POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2601, 19 August 1878, Page 3

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

(BeforeC. C. McMillan, Esq., J.P.) Drunkenness.—Four persons were charged with this' offence and subjected to the penalty. r' Failing TO Pay.—Elizabeth Nelson and Susan Wetlierell w,ith non-payment of their contributions towards the support of their children in the Industrial home. The women had paid deposits, and the cases were adjourned for a week. Attempneb Suicide,—William Long was brought up on a charge of attempting to commit suicide on the 18th inst. Mr Laishley appeared for the -prisoner, and asked for a remand untiljto-mprrow, ior the purpose of getting up/his defence. Sub-In-spector Pardy offereclno objection. Prisoner was admitted to bail, himself in £20 and two sureties in £10 each. Peter Finn.—This old man was charged uuder the Vagrancy Act, with being a rogue and vagabou*. according to the Act.—Peter said 'twas all right, and was committed to prison with hard labour for six calendar months.

A Respectable Man. —A man of respectable appearance, named Stewart, was lined 20s and costs, for inebriety and riotous conduct in Newton on Saturday night.— Constable Abrams described his conduct as alarming, and was obliged to get a cab and assistance to convey him to the station. False Pretences.—Robert Harris was charged on warrant, with obtaining the sum of 4s 6d, by means of false pretences, from Samuel Cochrane and Son, with intent to defraud Alfred E. Glover, on the 17th inst. Prisoner pleaded not guilty, As it was impossible to get another Justice to sit on the Bench, the case was adjourned until tomorrow.

Larceny as a Bailee.—Ernest King Bruce, on remand, was again brought up on two chaiges of larceny as a bailee, of a number of shirts, and ' other clothing, (72 articles), carpenter's tools 24, a gold ring and number of valuable trinkets, a box containing clothing, jackets, vests, &c, value in all £46 17s, the property of Palmer Bevan, on the 22nd April; also a saddle and bridle, value £4 ss, on the 29th July.— Sub-Inspector Pardy conducted the case.— Prisoner was undefended. —Palruei- Bevau, of the Armed Constabulary, stationed at Waiti, near Cambridge, deposed that he knew the prisoner, who was in the Constabulary, but discharged. Previously to joining the Constabulary he was staying at the Flagstaff Hotel, Worth Shore. He left the property stated in the information in care of Mr Gorman. Subsequently in the month of April, he sent to Mr Gorman, desiring hini't&forward his property to Cambridge. The prisoner called about the luggage and infowned him on returning to Cambridge that he&aklsecured it from Mr Gorman, but was unable touring it with him, but that tae goods Ws%k ? af c "v tne hands of his friend, Mr "M^, iff Auckland..;He accepted the sta.tement/asjjjut* The-luggage never; reached him^an&iprisQner kept putting him off with a liumberf of '• Prisoner left, and he ; ;,4 TiPp^W*SMm "respecting the things, iifos rvplie&, that his friend Tuke Ihaaaagft&.&uckland. At length thfee- wesekl ;,ago»4he;cr6%alli trace back to VdMftoJpnpfait r leceived a leiter from prisoner, stating itnat he haft) found his friend Tuft<*,*aufr&is baggage was comiug.up. A It-neJl^canjß.; to Auck> land/an,! arrived on\Vbflne<iday:last for the pur#Gsei/*(Sf JumkingsiKiquirieHi* ' Communicated with^Tlß^i#;^#ii's't of the1 articles was prtfd^Sei,, !Jffi4^?i^U over> J?^ ecut9 r identifying|j«acii WtiMa by.one as his property.'^He^^e'^^i^^^rawarfiiissuig.. prisouer hajdVno" Hffi to .dispose of' Ms property. gri^M^o4£M&ra^ r a<ifilie' had any question to put, replied that Mr-Bevan -had made a very fair statement. He was about to address the Court, but was informed that he must confine himself to questions, and reserve what he might have to say until the close of the- evidence. Patrick Gorman was examined, and deposed that he was landlord of the Flagstaff Hotel, Deveuport. The prosecutor was "staying at his hotel in April last, and left during that month for Cambridge. He left his luggage with instructions that it was to be forwarded when sent for. On receiving Mr Bevan's letter he was about to forward it. Prisoner was staying at the hotel at the time he mentioned to him that he was going to forward Mr Bevan's things on the following day. Prisouer said he was going to Cambridge the next day, and he ; wpuld look after them as Mr Bevan was a friend of his, and a very good fellow. He \said further that he -wqrdd get them up at a less rate. Handed the baggage to him, which he took by boat to Auckland, consisting of 2 boxes and a large bundle. Knew nothing of their contents. Joseph Hart, pawnbroker, of Victoria-street, deposed that he knew the prisoner who called at his place on Easter Monday, in April last. Be asked witness if he was a buyer of clothing. He replied ."Yes." He then said " Would you mind going with him to the Waitemata Hotel, as he Dad some for sale?" Accompanied him, a.nd purchased an overcoat. 2 pilot jackets, 2 pair blankets and a single"one)-also-a coat and vest ana pair of trousers. :He gave 50s for the lot: On the following morning prisoner was waiting at his shop-door, Avhen witness opened it. He said Mrs Edwards, of the Waitemata Hotel, was, pushing, him for money, and lie had two trunks to' sell, and would be glad if he would, purchase them. Sent a. man with a barrow for; them. Prisoner opened them v.ith -keys in his shon. I lifted a few of the things/and made him an 'offer of £5 10s for .the boxes and contents. Prisoner accepted the offer for . the : trunks ; .and ; knapsack. Prisoner took the monoj-andTeffr./' luhalf-au-hour after 'prisdrier. returned; and asked for: the option" of fe-piirehasiug. the "goods_ Witness advised: him to make a pledge of them. He said, "Never mind, you will rcceiye' a iP.0.0, '" Horn me' 'next week.

Witiiesss gave him.a tiote-iri writingitrisay | that he would give%im six weeks, iv case \ of an accident: Be accepted that offer, and j got another 10a on the.property. The agreement included the whole of the contents of the trunks and the swag. Prisoner said his name was Bevan : --the flame that was on the boxes1 Prisoner did not .repurchase the goods according to promise, after the expiration of the six weeks. Witness disposed of;two pilot jackets, an overcoat, coat and vest, pair of blankets/single blanket^ canvas wrapper and strap. He believed that was all ne had sold. The reason he-.sold_ the things was, that he received a letter from E X Bruce, as acting for Mr Bevan, informing him that he could sell or keep the things'alittlelonger. [Lettersput in ofMay 26th; and June sth, from' Walker s Hotel, Cambridge]. He wrote a reply, offering to keep the remainder of them for a fortnight. The property was riot re-purchased m; the time specified.' and he gave'them up tofeer-geant-Maior Mason on Friday last, with; the exception" of: the.^clothing mentioned. ; Her kept the property for nearly four mouthy because he found that some of the contents could not be purchased for three times the' amount.: i Some of them were invaluable to the owner, as they could not be replaced.. Cross-examined by prisoner.:, Did not remember receiving a third letter.--Sergeant; Major Mason deposed to arresting the prisoner on . the 15th inst., on the. present charge. He said it was quite true. Ha only wanted time to settle that as Avell another matters. Prisoner, who reserved his defence, was fully committed.