JOHN BURKE O'BRIEN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5122, 5 September 1895, Page 2

JOHN BURKE O'BRIEN.

AGAIN BEFORE THE COURT,

At t.lio Jlnsterton Police Court today, before Jlr T, Hutchison, S.JI., John Burke O'Brien was brought up oil ii charge of drunkenness and vagrancy.

Accused said lie obtained a pass from Mr Garvey to como up country,, and got a few shillings from Mr Lane before leaving Wellington. He was not " straight from gaol," but had beon working for Mr Lane, of the Royal Stables for four months, and Mr Garvoy had merely given him a pass out of kindness so that lie might get to the country. He had a few drinkson the way up to Masterton, and got too many after he arrived hero. If His Worship would allow him to go away he would go and got work and would not nppear before tin Court again. He would leave town immediately if allowed to do so. If His Worship would remand the ease and make enquiries, lie would learn that the statement made was true.

Accused was also charged with throwing stones at John Tucker, of the Prineo of Wales Hotel, and pleaded "notguilty." John Tucker gave evidence that accused was a nuisance to the hotel, and ou being turned out picked np stones and threw at witness. The stones did not strike witness, but one was within a few inches of bronking a valuable window. The accused, at the same time, used lilthy language.

Accused stated that lie had three or four drinks in the hotel from the barmaid, and demanded that the barmaid should bo called in justice to him. Although not intentionally, the last witness had perjured himself.' He (O'Brien) had novor thrown stones at anyone; ho would not do such a cowardly thing. Ho admitted having once been convicted of vagrancy. Charging a man liko him with vagrancy, was only manufacturing crime, and was enough to drive any man out of his senses. Ho was a lineal descendant of Edmund Burke, which accounted for his oratorical powers. Tlicchargo of vagrancy was only a technical one, and he did not think His Worship would take advantage of it against him.

His Worship, found accused guilty, ami on tho clmrgo of drunkenness, imposed a fine of '2os or 'lB hours' imprisonment. On the charge of stone-throwing, bo imposed a fine of 20s or a week's imprisonment. On the charge of vagrancy, he would remand accused till to-morrow, and cause enquiries to be made.