POLICE COURT.—This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4131, 28 September 1883, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before 11. G. Suth Smith, Esq., R.M.]

DRUNK.—John Bunninghaln, 5s and costs, The Seamah Pkterse.w— Carl Auguste Peterson was brought up on charges of disobeying lawful commands on board the British ship Grasmerc, and with being absent from the vessel without leave.— Prisoner pleaded not guilty.—The captain stated tho circumstances; at the close of tho case before the Court yesterday, tho prisoner did not go back to the ship ; he met him in Queen-street, and pursuaded him to go back ; ho refused to do so, and at a later part of the day when he went on board he positively refused to obey orders. —Prisoner said he was engaged as a carpenter, and was not disposed to do other work ; he had signal articles as ship's carpenter.—Ordered to bo imprisoned for 14 days, and to pay 12s oxponses, which the captain had been put to in conscquenco of prisoner's misconduct. A Kkvival.—Thomas James North appeared in answer to a summons in which he was charged, on tho information of John C. MacCormick, with larceny of 4 printed books and letter-copying book, on tho 9th Marck last.—Mr Keetley appeared in defence, and characterised this as a hard case. The charge had been heard and dismissed, and defendant was waiting his trial on a similar charge.—The prosecutor not appearing, tho chargo was put back. Arrest of Mr MacCormick. — John CharleH MacCormick, solicitor, was arrested on warrant outsido tho Court, charged with having committed wilful and corrupt perjury in giving evidence before 11. G. Seth Smith, Esq., K.M., in the case MacCormick v. North, in which tho latter was charged with larceny. Tm: Waihkkk Cask.—Henry Trace and John Phillips, settlers in the islnnd of Waihekc, again appeared to answer a charge of demolishing a Iwupo on tho island on the 26th July, clamago Co, tho property of Robert McLeod. — Mr James Kussell appeared in defence.—Mr Edward Cooper, for the prosecution, said ho would proceed with tho Maori witnesses.—Mr "Do Thierry acted as interpreter, and Mr Brown took the depositions in the native tongue.—Piri, a nntivo tyiown n.s "Billy," deposed that he lived at YVuiheke. 110 knew tho house in question, Mr Cassells was in charge up to tho time of his death. Ho was not in charge now. lie wasgono down below. KnewTraco and Phillips. Saw them both on tho 20th July. Saw one of them (Trace) hammering at tho chimney. He was alono. Ho did not interfere with him. Left that day for Auckland. When he returned lie saw Mrs Trace breaking down tho inside.—Mr Russell considered this evidence irrelevant, as it happened some time after tho date in tho information. —His Worship rilled that it was admissablc, as subsequent acts might tend to show intent in the first instance.— Mr Coopor said tho chargo was a continuous act.—Witness continued : Mr Phillips was standing by. Ho was five (lays in town. Tho lady was breaking nil tho flooring ; tho timber was removed to the manganese placo ; did not see Phillips take any timber away ; tho building was lovelled to the ground ; it is now desolate ; did not know who was in charge of tho manganese mino Mr Phillips was an observer, he might bo at the head of the mine ; ho told Mr Trace that he would tell Mr McLeod about tho knocking down of the honso; he replied that it was not McLeod's land on which the house stood.— To Mr Kussell: I built the house; was paid by a man named Hay, in tho employ of Mr Stooin, who was working in the manganese ; Hay lived in the liouso; Moylc next occupied the house ; Mr Collingwood lived upon tho land, but was not aware that he owned the land which Mr McLeod

occupies,