POLICE-COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 73, 26 March 1906, Page 2

POLICE-COURT.

THIS DAT.

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

The Drunk List.—One first offender* a female, was convicted and discharged. Three others were-fined 5/ and costs. A Sunday offender who was found drunk at 1.20 p.m. yesterday was fined 10/ and costs.

A Study in Black and White.—A negi'o named Joe Gomms and a white man named Ernest Vesto pleaded guilty to fighting in Queen-street. The negro's story was that he was standing in Queen-street talking to a "culled genelmen," when Vesto came up from behind and struck him in the back of the neck. He followed him up and a fight ensued. Vesto stated that he was having a drink in a hotel when Gomms shouldered him. He asked the negro to shift, and was then struck and knocked down. He followed the negro outside and they ■'squared up." on which a policeman arrived and arrested both of them. The negro denied that he sa-w Vesto in the bar, and went on to say that the latter was jealous because he had asked his coloured friend to drink, and had" not asked A'esto. The case was adjourned till later in the day for further evidence. Later in the day Alice Cox, barmaid at the Thames Hotel, was called. She stated that Vesto had used insulting language, that Gomms had remonstrated, and from this the fight had arisen. His Worship said that he had no doubt but that Vesto was the aggressor, and fined him £5, in default one month's imprisonment. The case against Gomms was dismissed. His Worship expressed himself as determined to put an end to disorderly conduct in hotels.

Resisting the Police—Joseph South, a young man. pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Keppel-street, Arch Hill, at 1,30 a.m. yesterday, and not guilty to resisting Constable McOilp in the execution of his duty. The constable stated that accused iras drunk and 'creating a disturbance nt his father's house. The father asked witness to take accused away, and when he did so South resisted violently, and had to he thrown and handcuffed. His Worship pointed out to 'accuse that the whoJe trouble had been caused by excessive drinking, and advised him to leave the drink alone altogether. He tiived him £.1 for drunkenness, and convicted him on the charge of resisting the police, ordering him to come up for sentence if called upon. His Worship said that had the constable been injured accused would have been sent to gaol; the police mast be protected. At the suggestion of Sergeant Hendry a prohibition order was issued against him. Alleged False Pretences.—Wra. Gunn, a middle-aged man. appeared on a charge of obtaining £1 10/ in Wellington by false pretences, and was on the application of Chief-Detective .Marsack remanded for a week, the detective stating that- further local charges were pending. °

Welcoming tlie All Blacks.—A lengthened spree resulted in a man named Geo. Roberts cutting rid of nearly £00, spending a fortnight in the hospital, and appearing at the Police Court to-day on a charge of drunkenness. He stated to U.,- magistrate that he had come dtfwn from the country with a sum of £59 m his possession to •assist in the welcoming of the Xew Zealand footballer*. He was robbed of £20 and that upset him. and being ill the drink which he had taken had affected him. This was on March 14. and by then he had spent the remainder of his money. He pleaded guilty to the char-e and was convicted and discharged on payment of costs.

Robbing an Orchard—A seventeen-.year-old lad named John Homan pleaded, guilty to the theft of a bag of apple* value 3/. the property of Alfred Walker. Sergt. Hendrey stated that the owner had picked two btu*s of apples, and while he was carrying one into the house, the other was abstracted. Accused had previously convicted of theft, and his Worship imposed a. penalty of one months' imprisonment. Three youths about the same age. Francis Hunt, Richard Tucker, and Scs. Miller, were charged with receiving the fruit. Hunt pleaded guilty and ttie others not guilty. The owner stated that he had given Tucker permission 1o take a few apples whenever he felt inclined. Hi.* Worship held that there was no evidence or even suspicion against Tucker. Thei charge against him was dismissed. He was satisfied that both Hunt and Miller knew that the apples were stolen, and received part of them. Hunt was fined £2 and Miller £1.

Alleged Pilfering.— A .wharf lumper named Charles Dundson was charged with the theft from the s.s. Kumara. of 21 pairs of socks and 2 pairs of slippers, the property of L. D. Nathan. Chief-Detective Marsack said that the goods were alleged to have been stolen from the Kumara, in the ihold of which accused was working. lie had been arrested on Saturday night and tiho detectives applied for a remand for "a week. Mr SkeJton, who appeared for accused, offered no objection and the remand was granted, baiJ being granted in two sureties of .£SO each. Alleged Fndeeent Assault. —A middleaged man named Thomas O'Halloran was charged with indecently assaulting his stepdaughter, a girl aged 11. Mr. J. R. Lundon appeared for accused. The Court was cleared during the hearing of the case. (Proceeding.)