POLICE COURT.—Saturday. [Before T. Beckham, Esq., R.M.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3554, 7 December 1868, Page 5

POLICE COURT.— Saturday. [Before T. Beckham, Esq., R.M.]

Dbunkenness.— J. Mongomery, Margaret Bonfield, Maria (a, native), Henry Ford ham, Thomas McGilbrick, Elizabeth Canning, and James Sweeney were punished in the usual manner for the above offence. The last-named defendant was likewise charged with habitual drunkenness, he hating been previously convicted eleven times. — The defendant said he had only spent his own money, and if it were not for the way in which he and others did so the revenue would soon ba stopped. — Mr. Beckham said he would stop his supplies for the present, at all events in this respect, by giving him three months additional, to commence at the expiration of the seven days. Charge of Hobse-stealing.— Robert Laing was charged with stealing a horse, value £10, the property of R. T. Blake. He was also charged with stealing a horse, value £20, the property of William Farley Blake.— Prisoner pleaded not guilty. — Mr. Brookfield, who appeared for the prosecution, asked for a remand, as the prisoner had only been apprehended the day before. — Mr. Gillies said that the prosecutor was present, r id he ought therefore to go in the box and lay the grounds to entitle the Bench to remand the prboner. Itwasveryunfairtobringupa respectable man on information and then to remand him without evidence. — Mr. .Brookfield said the prosecutor could nob give much information at present, and again asked the Bench for a remand. — Mr. Gillies again argued that the prosecutor should go into the box, as he belipved he (the learned gentle- ! man) would be able, on his examination, to break up the case. — After some further discussion, William Farley Blake deposed : Some time ago he was residing at Waikoukou. It was two years since he resided there, when he left for Taranali, leaving two horses, the subject of the present information. They were the property of his son, and were left on the run. They were there in January last in charge of a native, who had been appointed to look after them. Went about four or five weeks back to look for the horses, but could not find them. On making inquiries, he obtained certain information, in consequence of which he went to the prisoner's place at Waitakere, when he obtained further information ; then went to Kellys, where he found one of the horses, the one that belonged to himself. Had not, during the two years that he bad been away, sold that horse, nor authorised anyone to do so. When he saw it at Kellys it hud been "docked."— By Mr. Gillies: Only one of these horses belonged to my eon Richard; the other belonged to George, and that is the one I claim now. My son George is about 22 years of age. When I left for Taranaki these horses were about a year or a year and a half old. They were foaled on the run. Before leaving for Taraoa'ri I became bankrupt, and all my property was iuvesced in a trustee. The horse that I now claim was a grey entire ; the other one, that I left under the crre of Richard, was a black entire. I went to the father of prisoner to search for these horsei, and told him that my son had lost a grey entire, and that I had heard that his son had it. 1 did not say that I came in search of the grey horse and a brown filly. Before leaving for Taranaki I saw these horses constantly, and I have seen them several times since. I did not give up theie horses to my trustee at the time of the bankruptcy. They were on the run at that time, and I said nothing about them. My son, to whom the other horse belongs, is at Patea. 1 have got the grey horse back ; he was at Onehuuga. Mr. Brookfield again applied for a remaud. — Mr. Gillies said ho would ask for bail. — Mr. Brookfield aaid he had no objection, — Remanded until Friday next, bail being taken, two suretiea in £200 each for defendant's future appearance. — Mr. Laing and Mr. Thomas Macfarlane entered into the necessary bonds, and the prisoner was discharged from custody. Vagbancy. — Sarah Condron, Eliz* Kelly, Mary Mininex, ard Matilda Jones, four girls whose ages ranged from about 15 to 18, were charged with a breach of the Vagrant Act — they having no visible or lawful means of support. — The whole of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charge. —Mr. Naughton said it was a wise course they had pursued, for if the case had been gone into his Worship would have formed a very bad opinion of them. Sarah Condron had been btfore convicted as a disorderly prostitute, and he thought she ought to be charged under another clause which went a little further. — Mr. Beckham said whatever any witneues might say would not give the Court any wone opinion with regard to the conduct of the girls before him; they were too well known to him for that. It was a dreadful thing to see four young girls, the oldest not above eighteeu years, pursuing such a course of of life. — Mr. Naughton said one of them had had a month for obscene language, and one had been twice convicted for keeping a brothel. — Mr. Beckham then gave defendants a severe lecture, and told them that iE convicted again they would be each liable to imprisonment for twelve months. If brought before him they might depend upon it they would get a heavy punishment. He was sorry there waa no reformatory in Auckland where these girls could be sent to. Sending them to gaol he was afraid would not have the desired effect ; but still he was bound to punish them. He ordered each of them to be sent to the common gaol for three months with hard labour. Disturbing the Pboceedings at the Indigkaiion Meeting. — Alexander Walker, compositor, connected with the Herald Office, was charged with, using provoking language, the evening before, at the Mechanics' Institute, {calculated to lead to a breach of the peace, and for disturbing a meeting that was going forward. — The defendant pleaded guilby. — Mr. Naughton said he did not know anything of the case, but, if his Worihip deaired i>-, he would put wifcneisei into the box to state what had occurred. — Mr. Leary said that defendant had only acted as many others had done on the occasion. — Defendant said Mr. Freer was as bad as he was on the occasion. — The Court remarked that, if one man was bad, it was no reaion that another should be. Every man must be answerabl* for his own transgressions. % Defendant was liable to be fined £5. Could Mr. George say anything in his favour? — Mr. George said he had called him to order several times, but without effect. He thought that a man in his poiition, when he went to a meeting, should behave himself in a proper manner. He did not wish unduly to press the charge, however. — Mr. Beckham said the defendant was evidently sorry for irhat he had done by pleading guilty, and, as Mr. George did not wish to press the charge, no punishment would be inflicted beyond the costs. Defendant had therefore to thank that gentleman for the course he had adopted ; but be had better keep a guard on his tongue for the future when he was at any place of the kind. Assault.— Mr. Henry Neil was charged by Sarah Hill with committing an assault upon her in Upper Queen-street, by kicking her on the leg and throwing her atjainit a table. — The prosecutrix is a native of the Emerald Isle, and ii about sixty years of age. Her volubility was ao great that the Magistrate had several times to call her to order. Her appearance was by no meant that of a London belle; her booner, in particular, seemed to be some generations behind the present fashions, and iuch a one as we should suppoie was worn by the celebrated " Sairey Gamp." She was the source of considerable merriment t> the auditory throughout the case. Having been sworn and kissed the book with great emphasis, the depoied ; I live in Upper Queen-street, and rint one

of that man's housss. On tho 2nd of th ; «i month he came to me house with a hammer and chisel. 'Faith," says I, " what wou'd you be afther doin' with that same ? " He hammers and chisels and tries to take the hinges off me very door. " Arrah," wy* I, " stop now from that ; what is it for ? Ain't you paid your rint ?" «ays J, and with that I tells him he had bet' i see my husband, who was working over the way. Seeing he took no notice of me words, I put me hmds on his, aud says T to him, " What would you do with the door ?" Mr. Beckham : You & em to have objected to hare your door removed. — Prosecutrix : Tndade an' I did that ; with them words he gave me a shove. — Mr. Beckham : Did he shove you before you shored him? — Prosecutrix .' I didn't shove him at all ; [ only wanted him lo come away fiom the door, and when I says to him, " Get away," he ups with his foot and hit me a kick on the leg (loud laughter), which is there now, and your Wordsbip may see it too (sivting the action to the word, and displaying her shin to the Court, amidst much merrmeut) ; and thin he gare me a " pitch," and I came on my right side Against the edge of the table. (Laughter.) I went to him thin a second time, and say* I, " Mr. Neil," says I, "is it about the rint? For ]f it is you'd better see my husband ; and you shall pay for this," say 3 I, and then I roared to my old man— he's very deaf, your Wordship (laughter) — and I beckons 1 j him, and he comes across to see what's up. Says my husband, '• What brought you here?" pays Mr. Beckham : Did defendant asßiult you any more ?— Prosecutrix : No fear of that, your Wordsb'D ; my old man 'ud s»e to that when he some up. (Laughter.)— Defendant : On your oath, did 1 strike you or knock you ?— Prosecutrix : Faith ye did that, and didn't I show my leg to the officer? (Loud laughter.) —Defendant : You are a nuisance to all the neighbourhood. I never laid my ha«h on you. — Prosecutor : Oh ! you wicked man to say so. (Laughter.) I am an old woman, and I am not going to be knocked about by the likes of yez. I owe ye no rint till Monday, thanks be to glory. (Laughter.) And then I'll pay ye the two shillins for the house rent for the week." (Laughter.) — Mr. Beckham : Stand dowD, n>»m. — Prosecutrix: An' I will, sir, but I call on the officer to prove that be saw my leg after the assault. (Laughter.) — Detective Ternah an said the prosecutrix had Bhown him a bruise on her leg, on the 3rd instant. — There were no witnesses to support Mrs. Hill's statement.— Mr. Beckham: Hai not this woman been brought up for drunkenness ? — Mr. Naughton : Ye% repeatedly. — Joseph Wareham deposed that the prosecutrix wai a thoroughly unreliable woman, and made certain statements in support of his assertion,— Mr. Beckham asked what was Mrs. Hill's general conduct. — The witness said he had repeatedly seen her in a state of drnnkenness — Prosecutrix : I have a good character, your Wordship. — Mr. Naughton : You are very well known at this Courb. You have been here repeatedly for drunkenness, though lately, your Worship, she has been away in the bush somewhere, and has not troubled us much. — My. Beckham said that the defendant ought to know that he had no right to go and turn neople out of doors by taking the law into his own baud. — Defendant said that he was not going to turn them out of doors. — The Court remarked that it looked very l'ke it at all events. If he had wantel to get rid of the woman he should have used proper means. — Defendant said he was not acquainted with the law, and if ho had acted wrongly be had done so in ignorance. — Mr. Beckham said that was no excusa. If he had property he should learn the 'aws regulating that property. Be considered the offence had been proved, but he should only inflict a nominal penalty of ten ahillings and costs. Before leaving the Court he would tell defendant that he had done a very thoughtless act, and one for which the proseoutrix 'a husband might have brought an action against him for trespass if he liked. This concluded the business, and the Court adjourned.