POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 76, 28 March 1908, Page 7

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. R. W. Dyer, SiM:)

THE COMPANY THEY KEPT.

Henry George Quinn, tall and slack of > build, and with an energy that loves . continued rest, endeavoured hard, with Mr. Hackett's assistance, to discredit the . police evidence concerning the ill-repute of his daily companions. Since he arI rived in Auckland some three months or so ago, he had not been known, to r do much work, and was rather more ; than suspected of mendicancy. Three | months in Mt. Eden Gaol-he is spending. Another man, with a. record for labour- ' saving devices, Joseph Coles, was also a loud protestant against the charges of general worthlessness respecting himself and his companions, proven despite all his efforts to. tiie contrary. Coles has retired from the worries of a free life fortwelve months. (Before Mr. F. Gy qiayton, J.P.) HONESTY IN TROUBLE. James Moase ran trembling fingers through his thinning locks, and protested anxiously that he was a hardworking and honest man, with only a weakness for an occasional cup. As for the charge of vagrancy against him, he defied anyone to make good so ill-founded an ac- I cusation. Moase was clearly agitated at the possibility of going down to posterity as a vagrant, while the not yet wholly digested beer within him added its dynamic argument to the outward and visible signs. The whole of his most recent trouble came about through Ms partiality for that same beer. It led him in the first place to part with an important moiety of his scant wardrobe to a second-hand dealer in Victoriastreet. This transaction occurred, last. Thursday, and the shilling proceeds v/ere quickly dissipated in the sparkling brew. His imagination stimulated,,, that divorced garment floated before it in glorified perspective, and he'd be hanged but that dealer should contribute further for such a pretty piece of apparel. So. to the dealer he hied him," and demanded a further sixpence. But the heart of Israel demurred at such extortion, and Moase was fain to depart under threat of police attention. But hope springs eternal in the "booser's" breast, so 'again he attempted the thorny path to. that chandler's pocket, this time supplicating; for the price of a bed. Victorious, he hurried hence with the wherewithal to brim a foaming pewter, and the next day was Friday, and his final undoing. Vainglorious over the previous night's success he wended yet again his eager steps, to that long-suffering dealer, and refused to leave without the nimble sixpence. Indiscreetly he puffed his pride to defiance and threats. Let them bring along all the police in Auckland, he would kick in the unhallowed window if the sixpence forthcame not. Well, the short of it was, it didn't forthcome, but this morning Moase penitently and brokenly pleaded not to be sent to gaol. Issue a prohibition order against him, scarify his soul with ills prospective, but for God's sake let them not send a decent, honest, hardworking man to gaol. Sub-Inspector Gordon benevolently suggested that he be convicted and ordered up for sentence when called upon,, and to the everlasting gratitude of Moase, the Bench adopted this lenient course. INEBRIATE. Christina Hoyle's third appearance: in the period resulted in a penalty of 20/, default seven days, Four first offenders in the half year exhausted the list, one of the quartet deciding that Sunday in free quarters was the only resource left him, specie being non-existent. REMANDS. A black-whiskered individual, of- the name of Billy Doyle asked for a remand in connection with the charge of incorrigible vagrancy preferred against him. Chief-Detective Marsack made no objection, so Friday next was appointed. Eric Hare, a large fair man of substantial appearance, charged with being about to desert his child, Tasman H. Hare without leaving him adequate means of maintenance was, on the application of Mr. Sharpies, who appeared for the prosecution, remanded until Tuesday next, bail being allowed in two sureties each of £25 and himself in £50.