POLICE COURT—THIS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 12, 15 January 1892, Page 4

POLICE COURT—THIS DAY.

(Before Messrs F. L. Prime, J. Gordon and3. McLachlan, justices.)

Drunkenness.— One fir3b offender was fined ss, or 24 hours' in default.—Michael Hickey was lined 10s or 48 hours', and Mary Williams, alias Opium Meg, for habitual drunkenness was sent up for three months' hard labour.

(Beforo Messrs Prime and Gordon.)

Alleged Assault. — Denis Burke was charged with having assaulted his wife by striking her with his clenched fist and threatening her with an axe.—Defendant pleaded nob guilty.—After hearing the evidence the Bench dismissed the information.

Alleged Breaking and Entering.— Henry Christopher Smith was charged with breaking and entering the shop of John Henry Pellew, in Victoria-street, and stealing therefrom £2 in notes, £2 15s in silver and copper, one half sovereign, and two sovereigns, on the 4bh of January.— Sergeant-Major Pratb conducted the case for the prosecution, and Dr. Laishloy appeared on behalf of the defendant.— J. H. Pellew deposed to being acquainted with accused, who was in his house until he closed the shop on the night in question. Defendant saw witness give £2 worth of change from a bag, which he then placed in the till. When witness came to work in the morning he found the back window of his shop open, and the till emptied. There hadibeen £7 5s in the till. Witness ab once informed the police of his loss. Subsequently Detective Chrysbal and bhe accused came to his shop. The former remarked, " This man's place has been broken inbo," when accused said, "My God, I've condemned myself. I know nothing about it." Harry Bushel came in and charged accused with having offered him a shilling with a hole in it, to take charge of for an hour. Accused said he knew nothing about it. Amongst the money stolon waß a shilling with a hole through the centre; Witness recognised the bent penny produced in pourt as being identical with one stolen from __ 6 *tifi. Subsequent to bhe place being robbed, bhe accused paid that ponny, with other 'opppera.- tp.^icnesfufor. $6tj}iß fcoba6cb:--By Pr. kaishley : Witness managed the shop for Mr Swales. It was his money that was stolen, bub witness agreed to stand halt the loss. He could nob produce the person that paid him either the bent penny, or the shilling with the hole in the centre. On the 2nd of January he handed over £7 14s 5d to Mr Swalos. He commenced on Monday, the 4th, with 2s, and in the evening he had accumulated the £7 5s which was stolen. His average bakings were from 14s to £1 per day. Witness afterwards sbabed that he had confused the dates. By Sergeant-Major Pratt: He could produce dates to show when he hauded over the money.—Detective Chrystal deposed to searching the premises. There were no marks on the catch of the window to show that it had been opened from the oubside. Witness subsequently called defendant into the prosecutor's shop, and said, " I'm told that you were seen standing on the landing outside the back door of the Royal Mail Hobel, at 20 minutes past 10 on Monday night." Accused denied this. Afterwards be said he was talking bo a friend there shortly after 10 p.m. Then he said, " God's truth, what have I done ? This man's place was broken into on Monday night, and I have condemned myself. I was nob ab the bar door at all that night.''