POLICE COURT.-Monday. (Before Messrs. Mitford and H. Morrow, J.P.s.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3931, 29 March 1870, Page 4

POLICE COURT.-Monday. (Before Messrs. Mitford and H. Morrow, J.P.s.)

Drunkenness. — AgnesDawkins and James Prince were each fined 55., or 24 hours' imprisonment, for this offence. Jane Kelly, her third appearance, was also sentenced to a fine of 205., or 48 hours' imprisonment, with seven days additional. Eliza McGinn and James Watson were each fined 20s. and costs, or 48 hours' imprisonment, for being drunk and disorderly. Insulting Language.— -James Conley was charged by George Atkinson with having used towards him insulting language, tending towards * breach of the peace. — Mr. Joy appeared for the plaintiff, and said that his client had instructed him to state that he did not wish to press the charge. — Mr. Wynn (for defendant) asked that the case might bo dismissed, and with costs.— Case dismissed, with full costs. Breach of Municipal Police Act. — Thomas Garrett was charged by Constable Green with a breach of the above Act, by allowing his horse and van to remain unprotected in Queen-street on Thursday, March 24. — The defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s. and costs. Breach of the Highways Act. — C. A. Zambra pleaded guilty to a breach of the above Act, by not paying certain rates levied upon him, which the Bench ordered him to pay forthwith. Indecent Language. — Honora Fowler pleaded guilty to the above offence. — Mr. Naughton, on being asked by the Bench if he knew anything of the prisoner, stated that he knew her well, as she was no stranger to the Court. — Fined CIO, or three months' imprisonment with hard labour. Assault. — Thomas Smith was charged by James Watson with violently assaulting him by kicking him on the face. He pleaded not guilt y. — James Watson deposed : On Saturday last I was in the bar of the Auckland Hotel, between 10 and 11 o'clock a.m. I saw the defendant there, and asked him for a match. He turned and struck me in the face, and took me by the collar of the coat, and threw me out of the door, at the same time tripping me, and, when down, kicked me with his boot across the nose, and cut me. The marks I now bear were done by the prisoner. I had some money in my pocket, which during tha scuffle I lost. We were then both taken into custody : I for being drunk, and he for having assaulted me. —Cross-examined by defendant : I did not ask you for a drink, nor did I strike you. —Michael Costello, called, stated : lam employed in the Superintendent's Office. I was passing through the Auckland yard on Saturday last. I saw the plaintiff and defendant there. In passing by the door I saw the man being pushed out of the bar. As he was getting up I saw the defendant rush out and give him a violent kick in the face. I then gave the defendant in charge. I thought it the most brutal thing I ever saw done. I could see no reason for the act, — Sergeant McCafferty deposed to having arrested the prisoners. — John Falkner also gave corroborative evidence. — For the defence Frederick Metge, sworn, deposed : I did not hear him ask you to shoub, but I saw him strike you on the mouth. You pushed him and he fell against me. I pushed him out, and he then fell. You kicked at him, 'but I could not say where you kicked him. I then said, "Don't kick the man when he's down."— Several other witnesses were called by the defendant, but nothing of any importance was elicited from them. — The Court sentenced the defendant to two months' hard labour. Attempted Suicide. — Montgomery Cavanan was charged with attempting to take his own life, and he pleaded guilty, stating that if he could only keep from drink he would not think of attempting such an act, and that he would take the pledge.— The Bench ordered him to find two sureties of £20 each and himself £50 to keep the peace for three months. Larceny.— John Thompson was charged by Mark Hassan with stealing from his shop, Shortland-street, one pair of boots, value Bs. 6d. The prisoner pleaded guilty, | and was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment with hard labour. Stealing from a Dwelling. — William Wilson was charged by Annie E. Chapman with "breaking into the dwelling-house of Mrs. Laurie, Karangahape Road, Newton, and stealing therefrom a number of spoons j { and forks, value a* £2 6s, Prisoner pleaded

guilty. — Annie E. Chapman deposed t I am a servant in the employ of Mrs. Laurie, residing on the Karangahape Road. Mrs. Laurie, being a very old lady, is unable to attend Court herself. On Sunday night, the 20th instait, I w"ent with my miatrast to-* church. We l«»f£ -a little past 6. Befor<* going I locked all the doors. Only one window was left unfastened. We returned about 8 o'clock. On returning we found the back door unlocked, and the windows was drawn half-way down, so that anyo ne could pass in over the top. We lit;* candle, and on going into Mrg. Laurie's bedroom we found • two drawers of a looking-glass open, and the contents scattered about the room. We then proceeded to the front room. We found two chiffoniere drawers open, and six silver-plated forks, three silver teaspoons, an. I one small spoon, and two or three smaller-sized forks missing. The articles now produced are the property of Mrs. Laurie. Everything was secure when we left the house. — Morris Marks, sworn, said : I am a licensed pawnbroker carrying on business in Queen-street. On Thursday evening last, about 7 o'clock, the prisoner came to my shop and offered me some forks for sale. I purchased them, also some spoons ; these (articles produced) are the same. At the time of purchasing them, 1 two or three times asked him if they were his own, and he replied, "Yes; he had no use for them, but wanted the money." He gave me the name of Lawson, Cook-street, and, seeing the initial L on the spoon, I believed him. I gave him 7s. for them. I, was not aware at the , time that the apoons were silver, but as soon as my wife came in she said they were silver, and said they had been stolon ; and they answered the description of some articles of which information had been given her, but of which I was not aware. I gave the things to Detective Ternxhan this morning. — Detective Ternahan deposed to having arrested the prisoner on Saturday last — not on the present charge, but on suspicion of another robbery. While in custody he had been identified by Mr. Marks aa the man from .whom, he had' purchased the forks and spoons. — Mr. Naughton, in answer to a question from the Bench, said that the prisoner had been previously convicted of stealing from the dwelling of a Mrs. Blossome, and for which he had been sentenced to two years. — The Bench sentenced the prisoner to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour. This concluded the business.