POLICE COURT.—Monday. [Before G. Graham and W. E. Thomas, Esqs., J.P.s.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4455, 5 December 1871, Page 3

POLICE COURT.— Monday. [Before G. Graham and W. E. Thomas, Esqs., J.P.s.]

Drnkarbs. — The list comprised seven j offenders, Six were fined in the aum of 5a. : iv default, 24 hours' imprisonment. One man, three times previously convicted within a Bhort time, was sentenced, to 48 hours' imprisonment, without option of fine. J

Vagrancy. — Mar^ Walton waa charged I with baring no lawful moans of support. The woman pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment -with : hard labour. Several previous convictions ! had been recorded against her. I

Larceny.— Eliza Lestrange pleaded guilty j to having stolen sundry articles of wearing j apparel, valued at £2 7a. 6d. The whole cf j the goods stolen had been recovered. Sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Rorub and Vagabond. -r James Heaton, charged as a rogue and ragabond, pjeaded not guilty. — The changing. conafcable deposed, that he saw the prisoner loafing about the streets the previous night, and' upon speaking to him he said ne waited to be locked up, as he had bad nothing to eat through the day. — Detective Ternahan deposed to the man being a well-known impostor, having been convicted numbers of times under the Vagrant Act. He would ' a»k for charitable j ai<j> and then get drank with whatever money was given him.^-Sentehced to one year's imprisonment with hard labour.

Lunacy. — Bridget Hawkey was bronght up as a lunatic. Drs. Philson and Kenderdine deposed to the woman being of unsound mind, and one who should, be placed under restraint and subjected to medical treatment. The unfortunate woman has for years given much trouble to the police authorities as an incorrigible drunkard. The necessary order wa« mode for her committal to the' Lunatic Asylum. ....

Assault. — Patrick O'Leary, charged with committing an assault upon John McGrath. on jihe.mgnt of the 27fch November, at Riverhead, pleaded not guilfcy. — Defendant said he had no money to employ a lawyer, and his {wife wm in had lealth.: i 16. any lawyer would, take- up his case • upon an- lOU- he should be very glad.— The Btnchßaid it waa a matter -they had -nothing—to dorwitb.—* Tha 1 prosecutor, sw.orn.^ejptyec^jtha^he was acarter, residing at Kivwhead. ' Thadefen- 1 d»nt lived in a tent next to him. On Snnday evening,' the ,127fcl»i- Witness was tiii his ' com - ; panjr ffom 6to 10"o'clo6k\ u No angry words passed between them. " It "was about^ midnigbtf wheii witeeßa V«|' w*hia bed.^n Jijg fenb. - fle was disturbed' by a horse'rushing l&mt bi» ten</'. ' l He 4 if en^ .outside, when he 1 dwelling —outside of it, * ' WHoew gob into bed again i < «n4 w»ut to Jlwp, ffhn Of WM iwikwt d*

rby rewiring a violent blow Across hii hand inflicted- by the defendant. 'In trying to defend ' him* elf he received a saooncl &low adroa* the left knpe, abd Afterwards a third on the right. Defendant then caught hold,o£ him by the nebk laying, "?F<fci t—^- > youhareittformed on tae, end I frill kill, you." Defendant called' otit " Murder !" and then for a man nataed ShllrHey'to come te help 'him, Sh'ttkty did, not hear him, but getting away from the defendant he made for Sharkey'a tent, who was then t coming across towards him with nothing but his shirt on. O'Lenry (the defendant) then came u]3, to Mm add challenged him out to tight, whioh he refused! — Dr. Nicholson remembered attending the prosecutor. He was suffering from a bruised eye, abrasion of the skin, and' fracture of the third finder of the left hand. He would not be n't for work for a month.— J^ohn Sh.ark.oy deposed thaii he lived "at Riverhead. 6n Sunday week he heard the prosecutor say, "Oh Sharkey, save me ! save me !" Witness went out of his tent, when' he saw prosecutor coming towards him, with the defendant following. close. Defendant asked witness whether he was going to take prosecutor's part, when|he said, No, he was not, but he hoped he (defendant) would not attack him any more, as he had served him badly enough as he was. The prosecutor lay down before his tent, and look,ed very bad. The defendant wished to fight the prosecutor.

Counter Charge of Assault.— John McGratk now stood charged with assaulting Patrick O'Leary, defendant in the last case, on the night of the 27 th November. Mr. J. B. Russell appeared for McGrath.— The prosecutor stated in general terras that on the night lie was charged with assaulting McGrath : it was in fact McUrath who assaulted him. The prosecutor under a severe cross-examination admitted that he had been charged with threatening to stab a man with a bayonet, and that he had been dismissed the police force. He had also said that, referring to a man well known, " all cowards deserved to die." He further acknowledged that he had been found carrying an open knife about with him, but this was only to cut tobacco. The prosecutor called no witnesses. — Mr. Russell said it was quite evident that O'Leary was not fit to be at at liberty. — The Bench [dismissed the charge of assault preferred against McGrath, when O'Leary, in the charge of assault upon McGrath, was ordered to pay £10, or to suffer two months' imprisonment,and to enter into his own surety for £20, and Wo sureties of £10 each, to keep the peace ; half of the fine to go to the plaintiff.

Wipe Desertion. — Patrick Moran, on information charged with this offence, did not answer to his name when called. 8 ummons ordered to be issued for the defendant's »ppearanoo.