POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 140, 14 June 1888, Page 5

POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

(Before Messrs S. Y. Collins and J. M. Mc

Lachlan, Justices.) Drunkenness.—Three first offenders were mulcted in the usual amount. Charles Polnning, having previously offended, was lined 10s and costs or 48 hours' in default. J. J. Broch, an old friend, was lined £5 and costs, or in default 14 days' hard labour.

Stealing a Bkeast-pin.—Henry Taylor was charged with stealing a gold breastpin, the property of Alexander Schultze, at Onehunga, on or about the lsb of June. —Prisoner pleaded guilfcy to having sold the pin. He did nob remember how ib came into his possession, as he was drunk at the Onehunga Hotel. They were playing cards for money and he got the pin during a row.—The Bench decided to enter this as a plea of nob guilty.—SergeantMajor Pratt conducted the prosecution.— Alexander Schultze. publican, Onehunga, deposed that he was the proprietor of the Railway Terminus Hotel. The prisoner stayed in his hotel on the 30th of May. He slept near witness's bedroom. A heart pattern breast-pin was in his room on the 29th of May. On June Ist witness again went to his drawer and missed the pin. The prisoner lefb next morning, and witness did not see him again until to-day. , No other person stayed in the hotel that night. He valued the pin at £2.—William Callum, labourer, Union-street, deposed to the prisoner telling him that he was going to Onehunga on the 30bh of May. Next daywitness again saw him, and he offered to sell witness the pin produced in Court for 12s. Later on witness bought it for 10s. On the 13th of June witness again saw the prisoner, who told him to pub the pin away, as they wero after it. While they were talking Detectives Herbert and and McGrath came up and witness handed over the pin to Herbert.— : John Evans deposed to being in company with the last witness when the prisoner bold him bo pub the pin away, as he was in trouble about it. The prisoner offered to sell him the pin on the 31st of May. He said, "I was awfully drunk last night and I got a pin, but I don't know where from. I'll sell it you for 125." Witness offered 10s and the prisoner would not take it. Later on Callum bought bhe .pin.—Detective J. A. McGrath deposed to arresting bhe prisoner oubside the Thames Hotel yesterday. 'Prisoner denied ever having seen the pin previously. Witness received the pin from the witness Callum.

Questioned by the prisoner, this witness said that he had known the prisoner when he was in the defence force. Ab that time be bore a very good character.—On the suggestion of Sergeant-Major Pratt the prisoner was remanded until Monday, to allow time for the Probation Officer, under the First Offendei-3 Probation Act, to report as to his previous character.