POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 276, 19 November 1913, Page 4

POLICE COURT.

f (Before Mr F. V. Frazer, S.M.) TH B NEW T_PP__-, When a first offender was charged with being found drunk yesterday in Albert Street, the magistrate asked him where he got the drink, and he replied that he didn't know. "I got it somehow." he declared. "Some of the men who were before you yesterday, your Worship, and two who are coming up this morning have been drinking methylated spirits. A little methylated spirits and some ginger beer seems to serve them for whisky." Tiie offender was fined of. William Bartley, who repudiated the use of methylated spirits, but said he had got whisky from a man on Albert Street wharf, was fined 10/. Percy Smith also repudiated the use of methylated spirits, and said he had got some whisky' from a fishing party, but the Senior Sergeant stated that prior to his arrest that day accused had a bottle of methylated spirits in his pocket. As Smith was a prohibited person, he was fined £2 for getting drunk. ARRESTED BY 'SPECIALS. - ' Robert Maynell (22) was charged that yesterday he obstructed Captain Northcroft, a special constable, in the execution of his duty, and that he assaulted Ernest Greensides, a special constable. Captain Northcroft said that about f) a.m. yesterday he was in charge of a squadron of special constables at Newton, and was called to the Great North Road, near Wright's 6tables, where there was a crowd of about a hundred people blocking up the way and refusing to disperse. He gave orders that the squadron should move the crowd on, and many of the latter took refuge inside the gates of a private house. Meyncll was driving a cart on the road, into which he invited four or five of the ■Irowil. Witness ordered that he be moved on. and when the specials moved up to take the horse's head accused tried to break away by driving nis horse through the men. Witness then ordered Mevnell's arrest, and those in the cart bolted. When some of the specials dismounted to get into the cart, Meynell unshipped the seat of the cart (a plank) and tried to strike one of the specials, but was overpowered. Ernest Greensides stated that when Meyncll swung the seat one end caught in the iron catch, and before he could free it he was overpowered. Maynell said that he was engaged carting to and from the wharf, and hud to look to the specials for protection. He was passing in his cart, and stopped to sec what was going on. Some of the strikers jumped in the cart without invitation. He hud been ordered to move on in the direction out of the way in which he had business. After protest he moved on and went to turn round the next corner, when the specials seemed to think he \*-s defying them. His Worship said it was evident that accused had taken active sides against the specials, who had the same powers as the ordinary police, and he would be fined £2. niEGAi TtSSISG. Joseph Braslin and John Braslin were eh-arged that on Wednesday last they set a net in the Tamaki River for the purposes of "stalling." They pleaded "Guilty," and were represented by Mr Allan Moody. Mr Mays stated that the Inspector of Fisheries caught the defendants in the act of "stalling" on a mud-flat within the mouth of the Tamaki River. The operation consisted of setting a great length of net across the river on the mud-flats grounding both ends, with the result that hundreds of young fish (as well as others) were left stranded when the tide went down, and thus the fishing ground was seriously depleted. This prohibited system of fishing resulted in large catches, and the defendants were, no doubt, tempted by the large prices at present ruling for fis-u In one instance the defendants had 600 fathoms of net out. and in another 4DO fathoms. The defendant John, who owned the fishing boat, was fined £2 and 2S/ costs, and his brother 20/ and 28/ costs, consideration being had to tbe fact that the nets and boat were coivfiscated. A CASE DISMISSED. William John Melton (29) wa3 charged that on Tuesday last week he used threatening behaviour. Constable W. J. Taylor said that about 2.30 p-m. there was a crowd near the cart stand in Victoria Street, where some lorries, under escort, were being discharged. A good deal of insulting language came from _ie crow<l. Melton being a ringleader in that respect. When the lorries were leaving, Melton struck witness' horse on the head, dodged away through the cart stand and walked up the street. He was followed and arrested by Cons-table Clist. Const-able Clist corroborated the previous witness, stating that Melton was two or three feet clear of the cart stand wihen he struck Taylor's horse on the head. Melton (who was represented by Mr. A. E. Skelton) absolutely denied that he spoke at all when in the crowd, or that he hit the hortse. He stated that he and a companion had just got to the crowd from Queen Street, when one of the wagons eaime out of the alleyway with a rattle, and the mounted policeman's horse plunged up against him. As he m« ja-nbed with his back against an express that was on the cart stand, he grabbed the horse's reins and turned its head to prevent its running him down. Then, thinking, he mi<-ht have done wrong, he turned, and went through the line of the cart stand, and walked'away. He was immediately after arrested, aiid ■he protested then that he had done nothing wrong. John Hume, J. W. Ward, and F. G. Mendoza corroborated accused's story, and the magistrate stated that there' was a considerable element of dortbt. Apparently the constables had confused the man who used the words with the man who had put his hand up to the horse's head, and irrmde a mistake. The case would be -iismissed.

MISCEIXAITEOUS. Francie Burke (50), on a charge that he was a ropue and 'vagabond, without sufficient lawful meane of support, was remaiuled for a week.