POLICE COURT.-This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2928, 2 September 1879, Page 3

POLICE COURT.-This Day.

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., E.M.)

DRUNKARDS. Two persons were fined for this offence. FRIGHTENING A

Alexander Whisker was charged with threatening his wife aud running after her with the professed view to her auuihilation. Mrs Susanna Whisker said that her husband had now recovered from his fit aud promised to behave batter in future.

At her urgent request the charge was withdrawn. IiLAZING CHIMNEYS. Sergeant James Jackson was charged with allowing Ms chimuey to be on fire.

His Worship : Who laid the information against the Sergeant? Mr Cunningham : He laid it himself, (Laughter.)

Sergeant Jackson said he would at once plead guilty. It was one of those events which would occur in the best regulated chimneys.

His Worship : I must line you Is, costs, Bs. REMOVING ARMS. John Skinner was charged with removing three guns from Gisbome to Auckland on board the Minnie Hare in August. Remanded for eight days. ABSENT SEAMEN.

Charles Murphy, Antonio Peterson, Chas. Picket, Michael Molley, Walter Wright, George Hanson, William Neagle, Michael Maynes, Marin, Richard Farrow, Henry Martin, Gustav Peterson, aud Edward Gil), were charged with absenting themselves from the Minister of Marine on Saturday last.

Mr Theo. Cooper appeared for the seamen, and said he would plead guilty under extenuating circumstances, Mr Cooper then described the petty persecutions to wliich the men wero subjected on board, and which was almost unbearable. The men had no intention of running away, but merely left the ship for a stroll on the shore. He thought the best thing to do was to send the meu to prison. Captain Murphy hoped tho Court would not send tho meu to prison, as their services were necessary on board. He only wished them to do their duty.

Mr Cooper said the meu were not locally justified in their conduct, but, as he was instructed, they were not permitted to share tiny of those concessions which men in port expect, and their food was not of a character to give satisfaction. Captain Murphy said Mr Cooper had been misled by the men. They had received privileges. Sub-Inspector Partly said he should like to see the captain receive fair play, although there was a charge hanging over him. The men iv this instance were greatly in fault.

His Worship read a list of the provisions allowed, including rice, pork, bread, Hour, and potatoes. He considered it was a very reasonable scale of ratious ; it was very fair, and left no room for complaint. The Captain said he was desirous of giving them as much food as they required if they would go back aud do their duty. A seaman : Your Worship, lie fed me four days on sulphur anclmolasses (laughter), but I was uot well. His Worship gave the men some good advice, and ordered them back to tho vessel. The men were then removed from the dock under care of Sergeant Martin. FUGITIVES. James Harkins, Charles Smith, and Win. Wells were charged with absconding from the Naval Training School. On the application of Sub-Inspector Pardy, His Worship ordered the boys back to the school, with the promise of a whipping on tho next occasion. THE PURLOINED LETTER. Win. Laird, a youth of 14, was charged with stealing a registered post letter addressed to Samuel Isaacs, the property of the postmaster. Sub-Inspector Pardy explained the case. Mr Isaacs, cabinetmaker, had taken the lad on trial, and the letter carrier called with two letters for Mr Isaacs, one a registered one. Having giver, the receipt for the same, he opened the registered letter, but finding nothing of value inside he threw them into the lire., His Worship ruled that it must be taken as " larceny by a servant," and prisoner was accordingly charged. Mr S. flesketh said he would plead guilty. The act was quite unpremeditated, possibly done with the idea of findingsomethittg of value. The boy was only 14, and he hoped the Court would take Ins youth into consideration and not send him to gaol if he could he sent to the Naval Training School. His Worship said the boy knew that he was doing wrong, and he had acted like a fool in making the matter worse by putting the letter into the fire. The boy was ordered to the Training School for fifteen months.