POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2939, 15 September 1879, Page 2

POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., E.M.) "WE ARE SEVEN." SEVEN drunkards, male and female, were charged with a repetition of this offence, aud subjected to the penalty. VAGRANCY. John Reid was charged under the Vagrancy Act with having no visible means, &c. The old man, who appeared iv a wretched condition, pleaded not guilty. Constable Abrams deposed to prisoner's destitute condition. He slept in the Domain regularly. Sergeant Jackson corroborated. Three months' imprisonmeut. PEGGING BY THE WAYSIDE. Mary Fletcher was charged under the Vagrant Act with asking alms in the Mannkau JKond, Parnell, on the 12th inst. Sulj-luspector Pardy said there was no necessity for the prisoner to beg if she would but conduct herself properly. She liad respectable Mends, and a husband willing to support her in comfort. Fourteen days' imprisonment. HARKY AND HENRY. Harry Williams was charged with assaulting Henry Leon, ou the 13th instant, by striking him on the nose and left eye, and threatening to throw him over board. Prisoner said it was a mystery to him. He had been mystified by drink. Henry Leon, steward, deposed to the assault, which was serious and unprovoked. Prisoner caught him by his neck aud trousers and tried to hoist him overboard He saved himself by holding on to the wire. John Cox, mate of the steamer Coromandel, corroborated. Prisoner said it was all news to him. Ilia Worship took a lenient *iew of the affair and ordered prisoner to pay a fine of £2 and costs, or fourteen days. OF THE MINISTER OF MABINE. Peter Jan Maria was brought up on two charges—(l) with absenting himself without leave from the ship Minister of Marine, and (2) with disobedience of orders on board the said ship on the 10th inst. Mr Theo. Cooper appeared for prisoner. Captain Murphy deposed to the particulars of the cases, which were trivial. Prisoner wanted his discharge, which witness refused. He went on shore without leave.

Cross-examined by Mr Cooper. The account of wages was put in, showing a balance of 4s 9tl due to prisoner after a voyage from England. His Worship expressed his astonishment at the deductions made by Captain Murphy, such as £5 for a substitute during illness, and a like sum for conveying the sailor to the hospital. Mr Cooper said he did not wish to make any unnecessary remarks upon the case. He might say, however, that, prisoner had been treated iv the Hospital for scurvy, caused by the indifferent food supplied on board. His Worship ruled that as the captain hid disrated the man he was legally bound to discharge him at the nearest port. He should dismiss the caies. Costs of counsel, £2 2s, allowed. ANOTHER CASE John Hunter was charged with absenting himself from the Ironside on the 14th inst. Prisoner said he went to tea with a friend, and was not aware of any wrong. The mate said the captain did. not desire to punish the man. Ordered back to ship, and to pay costs, 7s. CHARGE OF LARCENY. James Watson was charged with the larceny of a piece of flannel, pair of striped Bocks, shirt, necxtie, and small clothes, on the 13th mat., value 20s, tbe property of John McGregor, of Auckland. Piioner pleaded not guilty. Sub-Inspector Pardy said a portion of the things had been found ; he would ask for a remand. Remanded until Monday next. BREACHES OF LICENSING ACT. Thomas Rowen was charged with committing a breach of the Licensing Act by suffering "ambling with cards in his licensed hotel, College Road, on the 23rd and 2Sth of August last. Mr Hesketh appeared for defendant, and pleaded guilty. The parties who were discovered playing were waiting to play a pains at billiards, and while waiting they took down the cards and played "euchre." Defendaut was an inexperienced hand in hotel life, and thought a game at "euchre" or " puft and dart" was not a serious offence. He would ask therefore that his Worship would view the case as lightly as possible. Sub-Inspector Pardy said he did not wish to press too hard upon Mr Eoweu, or he might have gone on with the second case. He hoped Mr Kowen would be wise in future. Fined 20s and costs. Andrew Fernandez, of the Britomart Hotel, was charged with supplying alcoholic liquors to Mr Stereus on Sunday, the 7th instant.

Mr Hesketh appeared for defendant and pleaded guilty. The facts were these: Captain Phillips and his men came up from Waiheke, and desired Mr Fernandez to give him and his men refreshment as travellers. The man Stevens pushed his way in, and was mistaken for one of Captain Phillips's men. Sub-Inspector Pardy said Mr Hesketh was a good hand at colouring his cases, he could not say how far the colour was genuine. The man Stevens was found driukiug in the house. Mr Hesketh said Mr Fernandez had been in the public line for many years, and this was the first charge made against him. Sub-Inspector Pardy said that Mr Fernandez bore a good character as a hotelkeeper, but he could not withdraw the case. His Worship said he would only inflict n fine of 10s with costs. ANOTHER CASE. John Henry Holmes, of the Custom House Hotel, was charged with supplying alcoholic liquor to John Gorman on Sunday, the 7th iust. Mr Laishlcy appeared for defendant, pleaded guilty, aud stated the circumstances. He asked that onlyanomiual fine be inflicted. Mr Pardy said it wns not a had case, but the police are determined to pnt a stop to Sunday drinking as far as possible. Fined 10s, costs, 17s. THRBA.TENIKG A HUSBAXD. ■ Jane Bevage, a mild-looking person in black, was charged with threatening to spitlicate her husband, Janice Bevage, on the 10th September. Defendant pleaded not guilty, James Bevage unfolded a long chapter of matrimonial woes, showing that his married life was not uniformly happy. His wife had broken plates on his head, threatened to spillicato him (split his nose), squirted tea in his face, and rushed after him with a knife. Life was almost unbearahle.

Mis Bevage, on the other side, deposed to ill-usage and neglect. She certainly threw the plates, but was provoked to their sudden destruction. If she got drunk she was driven to it. His Worship said he would adjourn the case until Thursday in order to come to some arrangement if possible, OVEUrOWERING. John Fitzgerald was charged with taking and appropriating several articles of jewellery, value £4, on the 25th July, the property of James William Kendall; also with stealing £6 sterling on the sth inst. from the house of Charles Pratt, of Ellerslie. Prisoner said he was not guilty. Mr Pardy said that Mr Kendall, who had been staying at the Governor Browne Hotel, was now in Wellington, and could not be in Auckland for some days. Remanded until the 22nd inst.

(Before It. C. Bars tow, Hsq., R.M., and John Cosgrave, Esq., J.P.) OX THE WATER.

Charles Johnson was charged with striking Charles Russell on board the steamer Glenelg, at Tauranga, on the 12th inst.

Mr Edward Cooper, for defendant, pleaded not guilty.

Charles Johnson described the scene. Defendant struck him on the face, quite unprovoked.

Thomas Fiddes, chief mate, heard the disturbance. There was a scuffle between the men. Saw nothing distinctly, Mr E. Cooper addressed the" Court in defence.

Chavles Johnson deposed that he went into the steward's cabin to inquire about the men's coffee aud sugar, when complainant told him to go to h . He threatened to punch Kussell's head. Russell went on the deck, stripped to light, but was stopped by the captain. To complaiuant: 1 just brushed your nose. .

Complainant: There, your Worships, that was an assault. Fined 10s and costs.

A wife at Portland, Ale., calls her husband home nights by firing a skyrocket from the roof of the house. When the rocket goes up he goes for home. "At what age were you married?" asked she, inquisitively. But the other lady was equal to the emergency and quickly responded, "At the parsonage." Ladies are like watches — pretty enough to look at; sweet face and delicate hands, but somewhat difficult to "regulate" after they are set a-goiug. ■ _ _.._..^___