated. The Inspector stated that a pigg rv on defendant’s premises was n a very dirty state on the day named, hut the nuisance had be-n since abated —The Bench o'>6»ryed that there was a p’-evicrus conviction in whi-h a fine of 40s or 7 davs’ imprisonment was iinpos-d, 'and although in this ease the nuisance had been abated, tbe < ffenc© bad been committed and the same penalty must be inflicted as .on the last occasion, viz., 40s or 7 days’. Provoking Language.— Winifred Johnson was charged with using provoking language, tending to create a breach ot the" peace, towards Mary Stichbury at Karaka on the 2nd inst.-The case was remanded from the 11th inst., and it was now stated that it had been settled out of C Vrovoking Language and Assault.— i William Gibbons was charged with using I insulting and provoking language towards Taituha Raingaroa, tending to create a breach of the peace, at Grahamstown, on *he 11th inst. Defendant was also charged with assaulting the same complainant at the same time and place.— The Magistrate obscured that this case required two Justices, and it was remanded until Saturday.