POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 69, 22 March 1910, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. W. Coltman, J.P.) A YOUTHFUL DESERTER. A fine strapping young fellow named Patrick Coleman smilingly pleaded guilty to a charge of having deserted from H.M.S. Challenger .during her recent stay in the Waitemata Harbour. Sub-inspec- , tor ' Hendrey asked ' for a • remand until the 24th, in' order that ,he might learn where the nearest, of. His .Majesty's ships' could be found, so that the. defendant could be placed aboard. One of the , Court officials. intimated that the Powerful was ■ still lying in Wellington Harbour, and was being tendered by the Pegasus. . But ,Patrick Coleman, A.8., still smilingly remarked imperturbably, as if quite oblivious of the —which he —that he will have his leave stopped, and be subjected to other disciplinary humiliations when he is aboard, blurted out, "Why, the Challenger, my own ship, is in Sydney." . He was remanded. .•■'■'■ (Before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M.) LANGUAGE. William Francis Carroll was charged that he made use of obscene language to a tram conductor in a tram car. Mr. J. R. Lundon appeared for the ' accused, who pleaded "not guilty." His Worship, after hearing the evidence, said that it i was abundantly proved that defendant's! conduct was -bad, 'but it seemed to him extraordinary that the alleged bad language should be used on the solitary occasion on which the car stopped and another witness was present. This was so peculiar as to raise a doubt in his Worship's mind as to the veracity of th« evidence on the point, and of that' doubt he gave the accused the benefit. The information was therefore dismissed. DISOB3EBLY. James Kean, a young man, was charged with having been disorderly while drunk in West-street on the 25th February, with haying used abusive language, and with having procured liquor while prohibited. Sergeant Sheahan, for the prosecution, stated that accused had been a pest to the neighbourhood in which he lived for some six months past. Repeated complaints had boen received about him, and on several occasions the police had to go down to quell disturbances caused by him. He pleaded "guilty/ and was sent down for 14 days. HARNESSING A DOG. George Squibb, an old man who plies the trade of porter on the streets of Auckland, was charged with having harnessed a dog to his hand-cart. The method of harnessing was merely to attach the.dog's chain to the handle prop and let the dog run under the cart and pull. Defendant was spoken to several times, and warned that he was breaking the law, tout he persisted in making use of the dog in • this way. He was fined 5/, and ordered -to pay costs. - CRUELTY.- ■ Roderick Mackay was charged that Oft the 12th March he cruelly illtreated a horse by causing it to be worked While it was suffering from a sore, on its neck. Defendant was convicted and fined £2, I and directed to pay costs. Inspector Alder to take possession of the horse, but was prevented from doing so, it was alleged, by threats of violence from the foreman on the works, Theodore 'Casey by name. As the inspector is a . special constable, Casey thereby rendered himself liable to prosecution, ' and he was accordingly charged with having hindered a, special constable fin the execution of his duty. His ex- . planation was that he did not know that ! the inspector had any legal right to take ! the horse, and. he denied -that he had threatened the- inspector with violence. He was convicted and fined £2, with costs ! £1 10/. . . DRUNKENNESS. James'J. Given -was fined £2, in default 14 days'. imprisonment. Charles Johnston was fined 5/-or 24 hours. Thos. Finnigan, alias Keenan; had his bail estreated, . J. CHalloran was fined 5/ or 2-1 hours imprisonment. William Williams was fined' 20/ or 4S hours' imprisonment. William .'Sparks. was. fined £1, in default 7 days'imprisonment. Three first offenders were fined 5/, in default 24 hours' imprisonment.