POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2605, 23 August 1878, Page 3

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., KM.) Be ANDY AND Bittebs.—Two men were charged with drunkenness, pleaded guilty' and subjected to a fine. Down With Him.—Thomas and James Holloway were charged with unlawfully strikiug Constable Barker last evening, while in the execution of his duty.—Constable Barker said he was called in by the barman of the Greyhound Hotel, to assist in putting out the prisoners, and a party by the name of Johnßon, but Johnson immediately ieft. Thomas Holloway said he would let him (witness) have it, and immediately gave him several violent blows on the head. His brother James said he would not see his brother begged off, and dealt a blow at his head. He did not strike either of the men.—Matthew Nolan, carman, disposed to the conduct of the Holloway's which was of a brutal character. He was compelled to call in the constable, who did not strike the men, although they immediately set upon the constable. —Alfred Gosset, and another young man were passing, and saw the prisoners striking the constable.—The prisoners said they were drunk, and did not know what they were about, they thought they were pummelling Johnson, could not see the difference.—His Worship ordered Thomas Holloway to prison for two months, and James for six weeks with hard labour. Cheap Clothing. — John Thomas Young, a young man, was charged with forging and uttering two orders on the 20th inst., with' intend to defraud.—Sub-In-spector stated that prisoner was charged with uttering orders on Mr Isaac Levy for a pair of trousers, and on Thomas Little for a pair of boots, the orders purporting to be drawn by Thomas Adair; but as the police had not completed their investigations, he would ask for a remand. —Remanded until to-morrow. '",".,„'■ Unprovoked assault.—FrankMcGann and James Hunter were charged with committing |a violent assault upon James Brewin, on the 16th inst., in the Mount Eden Road, by knocking him down, kicking him, tearing \hia clothes, and threatening to do for him.—McGann did not put in an appearance, having escaped from his lodging.—Hunter pleaded not guilty.— James Brewin, a young "man, said he was a malster in the employ of Messrs Seccombe, and on going home from his work on the evening of the 16th inst. he was suddenly attacked by the two men, who demanded his name. He refused to give it, when they knocked him down, violently kicked him, and tore his vest into ribbous (produced). He ran away, followed by the men, and took refuge in the house of Mr March. He was very, much injured, and had been under medical treatment. He knew nothing of the men, and could not account for their conduct. —Elizabeth March, married woman, deposed that Mr Brewin came to her house for shelter about six o'clock. The men were yelling after him and one got over the wall. She was ! alarmed, and shut the door. It was almost dark Their language was shocknig. They swore they would do for him.—Robert March gave simiiar evidence.-To prisoner: McGann said he would give^ a pound to settle the matter. You said Brewra might thankyou, or McGann would have killed you. Prisoner said some one had stolen his tools, and thinking complainant might have been the man, Ms name was demanded. If he had told his name, the assault would not have been committed.—His Worship said Hunter's conduct was most outrageous, and could not be excused on any such plea, but as he was a stranger to the police, he would impose a fine instead q£:sendmg the case to the Supreme Court. Fined <LOp costs, 21s 6d, or one month's imprisonment a warrant to be issued for, the:.arrest;, of Black ob Broom.— Henry Black alias Broom, on remand, was:again brought up on a charge of stealing ;fronv the person of Manuel Christian;' /or^the;2lst instant, a, purse, containing^ sum of £9;and certain., receipts.- Sub-Inspector Pardy conducted the case. — Manuel Christian, settler, of Matakana, deposed that e, to, Au?fe land on business on the 18th instant,., On the morning of the 21st, a^ 9 o'clock, [he went to the Cosmopolitan Hotel for some drink: the prisoner and several other men were at the bar. He had £9 m his pocket book, which was in his breast coat-pocket,

consisting of one £5 and four £1 notes, also several receipts and bill's., i They; entered into talk, and he called for drinks, and.paid for them out of some-loose change. Pulle ; d out his pocket-book, .when, the barman said "Let me take care of that for youj" He 'had exposed the.. notes within the prisoner's view, who was pretty close to him. He declined to let the barman have the money ; closed- up the book and replaced it in his pocket. There was a row immediately after, created mostly by the prisoner, and in endeavouring to take fa man's part he felt a hand-at his breast pocket, and Ms purse went like magic. Theastion and the passing of the purse were the work of a moment. Prisoner was in the heat of the fight; he believed the fight was got up for the purpose of robbing him. Prisoner was missing, and so was his purse. Did not know prisoner.-Cross-examined by prisoner: You know well where I stood'; toe bar was at my right hand. My purse went, no doubt about that. You might enlighten me on that head. I am sure you were there, -and pretty near, my coat too.JamesSweeriey,barman at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, remembered prisoner and four other men coming; into the bar on the-21st between seven and eight in the morning. WHen Christian came in he was asked to "shout," and so he did more than once. Paid in silver, but pulled out his pocket book and displayed a roll of notes. He paid for three rounds of drink. Objected to witness takipg care of his pocket book. There was a jostling amongst them, not an actualrowjitappearcdlike a sham affairwith a purpose. One man got close up to Mr Christian, prisoner followed, and directly after turned on his heel, and slipped out of the side door. He suspected the prisoner, and called Mr Christian, who found his purse had passed from his possession. He went for a policeman. Prisoner returned in ten minutes, and called for drinks for himself and two other men, and tendered a £1 note in payment. Before Christian came in prisoner could not pay for two glasses of beer. He said he had no money, and had asked for credit.—Cross-examined at some length by prisoner.—Nathanial Blair was in the hotel at the time, and deposed to seeing Black put his hand into Christian's pocket and.draw something out, but could not swear it was the pocket book. Black immediately left the hotel.fThomas Parnell, cook at the " Occidental," deposed to finding prisoner on the premises, and ordering him out.-^-Miss Robinson, of the Queen's ferry, discovered prisoner secreted in the closet, and Sergeant-Major Mason, as to arresting the prisoner, and finding the fragments of the pocket-book, and the various papers in the closet.— Prisoner, who took copious^ notes of the evidence throughout, said he had witnesses to rebut the evidence of Parnell; the witnesses were sent for, but did not come.—The depositions were then read-over, and the prisoner ivho reserved his defence, was fully committed for trial. - i