POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 3083, 8 March 1880, Page 3

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

<Be£os« J. E. Macdonald, Esq., K.M.)

PRT7NKARDS. Nine persona pleaded guilty to this offenoe.

VAGRANTS. Henry and William Meek were charged under the Vagrant Act with behaving in Victoria-street in a manner calculated to provoke a breach of the peace. Prisoners said they had a brotherly meetintr, that was all. Sub-Inspector Pardy said tha prisoners ■were brothers, and had not met for many Years. They took a hearty drink together, then fell out about property matters *xd be"an to pommel each other. aVunstable Bernard shewed that the two rSeret SU*"* »**> "^ "* *"" "^J^^t *™ *»«** **[ fight. Mned 10a each, with costs. „ ASSAULT ON A -WIFE. ... Francis Patterson was charge1" ,w"" violently assaulting Ellen, his wit,?,- ,°J striking her on the head and face, on v c sth inst., and threatening to take her life. Prisoner said his wife tried to deprive him of a £5 note, when he pushed her away, and she fell. Ellen Patterson deposed that she resided in Ponsonby. Her life was wretched, as her husband had been drunk for the last four months. He would go out and get drunk, ■come home and get a little better, give her a beating, and return to the public-house. She followed him to the Suffolk Hotel, because she wanted a receipt which he had in his pocket. He swore at her and threw her down, and then struck her twice on the iack of her head. She feared that he would continue his violent treatment unless he discontinues drink. This is not the first assault by many. Prisoner: When you was ill didn't I make you toast and tea ? Wife: Yes once. His Worship: How does he live ? Wife : He has been mortgaging his little property. Patterson: And you got all the sugar, didn't ye now, out with the truth, Nelly. Wife: I did not. His Worship reviewed the evidence, and considered that the wife had not complained without reason. Fined 20s for the assault, ! and to find sureties for his good conduct ! for three months; himself in £50 and two others in £25 each. SIMPLE LARCENY. Lucretia Jacobs, was brought up ova charge of larceny of a petticoat, and two pair of ladies' drawers, value 193, the property of Mr James Rae Pawnbroker, of Darbystreet.

Mr Tyler, for prisoner, pleaded guilty, and hoped the court would take a lenient view of the case, as prisoner was not mistress of her action ■ at the time ; she had been taking a drop, and on going into Mr Bae's shop the articles seemed to have

got into her basket without her immediate knowledge. She wa3 a person respectfully connected, and Mr Bennett was present to speak te her character. James Bennett, of Queen-street, draper, deposed that defendant, Mrs Jacobs, had been twice in Mrs Bennett's employ as general servant, she was in his service some year?, and he believed that she waa thoroughly honest.

Ur Lee informed Mr Tyler, that a woman J in prisoner's condition often had longing 3, and particularly to steal something. His Worship saiil lie would not pass any sentence, but allow her to go. It seemed, lie said, "thatyou Mrs Jacobs have a.dread of a goal, think of this when you see the door of a public-house open ; for that, depend, upon it, is in very many cases is the door of the goal." Defendant shed tears of gratitude, as she left the court. THE CHANCERY LANE SHAWL. Jemima Morgan and Mary Doherty were charged with stealing a shawl, value 10s, the property of Margaret Karstow, of Chancery Lane, on tho 2nd inst. Prisoucr denied the charge. The shawl was the joint property of all the ladies in Chancery Lane. Margaret Barstow denied this statement. It was her shawl. She gave 15s for it seven years ago. Wm. O'Connell Doulau said the shawl was Mrs Barstow's property. He would swear that it was Maggie's shawl. Mdrgan said she went into Doulan's to supper. Maggie was out, and Doulan asked her to pawn it. Mr Solomon deposed that pri-.oner Morgan pledged the shawl in the name of Barnett, and the other prisoner waited outside. Detective Brennan arrested the prisoners on the charge. Morgan was ordered to prison for 14 days, and Doherty was discharged. LUNACY. A woman was committed to the Lunatic Asylum on the medical testimony of Drs Lee and. Honey man. THE LldllT ODT. John Neville was fined I 3 and costs, for not keeping a light burning at the Crown Hotel on the night of the 2nd inst. STEALING FRUIT. Gdorge Dixon was charged with stealing fruit, value ss, the property of a person on the wharf. As there was another youth at large, tho case was remanded until to-morrow. " STORY OF A FEATHER." Annie Absolom and Saiah Home were charged under the Vagrant Act with fighting in the public street on the Ist iust. The girl Absolom had escaped, and Mr Tyler defended Home. From the statement of the case, it appeared that it was another version of the " story of a feather," though less pathetic in its details. Home lost a handsome feather, which had. been dyed and tipped with gold, and on going to the theatre to tee " Old Fidelity," she discovered her feather in the hat of Absoloni. On going outside to have in out, in the presence of Johu Drake, the police interfered. Remanded for a week. FAST DRIVING. Samuel Jagger was fined Is and costs for driving too fast in Wellesley-street. INDKCBNT LANGUAGE. John Worsky was charged with using indecent and obscene language in a public street on the 4th inst. Prisoner did not appear. A warrant to issue for his apprehension. DRINK AND FAMILY MISERY. John O'Shea was charged with failing to support his wife and three children. JUleu O'Bhea said that her husband left her six weeks ago at the Queen's Redoubt, with her little children. She should have starved but for the neighbours. She came into Auckland in search of him, and found in the lock-uu for drunkenness. Defendant made a long appeal, stating that he was invariably kind to his wife, aud always sent her money when he had it. The case was allowed to stand over for a mouth. BURGLARY.

Peter Morris was again brought up on a charge of breaking and entering the premises of Mr I. Levy of Queen-street, and stealing therefrom a quantity of clothing, valued at £10, on the 20th December, 1879.

.Sub-Inspector Pardy conducted the case.| Isaac Levy, clothier, deposed Unit hia private house was iv Grey-street, anil hia place of business in (Juecn-jtreet. On the 20th of December he closed his shop ns usual, and returned on the following Monday morning, when on going in at the front door he found all right, but the window at the far end of ttic shop was open. The catch which held the window open had been broken off, and the upper sash pulleddown. On looking round at his stock, he discovered drops of candle-grease. His goods had been disturbed, and things were missing. Could not say how much he had lost. Gave information to the police. Had seen (he prisoner, who had several time 3 been iv his shop during the previous week. The back room is used as a fittingroom, which was known to the prisoner, aa he had fitted clothes on in that room. Identified the clothes produced as his property, consisting of a suit of clothes, vests, 12 linen shirts, and other articles. The goods lost were worth £15. The others had not been traced. They were safe in his shop on the Friday night. Secured the window himself.

Constable John Strathern deposed that on the 22nd December Mr Levy informed him of the robbery. He went and examined the premises and found boxes and drawers upset, and the window as described by M-r Levy. 'Observed the marks of a lever on the framework. The thief had piled up several empty packing-cases against Mr Stretton's wall, and had got into Mr Levy's shop by this means. He picked up a white shirt which had been dropped iv returning over the wall. Found traces of the robber through Mr Couplaud's premises into Lome-stieet. Heard subsequently that a parcel of goods had been found by a plumber in the employ of Mr Parker, named George Garish. The parcel contained nearly all the goods wrapped in a macintosh, and tied round with a pair of braces.

the bucdle was found among Mr Parker's tanks. The prisoner was brought from Hamilton.

George Garrish, working plumber, deposed to finding the bundle among the tanks on the Monday morning after the robbery. They were loosely tied as though iv a hurry. Took tbem into the woiksbop. Subsequently handed them to Constable Strathem.

Clara Morris, wife of James Morris, of Wellington-slreet, knew the prisoner, a friend of her husband's; recognised the braces as the property of the prisoner, who had often been at her house ; the belt was also bi«. At the time of the robbery, he called as a visitor. Knew the braces as his. He had washed at her house. Offered the braces to her husband for sale. Inspected them. Knew them at once.

Nathaniel Ritchie, shopman to Mr Levy, knew rhe prisoner by sight, and on Sunday morning, the 21st December, saw the prisoner walking up and down iv Lome-street, at the back of the premises; he seemed to be loiteriag about, Constable Alexander MeGilp saw the prisoner on the Sunday evening, about 5 30, at the back of Mr Levy's premises, heard of the lobbery the next day. Detective Jeffrey gave evidence. After he had. been arrested prisoner asked what he was apprehended for. He informed him. He then deujed a}l knowledge of the robbery, saying that he slepjb at Veith's board-ing-house that night. Charles Veith, of the Blue Post Dining Eooms, Vifitorift'Street, deposed that prisoner was stoppjug at his house in December last He left on the morning of the o ntl '- He was not there or the Sunday night. Ha(i nDt "een him from *hat time ""SwtSte' sunny gave evidence, »nd the prisoner was committed for trial.