POLICE COURT, ARATAPU.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 190, 24 March 1893, Page 3

POLICE COURT , ARATAPU.

TUESDAY. (Before Messrs T. AVebb and M. Harding J’s P. Antonio Bravo , cook on board the Eliza Firth, lying at Te Kopuru, was charged on the information of Constable Scott with unlawfully assaulting Sydney Leabourne, a boy under 14 years of age, at Te Kopuru on Sunday, March sth. Mr N. A. McLeod, solicitor, appeared for defendant who pleaded ‘not guilty,’ calling God to witness. Sydney Leabourne, 14 years of age on 20th March, gave his evidence very straightforwardly and intelligently. He was on boar I the Eliza Firth about 7 p.m. on the Sunday named and was asked into the galley by the defendant. He and another boy, Frank Lawry went in and sat down while, the de - fendant told them how the vessel got damaged. Defendant put his hand inside the flap of his trousers. Witness wascross-

examined at some length by Mr McLeod but his testimony or shaken. He did not tell the police and did know how Constable Scott came to hear of it. Frank Lawry, aged 14 years, gave corroborative evidence. Constable Scott said chat on the 12th inst., defendant complained to him that a sailor was spreading false reports concerning him, and at the same time told him of the boys having been in the galley but admitted no assault. He did not before hear of the case. He made enquiries and from information received laid the present charge. Mr McLeod for the defence urged that defendant could not be charged with assaulting a boy who is under fourteen years of age, as the lad was now over that age. Also that the charge should have been one of indecent assault, and was an indictable offence which could not be dealt with summarily. Also that no assault could have been committed as the evidence showed no resistance or objection raised by the lad. The prisoner made a statement denying the charge. He had a wife and children of his own and had never been before a Court previously. The sailors were opposed to him because he refused to give them more than his instructions allowed. The Bench after careful consideration dismissed the objections raised by Counsel. They were satisfied that the moving away of the lad when interfered with showed resistance. They considered the charge clearly proved and fined defendant £3 with costs 7s, or in default oue month s i u prison ment. Mr McLeod asked that the conviction should be drawn up and filed in the Supreme Court.

POLICE COURT, DARGAYILLE. (Before Mr J. M. Dargaville, J.P.) Edward Roberts, one of those unfortunate remittance men so commonly found wasting their time and substance around a public house, was charged with breaking several panes of glass in the Northern Wairoa hotel. He sought admittance to his hotel about 2 a.m. on Friday morning and the door not being opened to him he proceeded to demolish the large window panes with an empty bottle and had destroyed over twenty before he was stopped. He was taken before the Court on Friday and remanded till Monday when he was fined 10s and ordered to pay £5 for damages.