RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3736, 15 December 1880, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY.

(Before Captain Skene and T. L.Murray,

Esqrs., J's. P.)

George Turner, a well-known character, was summoned before the Court under the Vagrant Act, he having no £ visible means of subsistance.

Mr Dodd appeared for the prisoner. From the police evidence it would seem that the prisoner was an idle fellow, who lived principally on beer. He wag always begging either beer, tobacco, matches, or money, and had become an unmitigated nuisance to the public house proprietors, by hanging about the premises at late hours.

Sergeant Mulvillejdeposed that he had known prisoner for some six years, during which time he had been variously occupied in collecting bottles and begging. He was a dangerous man to be at large. Mr Dodd—" Why do you say he is dangerous P "

Witness—" Because he strikes matches to light his pipe." Mr Dodd: "Everyone who strikes matches must be dangerous, then." Witness: " I know him to walk about the street at all hours of the night." Mr Dodd: " Can you prove that he begged?"

Witness : " I have not seen him, but I am swearing upon the information." Mr Dodd: •' Oh, then all you have sworn has not been from your own knowledge P " Witness: " Just so."

Sergeant-Major O'Grady: " What? " Mr Dodd: " I cannot allow that; the witness has sworn that he has been swearing on the information, and now the Sergeant-Major is endeavoring to put the words into his mouth and terrify the witness." •

Sergeant-Major O'Grady then made a statement on oath to the Bench, stating that he had frequently heard the prisoner beg, and corroborated the previous evidence given. Mr Dodd said that the prisoner's brother had agreed to find him the necessary means of existence, and he did not think that the Bench would be justified in sending prisoner to gaol. The evidence of Sergeant Mulville was not to be relied on, as he had given it upon the information of others and not from his own knowledge. Seageant-Major O'Grady said that the police considered that prisoner would be better taken care of in some charitable institution. The Bench held the same opinion as the Sergeant-Major, but did not consider the charge proved, and in consequence dismissed the case. Court adjourned.