POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 228, 1 October 1897, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY,

(Before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M.) Drunkenness.—Two first offenders were discharged with a caution. James Johnson, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was fined ss, or in default 24 hours' hard labour.

Obscene Language. — A boy named Percj* Bosworth pleaded guilty to using obscene language in a public place and was convicted. —Accused promised to go out of town if given a chance, and was therefore dismissed, to be brought up for sentence when called upon. Window Breaking.-— A man named Arthur Allen was charged with drunkenness, and also with wilfully breaking a pane of glass, value 10s, the property of George Loram.—-Accused pleaded guilty to the first charge, but said he had no recollection of the window breaking.—Fined 20s or 14 days' on the first charge, 10s or one week on the second.

Adjourned. — Joseph Mitchell, alias Michel 1, was charged that being the occupier of a house in Marrnion-street he did within the past month knowingly permit part of such premises to lie used as a brothel, and further did assist in the management of a brothel. — Julia Hoßa.ii and Martha ITosan were also charged with assisting in the management of a brothel in Marmion-strcet. — Mr Napier, on behalf of the female defendants, asked for a remand of 14 days. In the case of the elder defendant, Martha Hosan, it was the intention to admit the charge. She was a [frenchwoman, and had not the ideas of an Englishwoman on the matter at all. However, she was perfectly willing to leave the place and maintain herself by keeping a laundry. As for the younger defendant, Mr Napier .said he would see the French Consul to try and get the girl taken from her present surroundings.—For the male defendant Mr Cotter also a«ked for a fortnight's remand, to show the police authorities the bona tides of the defendant in absolutely insisting that the females should have notice to quit the house of which lie was the owner. The defendant would also see that the house was let in future to tenants against whom the police could have no objection.—The case was accordingly adjourned for 34 days, to enable the above facts to be placed before the Inspector of Police.

Alleged Kkckivinc; of Stolen Tobacco.—Henry Campbell was charged that on the 17th of August he did receive into his possession from Fredk. Deason, Albert Weeks arid another 14lb of tobacco, value £5, knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained.—Mr Cotter appeared for the accused, and pleaded not guilty.— Sergeant Ellison deposed that in company with Detective Bailey he went to Campbell's shop, and told him that some young men were in custody for stealing tobacco, and they alleged they had sold some to him. Accused replied that lie knew nothing about the matter, and that no one had offered him any tobacco for sale. Witness searched the shop, but did not find any of thestolen tobacco. Witness and Detective }3ailey subsequently arrested the accused. —Detective liailey gave corroborative evidence. The young men who had alleged that they sold tobacco to accused had been committed for trial on a (-barge of theft of tobacco from the store of Thos. Winglield, in Fort-street. —.John Gunson, after being warned that he was not obliged to give any evidence that might incriminate him, stated that be had been committed for trial on a charge of theft. On the night of the 17th August, Albert Weeks and Frederick Deason broke into Winglield's store and took some tobacco, essence and scent. They gave some to witness, and the three of (.hem put the tobacco in a cab. Witness got out nt Elliott-street, and walked nil to Harry Campbell's shop in Victoria-street, and the cab afterwards drove up to within about fifty yards of the shop. Witness and Weeks entered the shop, and the former asked Campbell whether he wanted to buy any tobacco, lie said no, but after the shop was shut up accused came out to the cab, and asked " if the cabman was all right."' They replied Unit he was, whereupon accused carried the tobacco inside and handed Weeks 36s in payment. Witness was cross-examined at length as to his movements on the night in question, before and after seeing Campbell. In answer to question witness said the conversation with the accused took place both inside the shop and at the door. lie was taking no notice at all of the time, and did not know what time accused shut up shop. It would be about 10.30 when Campbell came out to the cab, about three-quarters of an hour after they first spoke to him. Witness was not the worse for liquor.—Thomas Woodhead, manager for Mr T. Wingtield, deposed that about 101b of tobacco in tins and some other articles were stolen from the store on or about the 17th of August. — Cross-ex-amined : Some of the tins were labelled "Golden Magnet" and others " Rosebud," these being particular brands imported and sold by their linn.—Samuel Barehard, blacksmith, said he saw a cab standing in Nelson-street on the night in question, and afterwards saw Deason and some others go into the Empire Hotel. That was between i) p.m. and closing up time.—Thomas Burt, blacksmith, gave similar evidence.— Margaret Stewart, wife of the licensee of the Empire Hotel, remembered the cabman Grogan coining in with some others on the night in question, for a drink.—This concluded the evidence for the prosecutidn.— For the defence, Mr Cotter submitted that therewa-s no prima faeiecaseon the evidence submitted by the prosecution. The ease, he said, rested upon the uncorroborated testimony of an admitted thief, Ounson, who went into the box and admitted having stolen the goods.—His Worship said it was iiotshowntnatGunson'sevidence was wholly unreliable ; because a man was a thief it did not follow he was a liar. His Worship held that there was* a prima facie case.— Accused reserved his defence, and was committed to take his trial at the Suprenie Court. Bail was allowed, accused in two sureties of £50.