RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2959, 9 August 1878, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY. (Before W. Eraser, Esq., E.M.) DBUNKENNESS AND YAGHiNCY. Annie Bannarth was charged with being drunk and incapable in Queen street last night, and also with having been three times convicted within three calendar months.

Defendant pleaded fiuilty, and was fined 10s and costs for drunkenness, and

after Mr Stoney's evidence concerning the previous convictions, she was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment with hard labor. DRUNK AND DIBOHDEBLY. Sam, a .Native, was charged with beiug .drunk and disorderly. Defendant, interpreted by Mr Puckey, pleaded not guilt/. Constable Haslett proved the offence, and defendant was fined 20s and costs, with the usual alternative.

BAD MEAT. William Avenell was charged for exposing for sale, on his premises, unsound beef. William Brown was charged with a similar offence. Mr Macdonald appeared for defendants and pleaded uot guilty. He said he admitted all the technical points. The question to decide was whether the beef was sound or not.

The meat—apparently nearly a whole bullock — was accommodated with two forms in Court.

Mr Bullen stated the case, and put in the Public Health Act. From what he knew of the case the butchers were not much to blame, the meat having been sent to them in its present condition.

Constable J. W. Day, sworn, deposed —In consequence of information received I visited the shops of the two defendants. I saw the meat now in Court in the possession of both of them. In consequence of what I saw I called Dr M. H. Payne, and from what he told me I took the meat from them in the same state it now is. I cut a piece off a shoulder, which was the worst of the lot.

J. B. Mason, Inspector of Nuisances, sworn, deposed—l was with the last witness when he took the meat out of the defen, iants' hands. It was exposed for sale. It was unsound, and is now in the same state as when I first saw it. I believe the be^f to be unfit for food.

Mr Macdonald here raised objection against this evidence, as the defendants were not summoned for the whole four offences under the Act.

Examination continued—By unsound meat I mean not properly bled, and it is bruised.

Dr M. H. Payne, sworn, deposed—l am a duly qualified medical practitioner, practising at Thames, and am also medical officer to the local board of health. I was yesterday called to inspect some meat in the defendant's shop. It was unsound.

By Mr Macdonald—The meat was unfit for food. Ido not say that it was rotten. It was bruised. Unsoundnesa does not mean where decay has set in. It is not fit for food. Mr* Avenell has been my butcher for years, and has never done me any harm.

By Mr Bullen—l would not take thai meat.

Mr Macdonald addressed the Court pointing out that the meat was not un sound in the ordinary acceptation of the word.

His Worship said he believed that the butchers were not much to blame for the state of the meat. He thought they had been indiscret in exposing the meat. They should have put it in to the sausage machine at once. They would each be fined Is and costs, aud the meat was ordered to be destroyed.