POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1897, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr H. W. Northcroft, S.M.)

Drunkenness.—Wm. Inkster, a second offender, wa_.,fioed 20a with the option of 7 days'herd labour. Alleged LARCi_NT.--Thomas Snell, alias Baker, alias Stewart, charged with having on the 11th December, at Dunedin, stolen a bicycle worth £18, the property of Ambrose William Wellsferd, was remanded to Dunedin. Alleged Assault.—Two youtha named Daniel and Stephen South were charged wibh having, on the 27th December, assaulted Frank Tarry and Charles Whitburn.—Mr Baume appeared for the accused, and Sergeant Kelly for the police. —The accused pleaded nob guilty.—The evidence for the police was to the effect that Tarry (14) and Daniel South (19) had some words aboub a goat, near the pottery works at Ponsonby on December 27th. South threatened to hit Tarry, and while the latter was on the ground, with tho other holding his fist in Tarry's face, Whitburn interfered and asked South not to hit a boy yonnger and smaller than himself. Soubh took oub a penknife, opened it, and threatened to stab Whitburn. He, however, pub the knife away again withftub carrying oub hia threat. He then jumped on Whitburn's back and threw him down, and while the two were on the ground. Stephen South came to hia brother's assistance, caught Whitburn (who had run away same distance), and assaulted him. While these two were scuffling, Daniel Soubh assaulted Tarry.—For the defence, Stephen Soubh deposed that when he arrived on the scene, Whitburn was on top of the former's brother. Witness pulled him off, and as soon as Whitburn got up he struck witness. —This was the only witness for the defence.—His Worship said ib appeared to him thab all the sons of the family were "spoiling" for a row. Another brother, James, not long ago threatened to punch Parker's bead and then he threatened to punch someone else's bead, and after being let oil* on his promising to go into the country, he finished up by getting two. months' for fche parb he took in a brothel row.—Each accused was fined 20a and ordered to pay £4 5s costs between them, a month being Allowed in which to pay. Maintenance Case.—Edward McSherry was remanded to Napier on a charge of failing to contribute towards the maintenance of an illegitimate child. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £50 each.

Licensing Laws. — Michael Harrison Walsb, licensee ot the Albion Hotel, was charged with selling liquor during prohibited hours, viz., ab 6.50 a.m. on Sunday, January 10th.—Sergeant Kelly appeared for the police, and Mr Baume for the defendanb, who denied the charge.—Sergeant Black deposed to paying a visit to. the Albion Hotel, ab the corner ot Wellesley and Hobson streets, ou Sunday morning, the 10th inst. The side door in Wellesley-etreet was open. Witness and Constable O'Brien entered and found seven men in the bar, and three glasses partly filled with whisky standing on the counter. Witness made a grab for the glasses, and tbe barman, who seemed excited on seeing the police, did likewise, and tried to geb them away from witness. On boing questioned five of the men standing around swore they bad stayed in the house the previous night, and two said they had been staying there several nights. Three of them admitted that the glasses were intended for them. Witness did not see any money pass, and the barman stated that the drink had been given away, not sold.—Samuel Pollock deposed to being a commission agent. Ho had lived at the Albion Hotel for the past 14 months. He was nob a barman. On the morning in question he was suffering from dysentery, and, to get something to relieve it, he went along to Mr Walsh's room and asked him to get something for bim. Mr Walsh did not wish to go down so he gave witness the key of tho bar, and told him to be sure nob to serve liquor to anyone. While witness was in the bar the seven men came in and he offered to " shout" for them, intending to pay Mr Walsh. No money passed for the drinke.—His Worship said he would have to dismiss the case on the evidence. Under bhe Licensing Acb ib was necessary that every person who applies for a license should obtain from him a certificate thab he is a fib and proper person to conduct a public house. A person who handed over the key of his bar to a boarder and let him go into the bar and do whab ho liked was not, he considered, a fife and proper person to conducb a public bouse, and he hoped Mr Walsh would nob come before him and aek him for a certificate. "**%j,r-