YESTERDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1902, Page 2

YESTERDAY.

(Before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M.)

A Bad Case.— Henry Christopher Smith was charged that within the space of six months past at Auckland he did keep a brothel, and a young woman named Helena Marsh was charged with agisting in the management ola brothel. Mr Reed appeared for the defence, and the two defendants pleaded not guilty. An elderly man named James Johnson and Eliza Woods gave evidence in support of the prosecution. His Worship dismissed the information against Marsh. Mr Reed pleaded guilty on behalf of Smith. His Worship said that a brothel kept by a man was infinitely wjyrse than one kept by a woman. He would not give the defendant Smith the option of a fine, but would send him to gaol for three months. The same defendant was then charged with selling liquor without a license on May 6th. .Defendantpleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Mitchell stated that when the man Johnson and the girl Woods visited the defendant's house on the night in question, as mentioned in the previous case, defendant supplied them with six bottles of beer at two shillings a bottle, which cost 3/6 a dozen. A large number of empty beer bottles we're found on the premises. His Worship.inflicted a fine of £20, or in; default of distress two months' imprisonment. Smith and Marsh were then jointly charged with the theft of £23 from James Johnston, and with the theft of a purse containing £3 0/3, the property of Eliza Woods. SubInspector Mitchell prosecuted and Mr Reed defended. James Johnston and Eliza Woods deposed that they missed the money from their"clothes while in ►Smith's house. His Worship said that he did not think that there was any evidence that Johnston had £23 in his possession, and as to the £3 the woman lost the evidence of the arresting sergeant showed that two £1 notes were found on the person of Woods at the police station. Sub-In-spector Mitchell said that he believed that he could obtain evidence that Johnston had the money in his possession on the day in question, and applied for an adjournment till Friday next. This His Worship agreed to. Marsh was released on bail on her own recognisances. Vagrancy.—The man Henry Surrey, who was charged with vagrancy on Monday, and remanded in order that the gaol surgeon might inquire into h's mental condition, was again brought up. Sub-Inspector Mitchell informed the Court that the gaol surgeon reported against the idea that accused w<as mentally weak. Constable A. Skinner stated for the prosecution that accused had been hanging round the wharves for some six months, doing no work, but getting food by begging from ships' cooks. Accused asked to be given a chance to get away, but His Worship imposed, a sentence of three months' imprisonment. The Court then adjourned.