POLICE COURT.—This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 4277, 8 February 1884, Page 2

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

[Before Messrß Hull and Prime, Justices.]

DRUNK.—Christopher Swanson, ss,

Lakceny op Fkuit. — George William Smith, a little boy, was charged with stealing fruit, valuo 2d, the property of Edward Shillington. — Tho boy pleaded guilty.— It appeared that Mr Shillington went into his garden about 4 p.m. last evening, and detected the boy stealing the fruit—Mrs Smith, a respectable-looking person, appeared for her child. He was 9 years old. She had given him a severo whipping.—As the boy bore a good character, the Bench did not inflict any punishment, but recorded the conviction against him. Obstruction.—John Wilson, contractor, pleaded guilty to allowing planks to remain in ■Shoitland-street on the 29th ult., thereby causingan obstruction.—MrGoldie, Sanitary Inspector, explained the circum stances, and would not press for a heavy penalty, Mr Wilson having pleaded guilty. —Fined 5s and costs.

Charge of Incendiarism. — Henry Woods, described as n vagrant, was brought up on a charge of setting fire to a house on the 25th January, in Mount Eden Road, the property of John McDell. — Sergeant White conducted the prosecution. — Prisoner was undefended.— John McDell, warder in Mount Eden G.'toi, deposed that on tho 25th January a fire broke out in View Road, Mount Eden. Several houses were destroyed. Two were life property. He resided in ono and the other was trriteilftftted. Had been uncCou-" pied for seven weeks. It was empty and locked. The key was in his possession. The houso was in good condition, had been built about seven years, and v.as near the Edenßoad.-DetectiveJ.M. Walker deposed that ho sketched a plan of the premises, which he produced.—Mr McDell recalled: The roof leaked at one corner. The empty house was 20 feet from the Mount Eden Road. The two houses were eight feet apart. No fenco at the ond of the empty house. The house was of wood and shingles, but the house ho lived in was iron-roofed and verandahed. Witness gave a full and minute description of the houses and their surroundings. He was aroused on the morning of tho 25th by his neighbour, Mr A. Peace. It was between one and two o'clock. Saw the empty house on fire. There were no possible means of suppressing the firo. His first thought was for the safety of his family. Got out some furniture with the help of Mr Peace and neighbours. Saved perhaps £20 worth of furniture. House was insured in tho Union for £200, the house he lived in for f3OO in tho South British. Furniture, £50. Estimated his loss in furniture at £40. Did not know of his own knowledge how the firo originated. Had not seen the prisoner about the place. His time was chiefly occupied inside tho gaol. Recognised the prisoner as having been in the prison several times. There were four houses destroyed and one very much damaged.—Andrew Gilmour Peace, receiving and forwarding agent, deposed that he resided in Mount Eden Road. Remembered tho fire. His house was about 60 yards from the empty house. His property was protected by a stone fence. Went to bed at his usual time, between nine and ten. Was disturbed at an early hour. Went outside, and noticed a light in tho empty house which seemed to increase. Went to tho stone wall to ascertain the cause. Mr Boynton's proporty was between his and Mr McDell's. Saw a fire under the house. Several small fruit trees partly obstructed his viow. Ho shouted " Fire ! " Went over tho walls and informod Mr McDell. The firo had not then got through the floor. He burst open tho door of the empty house, which was full of sraoko and very dense. He got a washing tub, fillod it at the pump, and tried to extinguish tho flames ; the fire had got to great a hold, ho went and assisted Mr McDell in getting his family and furniture out of bis own house.—Frederick William Peaco, son of the last witness, gave corroborative evidence in respect of the fire, had seen tho prisoner before on tho Mount Eden Bridge, on the 23rd January, had 6eon him subsequently lying down by the Eden Vine Hotel, about 400 yards from tho place where the fire broke out, the bridge is about 150 yards away.—Alfred Hastings Stovensoh, builder and contractor, Mount Eden Raad, deposed to seeing tho prisoner in the afternoon of the 24th at his ga.to near the Eden VJne; had seen him loitering about for several days in tho vicinity of the five l saw him .on one occasion " dossed " down in a blanket by a bridge, and in such a miserable oondition that he felt it his duty to inform tho police. He was not fit to bo In tho public street.-^ Deteotivo Walker doposeu that prisoner was looked up under the Vagrant Act. Ho saw him in tho lock-up in oonsequenco of something Constable Mitchell had said. Asked prisoner what ho had been saying about the fire, This was in the presence of Constable Mitchell. Prisoner laughed and replied, " I made tho fire last night. Went into an empty house to sleep. Slopt a long time, and then got up and lit my pipe. I then put the match to the wall paper, and, being ragged, it blazed up quick. It began to oracklo, and got too hot for mo, and I skedaddled. Had no homo, and I wanted to get into gaol again.— Constable Mitcholl corroborated. — Constable Luke Macdonnell arrested tho prisoner on a charge of vagrancy.—This was the case for tho prosecution. — The depositions were read over, and prisoner, who was silent, was fully committed for trial at tho next sitting of the Criminal Session in April next. The Murderous Assault. —Tho case of assaulting and voundinga man named Wm. Torpey, by Margaret Barstow and Wm. Conlon, wos remanded until to-morrow, the woman Barstow being sick.

This was all the business,