POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 54, 5 March 1898, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY.

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

Drunkenness. — One firsb offender was convicted and fined 10s. Adam McKcown was fined 20s, with the option of 7 days in gaol. Eccentric Conduct. - About half-past sixlast evening Arthur Allen wenb into Mr Wm. Parle's restaurant and wanted to stay all night. The proprietor, however, saw fit to refuse him, and also declined to leb him have a meal. Allen argued and expostulated without avail, and then went outside n.nd began smashing window-panes. After two panes had been broken the ■window-smasher was takei. into custody. When charged with the ollence this morning he pleaded " not guilty" with decision, but the evidence against him was convincing. For the next two monbhs Allen, who is an old oll'ender, will reside in Mount Eden Gaol.

Alleged Theft.—Two boys named Fredk. Vincent and Joseph Johnston, charged with stealing peaches from an orchard at Mount Albert, were remanded till Monday.

Damage.to Property.—Patrick Sullivan, a young man, was convicted of wilfully breaking a bannister in the Pier Hotel.— He was lined £1, and ordered, to pay the damage (10s), with the alternative of 7 days' hard labour.

No Excuse.—John Koberts, charged with riding his bicycle on the footpath in Selwyn Terrace, ; pleaded the state of the road as his excuse. "If you knew bhe state of the road where I was riding," he said, "You might excuse me. It is simply an accumulation of sand and boulders." "Well, I don'b think that that is any excuse," replied tjie Magistrate. "You might as well excuse a dray for driving on tho footpath." Sergeant Clarke, "If the road is bad, he should complain to the Borough Council."—A fine of 10s and costs was imposed.

Maintenance.--Thomas R. Porter was charged with failing to comply with an order of the Court, whereby he was ordered to contribute towards the support of his illegitimate child. — Mr Ngata appeared for bhe defendanb, and Mr Brooklield for bhe prosecution.--The former stabed that Porter was acting on the advice of his solicitor in disregarding the order, though he had been ill-advised in so doing. He asked bhab the defendanb mighb be sent bo Gisborne, where there was a chance of his' obtaining sureties. The application was, however, refused. His Worship said bhat he did not like to setul a young fellow, to prison, but a defendant often preferred to " take it out," as ib was called, rabher bhan pay up the arrears. In the present case it was clear that the defendant had not given a shilling to his child or the mother for their maintenance. He would seubence the accused to bhree months' imprisonmenb, with bhe underabanding thab he be released on finding sureties.