POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 254, 24 October 1905, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

'■•■-"■•.■' TH_S_._ttAX-V ' yy (Before.Mr. C. C. Kettle, S-M.)

No Criminal Intent.—A young man named .--..George William .-'.Hay ward, -: defended by Mr. Lundon, was charged with breaking and entering the shop of Sharpies and t!o., in Alexandra-street, on October li, and stealing a tin of fish and a packet'of cocoa. Alice Putland,"a schoolgirl, stated that she saw the accused enter tbe yard at the back of Messrs. Sharpies and Ca.'s shop, and smash a window with his hands. He at once crawled through - the window into the shop. Albert Newby, manager of the shop, said he had, known the accused for two years, and found him to be o* exemplary character. The goods referred to. in the charge, which were similar to those stocked, were worth lOd. Con stable Horning, who made the arrest, said he found the tin of fish and cocoa on Hayward, who was druhk. ''The accused . gave evidence, on his own behalf, stating that.he was drinking on the day he was found in the shop,* and could recollect nothing about the matter. His 'Worship decided that he would not send the case to the Supreme. Court, as,he did not .believe a jury would cohyict the accused of theft. The evidence showed that Hayward had no criminal .intent, but committed the offence while* he was drunk. He should have been charged with drunkenness. The-police decided to take the magistrate's advice, and Hayward was then charged with inebriety. Pleading guilty, he was fined £1 with {costs.

The Drunkards. —The only first, of fending drunkard was an able-bodied young man who had come to Auckland " week ago with fC. According to the police he was now possessed of elevenpence, and in reply to the magistrate he admitted that he had nothing to show for his extravagant expenditure. "Very sfjy to enjoy yourself in this way," suggested the magistrate, and the inebriate admitted that he had been rather foolish. He was fined 5/, and given 24 hours in which to find ■th* money. Henry Barstow, pleadhrr guilty to drunkenness for the third tim within six months, was leniently deal' with, being convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. A Chinese "Vagrant.—An Sing, alia? Wong, a Chinese, pleaded guilty to be. ing an idle and disorderly person. H< also admitted that he had been pre viously convicted of theft and wound ing, and was sentenced to thret months' hard labour.

Maintenance Defaulters. —• Josep 1 William Doonin, who was convicted oi disobeying an order for his wife's maiD tcnance, was sentenced to threi" months' hard labour, suspended for 14 days to enable him to clear off the ar rears amounting to £13. John William McAneny was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, suspended for a week, on a charge of neglecting an order for his son's maintenance, tho arrears being £26.

YESTERDAY.

(Before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M.)

Satisfied.—Charlotte Ashley, a resident of Boston-road, Mount Eden, was summoned for being the owner of a clog which attacked Kenneth Gardiner. The latter was a child of 2$ years, and its father stated that about a week ago his little son came f to him with marks of a dog-bite on its lips. He sent for a doctor, and the wound -was. stitched. The defendant's collie had been playing with the child. In reply to Mr G. M- Johnston, who defended. Mr Gardiner said the dog had now been destroyed, and he was satisfied with this. Upon the suggestion of the magistrate the police then withdrew the information, and Mr Gardiner said he would pay tbe doctor's bill himself. Window"- Smashing Incident.—Louis Louie, who was defended by Mr J. R. Lundon, pleaded not guilty to having smashed two panes of glass in the house, of one Mrs Hill. The latter gave evidence thai Louie and his wife were drunk on October 7th, when the window panes were smashed. Mrs Louie had been fined for her share in the affair, and the witness' allegation was that Mr Louie broke two panes with 3ome pieces of firewood, and threw an enamelled dish through the window. 1-e defendant denied the offence, stating that all he did was to pull his wife away when she smashed the glass. Hi Worship accepted Louie's version and dismissed the case.