POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 173, 23 July 1889, Page 5

POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

(Before Dr. Giles, R.M.)

Drunkenness.—Two first offenders were each fined 5s or '24 hours in default. Thomas Lock and Susan Matheson were each fined 10s or 48 hours iv defaulb. William Joughin, for having been three times convicted of drunkenness within six months, was fined £3 or in default 14 days' hard labour.

Obscene Language.—Joseph Cope was charged with having used obscene language within hearing of passers by.—Mr W. J. Napier appeared for the accused and pleaded guilty. He explained thab the accused was a seafaring man, and had nob thought of the import of the word which he used to the police. He asked His Worship to deal leniently with the accused, as it was the prisoner's first offence.— Constable Dunne deposed to the nature of the language used. He had evidently been drinking. Witness believed that some youths had been annoying the man.—Dr. Giles decided that it was not a serious case, and sentenced the prisoner to six hours' imprisonment,

Charge of Begging.—John Thompson pleaded guilty to having committed a breach of the Police Offences Act by begging in a public place.—Sergeant-Major Pratt stated thafc aboufc 5.30 o'clock last evening Constable • Howell noticed the prisoner going into shops in Queen-street. Upon making inquiries he found thab the man had been soliciting aims. The police had no .previous knowledge ot fche roan.—The prisoner said thafc he had no means, and if let off would go gumdigging.—Dr. Giles decided to give him another chance and accordingly dismissed the case.

Alleged Larceny.—Michael Kiely was charged with the larceny of one skirt, valuo 30s, fche property of Margaret Scully.— Prisoner said he was drunk when he went to the houso, and therefore knew nothing about the matter.— Margaret Scully deposed thab on the 10th July tho prisoner came to her house, and nexb morning she missed tho skirt. The article was worbh 30s. Witness identified the article producod in Court.—B. H. Keesing, pawnbroker, deposed to the prisoner pawning the skirt at his shop on bhe 10th of July.—Detective Hughes deposed to arresting the prisoner and recovering the skirb. —Prisoner gave as an excuse that he was under tho influence of liquor at the time. He was sentenced to two months' hard labour.

Alleged Indecent Exposure.—Edward Hanlon was charged with having obscenely exposed his person in Albert Park on June 30fch and July 7th. —Mr Cooper appeared for the defence, and objected to having to meet a second charge, of which notice was given only last nighb by bhe police. — Eliza Talbot, a child of about thirteen years, gave evidence thab on Sunday she went to Sunday - school ab St. Andrew's with her brother and sister and another little girl named Mary Hill, passing down Bowen-sfcreet. On that day about 2.15 she saw the prisonor in tho park as she went to school. This was the second time she had seen him, the other occasion being on June 30fch. Prisoner was among the, trees in fche park, and when she got opposite him, prisoner had his person ..exposed. The other children were with her at the time. There was no one else aboub at bhe time. As she was coming home she again saw the jprisoner in Bowen-street. On the 14th she saw him in Victoria-street. She was sure prisoner was the man.—Counsel for defence tried to shake witness's evidence as to identification, but she was very positive. Two other children were called, but nofc knowing bho nabure of an oath, their evidence could not be received. Mr Cooper, for the defence, relied on the prisoner's good character with those who knew him, and on the child's varying statements as to dress. He claimed that as thero was some doubt thrown on the child's statement, His Worship should give prisoner the benefit of ifc and dismiss the charge.—Mr Smith gave evidence as to Hanlon's general good character and interest in mission and other religious services. Mr A. C. Brown gave similar evidence. — Messrs Parker and Nicholls also gave evidence. —His Worship held that in a case of this kind the evidence must be very clear indeed, and as fche girl might) possibly be mistaken as to the man, he would dismiss the case.—As the evidence for the other charges was the same, Sergeant-Major Pratt withdrew them.

Violent Prisoner, — Eliza Lestraage was brought up charged with using violence to one of the matrons in tJjQ Gaol Hospital. She was sentenced to 7 days' bread and water.

Alleged Malicious Injur _-. —E. H, Jennings was charged with Malicious injury to the property of Mi-Moore, to the extent of £110s.—Mr Brassey appeared for the prosecution, and Mr E. Cooper for the defence—Mr Cooper contended thab the matter had beon settled in a civil way, as Mr Brassey had given a receipt to defendant for the damago, and therefore thab the case should nofc come before tho Courb. —Mr Brassey said thafc his receipb was only on account, and not in full.—His Worship said he thought; it was a remarkable proceeding, to accept payment in the matter as a civil suib and then to try to proceed with ifc as a criminal case. He would dismiss: the charge without costs.