POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1908, Page 3

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M.) - SERIOUSLY SITUATED. The number of charges against men of criminally interfering with children has been unpleasantly numerous of late, and the unhealthy folly was increased by two this morning. _ In one case a small elderly man named Alexander. Campbell, who was arrested on Saturday night by Detective Macmahon, appeared to answer four charges of having indecently assaulted little girls in January last. Detective Macmahon asked for a remand until Friday, to which the accused made no demur.

The other case was one in wniea a brawny looking man of some 30 odd years, was charged with, having committed an offence upon a little boy of 3J years in Elliott-street on Saturday last. The offence was alleged to have been committed on a doorstep shortly after nve o'clock in the evening, and the accused man, upon the reading of the charge protested that it was a cruel one. A madman, he argued, would not have done such a thing in the public street at sucn a After hearing the evidence, his Worship expressed the opinion that he ought not to send the man to the higher Court on the evidence. No jury, he thought, would feel justified in convicting upon it. It was quite possible that Smith was tolling the truth, and that the boys father, distracted at the | thoupht of such an offence upon his, son, had arrived at an erroneous conclu- j sion The evidence showed that the man was exposed, but it was incredible that \ in such a place and under such circum- j stances the man would have; committee | such an assault as was alleged. lhe.| information would therefore be dasmissed. INEBK.IATE. John Broekbank, who was committed to the Salvation Army Home for six months some ten days ago, showed appreciation of lug new quarters by seeking an early opportunity to quit them According to the officer in charge 01 1 the Home, Broekbank asked leave to , visit the hospital the day after he, ar- . rived, complaining of a severe attack j of dysentery. He went, but the hospital authorities refused to admit him. The day following he desired permission to visit a doctor, and that night he failed to show up, but substantiated next morning at breakfast. Broekbank alter this apparently developed a desire to become a kind of free dependent, preferring to pass the nights in a shed rather than in the sleeping quarters. This sort of thing boing a trifle irregular and damaging to discipline, an appeal was made to the police, and the Bohemian passed again into their hands. The sufferer himself declared that he had been in a parlous condition of body and mind of late owing to this inconsiderate dysentery. He had, in fact, spent twelve days in the hospital, and would have spent more had it not been that his room was wanted. As ior 1 drink, he had been an abstainer for near. jly twelve months, notwithstanding the appearances and convictions against him. Those were all owing 1o unfortunate niisvuidersta.ndin£s respecting his temperament and state of health. Ue denied very earnestly having cleared out from the Army home, but declared that so soon as he had clearly explained the situation, his unconditional liberty was promised him. ■ ■ The Magistrate concluded that tfte Salvation Tiome was no place for Brock- ■ bank, who went on to say that he had plenty of work awaiting him il they only allowed him to got to it.

"Got along, you can go," said his Wor- j ship, :iftcr addressing the voluble victim | in severe terms." Brockbank showed a disposition to assume an injured role, but abruptly decided to quit without I further ceremony upon the magistrate suggested to the sub-inspector that the * ru st way of dealing with him. would be I to bring him along for vagrancy, "it i is no good giving a man lil<c that seven > days," remarked Mr. Kettle. Mr. Gor- | don opinioned it was difficult to know what to do with him uuder the circumstances. Two first offenders were fined to the usual crown extent, a previous one was mukted of 10/-. and one who had been I indiscreet enough to damage a cell! bucket was required to part with 12,- 6 . in all, or 4S hours of liberty. | BY-LAWS. ! Ah Chung and Robe.-t ileKee were I each fined 5/ for allowing horses to be I at large. I TWO DAYS. Walter Kvctts. for committing a. bro3rh I of the proprieties at .Vow North Road, j Ninjrslami. was sentenced to forty-ci-ht i hours of diiraiu r.