POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 5

POLICE COURT.

. m (Before Mr. F. V. Fraaer, S.M.)"' DRUNKENNESS. The list included only two first offenders, one being convicted. and fined 5/, and the other convicted aiid had his bail money (£1) forfeited. ANOTHER CHANCE. A half-caste Maori woman,. Sarah' Mary Thompson, aged 27, was charged with a second offence of drunkenness, and alto with being a rogue and vagabond, having insufficient lawful visible means of support. The police informed the Bench that Thompson was arrested a little time back in a house of ill-repute, and was convicted and given her liberty on the understanding that she returned to her people at Mercer. However, she made her re-appearance in the city, and resumed her former mode of living, and making a complete nuisance of herself by soliciting drink from men at hotel corners and elsewhere. She had been cautioned on no less than three occasions. The woman said her intention was to leave by launch for Waiheke last evening, and tearfully pleaded for a chance lo get away. "You have not taken advantage of tlm previous opportunity, and don't deserve another chance," remarked the magistrate, but h<- decided to prohibit her and give her another chance on the vagrancy charge. She was remanded till Monday on the understanding that if in the meantime her people came to her assistance she is to be liberated. A SHOCKING RECORD. Kate Wilson, aged 33, and of dilapidated appearance, was charged with being an idle and disorderly person, in that she was found by night, without lawful excuse on the premises of Joseph McNamara. The accused woman was arrested occupying an old house belonging to McNamara in the absence of the owner. Wilson said she had been working in various places during the last 18 months, and was on the point of going to Te Kuiti. where some relatives resided. She had wired for money to pay the train fare. "You have a shocking record," commented the magistrate, who added that her only recommendation was that she had kept out of the way of the police for 18 months. Accused was remanded until Monday, with the condition that if her fare for To Kuiti is forthcoming she should be allowed to depart, and not to return to the city within six months. THE SECOND MISTAKE. Frank Messenger, who was charged with having stolen a rug valued at £H5, the property of H. 0. Wiles, pleaded that he had been drinking, aud had no intention of committing a theft, ne picked the rug up. and was going to lie down on it. It was a mistake. ■'But it is the secoud mistake of the same sort that you have made," remarked Mr Frazer. Druukennes, he said, was no excuse. The theft appeared to have been deliberate, and, in view of the previous offence, could not be. passed over. A month's imprisonment was imposed. WORRZED AND OVER-WORKED Maude Anderson, a widow who keeps, a boaulinghouse in Upper Queen Street, pleaded not guilty "to" a charge' oE attempting to commit suicide "by taking poison .on the Oth inst, . .Evidence was given by the police to the effect that the woman was taken to the hospital suffering from the effects of poisoning. Both her room and her breath smelt strongly of the poisonous fluid. There were the dregs in a glass and a bottle half empty. Mrs Anderson said she was run down with overwork and worry, and besides had a complaint that could be eased only by the" poison involved' in the information. She did not swallow any of the poison, but used it. A number of her boarders were strikers, and were not paying up. She was in the hospital only a few hours, and then left. - The Court advised Mrs Anderson to he careful in using a poison in future, and dismissed the information. • BAG-SNATCHING CHANGE. Francis -Murphy, a middle-aged man, describing himself as a carter, was charged with the theft from Mrs Gertrude Keeble of a purse containing £4 in money, an exhibition season ticket, and a number of tram tickets, of the total value of £7. On the application of the police a remand till nest Thursday was granted, aud bail fixed in one surety of £50 and prisoner in himself of £50. It is alleged that the accused snatched the bag from Mrs Kee.ble in Waterloo Quadrant yesterday, but was arrested before making good his escape.