OLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 154, 30 June 1911, Page 5

OLICE COURT.

(Before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M.). THE DRUNKARDS. Frank Messenger, a second offender, ""•as_ fined 10/, as was Thomas Richards. Loui Ramaki, a coloured man, pleaded gnflty to a third offence, and was fined a similar amount. Edward Collins, another coloured man, was also fined 10/ ior a second offence. A young man named Arthur Thurlow pleaded guilty to having been disorderly while drunk in Queen-street. It was the man's first orfence, and he was fined 10/ or 48 hours. Five first offenders were fined 5/ each, and one forfeited a bail of £1.

Henry Kelly's only fault was that he could not leave drink alone, said Subinspector Hendrey, when the man was charged with being an idle and disorderly person, 'with insufficient means of support. Kelly has a wife and five children, and had also to answer a charge for not paying a maintenance order. He pleaded that he had -work to go to, and on the first charge was convicted and discharged. IDLE MEN. A young man named Walter Lister, who was last week convicted and discharged on a charge that he was an idle and disorderly person, again made his appearance at "the Court, this morning, , charged with being a rogue and a vagabond. Last evening accused went up to a man in Queen-street, and asked for money. Not gettingthis, he continued to pester the man, until he was given in charge. Evidence was given that since his last conviction accused had not done any work, and it was considered lie was' not mentally sound. Accused pleaded not guilty, and proceeded to give an account of the work done by him during the past few days. In regard to his conduct last evening he said lie mistook the man he spoke to" for someom; else, who owed him an apology. Accuso-d was convicted, and as he said he had work to go to, was with a caution that if he made another appearance he will be senteniced to a long term of imprisonment. Thomas O'Brien admitted that he was found in a shed in Lome-street this morning, but he denied that h e was an incorrigible rogue, having previously been convicted as a rogue and a vagabond. When found this morning in tho shed, which is used as a storage shed for a builder, accused was with another man, who bolted. Accused said he had •come out of the hospital, and getting drunk, was taken to the shed, to lie down. He .was convicted and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment. THREE MONTHS. An old man named John Costello pleaded guilty to having stolen 10 sacks, valued at 2/6, the property of Messrs. Bond and Bell. The Sab-Inspector stated that the man had been at the Costley Home, but ho kept wandering away, and the authorities were unable to Keep him. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.

"WEAK-MINDED MAN. A young man named Arthur Coombes (Mr. Robinson) pleaded guilty to threo charges of having stolen sums of money, to the extent of 7/6, the property of James Dunn. Mr. Robinson said the accused's intellect was not too strong. He was recently an iumato of the Mental Hospital, and it was arranged that he should go North , to work, on the brother's farm. The man was eccentric, and wandered away, doing work at various places, lie was in the hospital twice, and when in Christchurch gave himself up to the police, having no means. From there he wandered back to Auckland, and worked as a road mender. White, staying at a boarding house he stola the money from his room-mate. The/re was no criminal intention, said counsel, and it was believed accused gave 5/ to the Ambulance collections. Sub-Inspec-tor Hendrey said considerable cunning had been displayed by the accused. Mr. Robinson suggested that accused should be convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The adjutant of the Salvation Army Hama had arranged to take tie man to the Home, and he was told, that while he stayed there he vrould not be Drought before the Court.

UNDESIRABLE WOMEN. Kelina Potts and Mary McMamis, two women of very unprepossessing appearance, have made frequent appearances before the Court. This morning they pleaded not guilty to. charges that they were incorrigible rognes, and were lost night soliciting prostitution in Qookstreet. The evidence against the women was numerous members of the police and detective force testifying to the character of the women. They worked on the gwn fields a great deal of the -time, but efvery now and again came to town with their men, and sought a living on the street. They were convicted on each charge, and sentenced to one month on. each cSarge, sentences to be concurrent. TROUBLE AT THE THEATRE.

On the 36th inst. a disturbance took place at His Majesty's Theatre, resulting in Mr. F. Duval, theatre manager, being either struck or thrown heavily to the ground. As the result a man named Watson ■was heavily fined. This morning a brother of Watson, named William F. Watson, had to answer to charges that he used threatening behaviour and obscene language on the night in question. Mr. Hackett appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. The Sub-Inspector explained the circumstances, that the accused, with three other young men, were present at the theatre, and during an interval went out. On their return, they -were all more or less Tinder the influence of liquor, and the accused's brother was refused admission. A disturbance occurred, and, said Sub-Inspector Hendrey, accused was the main cause of the trouble, and would have been. charged with his brother, only he got away on the morning of the trial, probably Scenting trouble. Evidence similar to that in the previous case was given. Accused's version "was that, finding his brother was not let in, he went out with tho intention of going home. There was a general mix-up, but he denied using the obscene language. He got five or six nits himself, but did not strike anybody. In Tegard to the statement made that he left the Court to evade arrest, he said he had been told his brother was going to plead guilty, and his evidence would not be needed. Accused was convicted on both charges. In imposing a fine of £5, with costs, £1 16/, on the ffrst charge, his Worship said it must be clearly understood that such conduct as men going and getting drunk and then disturbing a theatre audience would not be tolerated. On the charge of using obscene language he was convicted and discharged.

REMANDS. John Cunningham, arrested last evening, -was remanded fox a week, on a

and contents, the property of Daniel Selby, from the Waitemata Hotel. Thomas Oakley, ■who has recently returned from "Australia, was yesterday arrested on warrant, and ■was this morning remanded to appear at Christcliurch, this day week, on a charge of disobeying an order made against him for the maintenance of his illegitimate child. MISCELLANEOUS. Jo-hjj U. Dunn was fined £2 in defauli 7 days for treating Ms prohibition order. Two Chinamen, named Ah Chang and Law Teen, who failed to appear, were each fined 5/ with 7/ costs for working in their market garden at Remuera on a recent Sunday. Bridget Eyton. who did not was fined £2, with 7/ costs, for breaking her prohibition order.