POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1898, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY.

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

Charges of Vagrancy.—A young1 man named Robert Henry Aubrey pleaded, not guilty to a charge of being idle and disorderly, without lawful visible means of support. Const. Kennedy said the accused was continually about ith convicted criminals and was to be seen at all hours of the night. On Saturday night he was one of a gang of men hooting and throwing1 stones at a buggy which was being- driven out of ' Kelly's livery stables. Detective Maddern said, 'If he does any work it must be very early in the morning, before I'm about.' He corroborated Const. Kennedy as to Aubrey's character, as also did Consts. Mcllveney and Miller. The accused called a fish - curer 'named Knox (junior), who said that Aubrey was employed by him and got board and lodging with him. In cross-examina-tion Knox admitted that work had been slack lately. Aubrey called two more witnesses to say he had been 'oystering' for Knox. Mr Brabant: It appears.from the evidence that this man has some means of support. The case is dismissed. Charges of vagrancy against William Moisley, Thomas Wilson, James Edmonds, and Archibald Anderson were adjourned till Tuesday in the case of Moisley, Wednesday for the others, for whom Dr. Laishley appeared. Drunkenness. — John McNaughton, Peter Peterson and Walter Townsend were each fined 10/. for drunkenness, with the option of 48 hours' hard labour. One first offender was fined 5/ or 24 hours, and two others were discharged with a caution.

FightingI.—Two women named Lily Clark and Helena Wright were fined £ 1 each for fighting- in Grey-street. Clark was further sentenced to 14 days' hard labour for using obscene language.

Adjournments.—ln case against Walter Stimpson, licensee of the Queen's Ferry Hotel, charged with a breach of the Licensing Act, an adjournment till next Monday was granted. Leonard Hellender, charged with drunkenness and obscene language, was remanded till to-morrow.

A Constable Severely Handler!.—A big', strong-looking1 man named John Duffy was charged ith using obscene language and also with assaulting Const. Cullinane in the execution of his duty.. He was defended by Dr: Laishley and pleaded guilty to the first charge; the second was an indictable offence, and Air Brabant declined to treat it under the Summary Jurisdiction Act: Constable Cullinane's evidence was to the effect that the accused was using obscene language in Wyndham-street. Witness'went to arrest Duffy, whereupon the latter struck him a violent blow on the nose, and then 'butted' him in the face, knocking him down. Witness got up again, and, half-dazed, tried to grapple with the accused, but received another violent knock-down blow, this time over the right eye. 'Duffy kicked him on the hip as he lay on the ground. Witness was covered with blood. Someone caught hold of Duffy, but as witness got up the accused broke away and struck him in the face again, knocking him down a third time. The crowd were encouraging the accused, and only two, Messrs Swan and Blutcher, gave him any asistance. Witness was incapacitated for several days by the treatment he received. Dr. King said the policeman's injuries showed that lie had been severely handled.

Refused to Leave. —A man named McKeown pleaded guilty to refusing to leave licensed premises when requests to do so by th landlord, and was fined 40s, in default 14 days' hard labour.