POLICE COURT CASES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 17

POLICE COURT CASES.

Thursday, October 12. (Before Mr E. H. Carew, R.M.)

Faise Pretences.— Frederick Bryant was charged with having on or about the 18th and 19th of last month obtained the sums of 10a and 5s from Alfred Thomas Price by means of a false pretence.— Mr P. B. O'Reilly appeared for accused. — His Worship said this case had been adjourned to allow of the probation officer making inquiries. His Worship had read that officer's report, and found that he was unable to recommenel the lad for probation. His conduct had nob been gpod, and this was not his first offence of the kind. — Mr O'Reilly said he had witnesses to call as to character. Accused was an obedient and very good lad, and if he had made one mistake in life that was no reason why his future career should be destroyed, If there had been more offences than these they arose from the same cause — the smoking of opium.— His Worship: I cannot take that as an excuse. If he has acquired the habit of taking opium it shows me that he has led a dissolute life. — Mr O'Reilly : Will you allow me to call witnesses as to character. — His Worship : You should have done that before — * I have decided the case. — Mr O'Reilly : I have witnesses to call as to character, and I submit that this is not the way to administer justice. Mr Carew here convicted accused, and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment with hard labour on each of the charges, the sentences to run concurrently.

Industrial Schools Act. — Ettie Sawell (14 years), Margaret Sawell (12 years), Robert Sawell (16 months), and Augustus Leader (3 years) were brought up, on remand, for being children within the meaning of the Industrial Schools Act, they bsing founel residing in a brothel in Dunedin on the 21st of last month. — Sergeant O'Neill said these cases were adjourned for a week with a view of getting a report from the police at Oamaru as to how tho children were getting on. — His Worship said the report which he was reading was not favourable, and the mother had been turned out of one house after another. The Sawell children were committed to the Industrial School, to be brought up in the Church of England faith. — With respect to the child Leader, the Sergeant said that he belonged to Mrs Sawell's daughter. The father was somewhere up-couDtry just now. He was a traveller, and, the speaker believed, was anxious to look after the child. Where he was at present tbe sergeant could not say, but perhaps it would be beat to adjourn the case for, say, a fortnight. — Case adjourned to the 26th October. William George Reay (7 years) and Christina Lily Reay (l-£ year) were also brought before the court for being children within the meaning of the Industrial Schools Act, they having no means of subsistence, the mother, Elizab=th Reay, being in indigent circumstances and unable to support them. — Sergeant O'Neill said the mother was a widow, residing at Mornington, who had no means or property. One of the children was illegitimate, and an order for the payment of 4-s per week had been obtained against the father for its maintenance. The matter had been reported to the Benevolent Trustees, and they had suggested that it should be brought under his Worship's notice. — The children were committed to the Industrial School to be brought up in the Church of England faith, it being undeistocd that Mrs Reay should pay over the 4s a week, received for the maintenance of the one child, to the master of the school.

Maintenance — Jeannie Knight made application for the remission of arrears for the maintenance of two children at ihe Industrial School, and was represented by Mr C. Mouat, who said applicant's husband was living at Hyde. The first intimation his client received about the arrears was on the 2nd inst. About 15 months ago she went to Scotland, and two relations had paid her fare back, as she found the climate too severe for her. These trips he supposed was the cause of Mr Burlinson, the master at the Industrial School, taking action against her under the belief that she had money. She was not able to pay the arrears, or any further contributions. He thought the order should be made against the husband in place of against the wife. —It was explained that the husband was in gaol at the time the order was made. — Mrs Knight having given evidence, Mr Burlinson suggested that the arrears, amounting to £88 12s 6d, should be remitted to £25 — His Worship thought it was a great pity that, when the payments were two or three months in arrear, Mrs Knight had not been pressed, as she might have been able to pay them. He thought it was almost hopeless to think of getting any money from her now. The arrears would be remitted in respect to the £88 12s Q] up to the 16th of last month. Robert Wilson was charged with failing to provide hi 3 two children and wife with adequate means of bupport. — Mr Barclay, who appeared for Mrs Wilson, mentioned that this esse had been adjourned for a fortnight, to allow of pome arrangement being come to. — Mr Fraser appeared on the other side, and a further adjournment of a week was a3ked for to allow of the arrangement being completed. — The adjournment was granted.