POLICE COURT.-Yesterday.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1882, 30 October 1874, Page 3

POLICE COURT.-Yesterday.

(lieforo W. I'RASBR, Esq., R.M.) •Suspicion of Lunacy.-Thomas John Cutis, alias Potts, was brought up on suspicion of being of unsound mind at Shortland, on the 29th inst. Mr Bulleu said that he did not kno v what to recommend to the Court in this case, He had been locked up before, and when he got drink his conduct was most eccentric. He would ask to have him remanded for medical examination. — demanded accordingly. Drunkenness.—William Brown was charged with being drunk and incapable in Brown-street, on the 28th inst. Defendant denied the charge. He was very much excited in consequence of being half-murdered by a lot of Cornishraen.— Constable Grace deposed that the prisoner was in a miserable state, going about without a hat.-Defendant made a statement.—Ee was fined 10s, or 24 hours' imprisonment. — Same defendant was charged with a breach of the Vagrant Act, in having no lawful visible means of support.—Defendant denied the charge. He was not without means.—His Worship said that under this charge he would discharge him, but he warned him (hat if he was brought ud again he would send him to Mount Eden. — Defendant said he would take good care of that, as he would go to Fiji next steamer.

BREACH OF TIB QUARTZ ■ CRUSHING

REGULATIONS ACT. Thomas Cass was charged by Thomas Maiming with having committed a breach of the Quartz Crushing fiegulations Act, "that he did on or about the Ist day of April, 1874, at Shortland, deliver to me, Thorrus Manning, a machine • owner at dhortkud, certain mineral substances for treatment at his machine at Shortland, and refused to furnish to the said Thomas Manning a true account of his, the said Thomas Cass's, name and address, arid of the name and address of the owner of suuh mineral substance, and of the mine, claim,. or locality from which such mineral substance was obtained from."— When the case was called, the defendant, who was iu the body of tho Court, in a loud tone of voice said that he would not answer to that name. That was not his name. His name was John Cass, and his Worship had it before him.—Mr Dodd said the man was in Court. He would" ask to have the information amended by substituting the name John for Thomas. This was done, and the charge was then read over.—Mr Tyler appeared for the defendant, and pleaded not guilty. He said the information was bad, inasmuch as it did not disclose the Court's jurisdiction.—At this stage his Worship drew Mr Tyler's attention to the demeanor of the accused, who appeared to be drunk.—Mr Tyler said that he had no acquaintance with the man's manner.—The accused, in reply to MrTyl er, said that he was all right, that he had not tasted drink for seven months. Mr Tyler then went on with his argument. 'The information, he said, was laid in the name of Thomas Manning, and the Act provided that it should be laid by the principal officer of police, or by some person authorised by a Warden. He quoted the section of the Act in support of his argument. -Mr Dodd replied. He said that the section-quoted only said that the information tnay be laid by the principal officer of police, or some person authorised by the Warden.-The accused, who, duriug this argument, was leaning over against the dock, was called upon by his Worship to stand up. The order had to be repeated several times by the Magistrate and police before lie took any notice.—His Worship said he must call the attention of the police to that man to say whether he was sober or not.—Mr Bullen said he had not examined him.—His Worship then said, I will adjourn the case to give you an opportunity of doing so.—No step having been taken by the police, his Worship said that in this case the police had placed themselves in conflict with him. liad it been any other case, he would at once have ordered the accused to be taken into the watchhouse. -Mr Bullen denied that the police had placed themselves in conflict with his Worship. —His Worship said that he had received an impertinent letter from the police in reference to this case, and if this sort of thing was to continue, it was time for him to think of retiring.—Mr Bullen said he was very sorry his Worship took that view of ttie matter. He understood that the proceedings were taken by his Worship's authority, and he merely wrote to ask.—His Worship: And what right had you to ask?-Mr Bullen thought he bad.—His Worship ordered the case to go on.—Mr Tyler then continued his argument, urging that it was ovideut that the information should be laid by the police or by some person authorised by the Warden.—Mr Dodd, in reply to his' Worship, said that he had no authority from any Warden. He relied on the Bth seciion of the Act, and contended that it was uot imperative that the information should be laid either by the principal officer of police or by a person authorised by a Warden.—His Worship ruled that the objection was fatal.—Mr Bullen asked leave to make an explanation in reference to the remarks which had fallen from the Bench. On his return he found those summonses left for service at the police-office. He found that authority had not been given by the Warden, and he deemed it his duty to acquaint his Worship. -The Magistrate said that it was' not for the police to take executive duties on themselves ; the duty of the police was' to serve summonses entrusted to them from any J.P., and if he had any delicacy he should not have written to him on the subject. His first business was to do his duty, and not to dictate to the magis-trate.-Mr Bullen denied that he had in any way dictated. He wrote as respectfully as he could.—His Worship: I am sorry your attempt was ao feeble.—Mr Bullea said that he had no objection to havo the letter read iu Court.-His Worship: The case is struck out.—Mr Dodd asked whether Mr Bullen would now act in the natter ?—Mr Bullen said that if ho was ■ applied tain, the police office, ha would

answer.—Mr Dodd sail he now made the application in open Court.—Mr Bullen declined to answer.-His Worship then told Mr Dodd to make his application afc the police office.~At a subsequent stage, Mr Bullen stated that it was reported to him that Cass was not drunk, and had no sign of liquor. Transfer of Licbnse.-Au application was made for the transfer of the license of tho Imperial Hotel, Pollenstreet, from 0. A.Kayson to Francis Amy. Mr Macdouald appeared for the applicant.-'I he application was granted.