RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4363, 27 December 1882, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS BAY. (Before H. Kenrick. Esq., R.M., and N. Kenny, Esq., J.P.) AN UNPROFITABLE PASSENGER. Chas. Jones, a man of color, was charged with refusing to pay his fare from Auckland to the Thames in the Rotomahana. Capt. Farquhar deposed defendant refused to pay, and said he would be d— —d if he would. He would take it out in gaol first. He never had paid, and he was not going to pay now. The defendant cross-examined Capt. Farquhar in sea lawyer style for some time, but without effect. He made a statement that he offered 2s 6d, that being he thought, the fare down, and also referred to some agreement with the first officer. The Bench believed the Captain's story, and fined defendant 20s and 5s cost, or in default 14 days' imprisonment. JUCECOUBSE AMUSEMENTS. .James Anderson, a youth of 17 or 18 years, was charged with playing at a game of chance by means of two wooden piBS and a wooden ball on the Parawai race» course. Mr H. E. Campbell defended. Detective Doolan deposed he was on duty at the race course yesterday. About 2 30 saw defendant with two small pins and a ball, and he was charging a shilling for a chance. Stopped him and took the implements, but some time after the boy's father asked him for them, saying he was only endeavoring to earn a shilling. The two. pins were seldom knocked down. If this was a game of skill it would require a great deal of practice. The chances were all against the public. Everyone he saw play lost their money. Mr Campbell addressed the Court, contending that the game was one of skill, after the character of billiards. The Bench agreed with him, that it might be regarded as a game of skill inasmuch as it was not of that class which are usually regarded as games of chance. But the Act provided against games, legitimate in themselves, being used for purposes of gaming, and billiards might so be converted into a means of gambling and betting. The information was altered to read " by way of gaming with a certain instrument of gaming," and the Bench holding that.the odds of three to one offered on the chances amounted to betting, inflicted a nominal penalty of Is and costs. HABITUAL DRUNKENNESS. Thomas Cooney was charged with drunkenness, also with being an habitual drunkard.

Sergt.- Major Kiely deposed that when accused came into town he got drunk, aud finally lost his senses, costing the Government £14 or £15 looking after him. Fined 5s for drunkenness, for habitual drunkenness £2 or 3 days' imprisonment, and an order was made prohibiting publicans in the Borough supplying him' with drink. THEFTS AT TE ABOHA. Arthur Tilby was charged with stealing from the British Hotel, Te Aroha, a | silver watch, the property of • John Voughar, valued at £4 los. Constable Henry Graham deposed it was reported that a watch was stolen from the British Hotel. From information received, arrested prisoner stowed away amongst the cargo on board the Patiki. Prisoner had the watch, but both hands were broken off. He at first denied having stolen the watch, saying he bought it seven years ago, but subsequently admitted the theft. The prisoner made a brief statement to the effect that he had been paid off and was drinking. The prisoner was also charged with stealing a pair of elastic-side boots, Talued at 16s 6d, the property of George Joseph Smith, from the hotel. He had them on his feet when arrested. The bench regretted to see an apparently very respectable young man in such a position. The plea of drunken- j ness was"no excuse. But even if be had taken the articles in a drunken freak, if! honest, he would not have retained them when sober. Sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labor, for stealing the watch, and one month's imprisonment for taking the boots, the sentences to run concurrently.