POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 1 April 1913, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

(Before Messrs. J. Walton and J. C. Webster, J.P.'s.) DRUNKENNESS. David Wright was in a hurry to get to work, but he had to wait till he could finance a fine of 10/ before taking ; his coat off again. William Riddle, whose relative physical and mental proportions seemed to be adequately indicated by a No. 10 boot and a No. 6 hat, smiled through his spectacles when it was intimated that his offence would be covered by a fine of 10/. One first offender was convicted and discharged, another forfeited bail, while yet another was prohibited and discharged. GOT THE BEER FIRST. Alexander Forrester, a lusty -man of 32 years, when charged with being an idle and disorderly person and with having used indecent language in Queen' Street yesterday afternoon, said that he was a oeaman who couldn't get a ship. Constable Bruton said that the immediate cause of Forrester's appearance was that he went into the Waitemata Hotel, ordered some beer and drank it, and then intimated that he had no money. When the licensee called a policeman Forrester became annoyed, and said so in language that hastened his arrest. The constable informed the Court that for some time past the accused had been making himself a pest in Lower Queen Street by hanging round 'the hotels, cadging and drinking. Forrester still held that he wasn't an idle and disorderly person, and mentioned that he had been in the Navy and in the London fire brigade. His record showed that he had also been in gaol, though not for anything serious, and the Magistrate dismissed the vagrancy charge, but prohibited accused and sentenced him to 14 days' hard labour for the language. MAN WHO WENT AWAY. Thomas William McKay, a young man, wad charged that, being bound over to appear as a witness to give evidence in the Supreme Court on May 12, he was about to absent himself from such appearance. Chief-Detective McMahon said that McKay, who. had been employed as a taxi-cab driver in Auckland, was a very important witness against Mrs. Skellon, who was waiting trial on a charge of procuring abortion. He had gone to Hamilton to work, but left there suddenly and Vent to Wellington, and was about to sail by the s.s. Aorangi for 'Frisco when he was arrested. He said then that he had intended coming bAck by the same boat, but as the date of the Aorangi's return was May 22, and McKay was bound over to appear in Auckland on May 12, it bad to be presumed that he intended to -etay away. Detective-Sergeant Cox gave evidence that McKay asked permission to go to Hamilton, giving an address there. He stayed there for Gome time, but left suddenly for Wellington without notifying the police, and got a job working his •passase on the Aorangi.

McKay was ordered to find two sureties of £150 each that he would appear at the Supreme Court; otherwise he would be detained in custody. MAINTENANCE. An order was made against Patrick Page that he should contribute 2/6 weekly towards tbe support of his wife in the mental hospital.

Arthur Wm. Johnston was convicted on charges that he had disobeyed an order to pay 10/ each for the maintenance of his wife and child, and sentenced to one month's imprisonment on one charge, and three months on the other. He was a—so ordered to find two sureties of £25 each that he would comply with the orders in future. YOUNG WIFE'S MISTAKE. Evelyn Arnold, a young married woman, who appeared with a baby in her anns, admitted having stolen some infants' robes and gowns, and a number of small culinary articles belonging to Florrie Threlfall. The goods were valued at r.bout 43/. Chief-Detective McMahon said that the accused was renting a room off Mrs. Threlfall in August last year, and took the things out of an unlocked box that was in the room. The young woman was married and had a child now five I months old, ibut her husband had gone | away, and she was living with relatives, 'on whom she was dependent. Tliere was nothing known against her-by the police. Accused wa3 convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called on; 1 also to pay 9/ cost—.