R.M. Court.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5424, 14 January 1889, Page 3

R.M. Court.

Tho police succeeded iv accommodating four drunks in tho look-up on Saturday evening, and G. A. Preecc, Esq., R.M., dealt with tho offenders this. morning. William James St. Dennis was charged with bavin* boen found drunk whilst m charge of ahorse; a previous conviction for drunkenness was put in against him. Tho R.M. said to the defendant:—'< When you get drunk you only do yourself harm, but when you get drunk whilst in charge of » horse you endanger tho lives and property of other people as well as your own. lou ■will be fined £2 with costs, or ttie alternative of seven days' imprisonment with bard labor."—James Mcßndo said *' Drunk, Sir," when asked to plead ou a •charge of drunkenness. He was on bail, and the R.M. fined him 5s and costs, or ■forty-eight hours' imprisonment.—William Willis and Patrick Crowe were charged with being guilty of insulting behavior m Dickens street on Saturday lust, whereby a breach of tho peace wus occasioned. Ihe BM. inflicted in each case a fine of £2, with costs 3s, or fourteen days' imprisonment.—Charles -B. Lord, on bail for (dmnTcenness, failed to appear, and his bail -was .estreated.—John O'Connor pleaded imilty te having been found intoxicated, lie said he had had no time to clear out. The R.M. informed him that evidently ho had had timo to get drunk. He would bo fined 10s and costs.

Mary Verschafelt was charged this morning with having used obscene language in Tennyson street on tbo 25th December last. Mr Cresswell appeared for the accused, who denied tho offence. Constable Gantly gave evidence to tho effect that, very disgusting language was used by tho ac-used, and perfons passing in tbe street could have heard the profane words. _ Mr Cresswell hero said that he would withdraw from tho case, as bis instructions were totally contrary to tho evidence. The R.M. said accused had been convicted ot usin* the most filthy and obscene language that it was possible to conceive any woman would u«e She would be sentenced to two months imprisonment

Three very small boys between the ages 0 f seven and eight respectively-llarry Ewb.-nk, Arthur Simmonds, and Cecil Woodcock - were charged w. th having tmown stents to the damage of property. The damu<*e was sot down at one shilling, ft bov7adiml.:-d having thrown stones at a tin, but they ■-«<" not break anything The Inspector state-'l that /he .»ny_ had thrown rtmioK at a .*««»«> »' ***<* «* mt Maoris lived, and apa/ie ot _fUws had beoii broken. The II.M. sale' tho lads were very young, and he would not fine ti:ero. However 'they w.-re cautioned that by f.lirow,-» : _ stones they wire liable to v line of .-Co, antheir fathers would have to pay the fine. He would let them oil this tmi'J-

The following borough by-law cases wer9 disposed of:— Fred Drear, for drivincr round a corner at other than a walking pace, was fined 10s, with costs 7s. He was also charged with driving a carriage without a license, for whioh oflVnce he was fined Is, and costs 7s. —James Peacock, for allowing two horses to wander, was fined 3s, and costs 7s.— Joseph Hattwell, for permitting a calf to wander on a publio road, was fined Is, and costs 7s.

Patrick Roidy was charged with unlawfully laying certain poison in a paddock at Taradale, adjacent to the Taradale road. Mr. Cornford appeared for the defendant, who pleaded guilty. Mr. Cornford asked that the defendant might bo dealt with leniently. The R.M. said it was the first case of the kind that had come before tho Court. Tho present Act had not been long in fofco; at least, not for very many years, and he would not inflict a heavy penalty. It was certainly a dangerous practice to lay poisonous meat close to the road; it was likely to tempt animals to go on the land which otherwise thoy might not probably do. The Act allowed a fine of £10 to be imposed, but in this case he would fine tho defendant 5s and cists.

Tho forgory case agtiinst Thomas Toppin came on. The circumstances of tbe case were reported by us on Saturday. Evidence was given by James Johnstone, sou of the licensee of tho Star Hotel, to the effect that accused camo into the bnr and had a drink with a party. Accused presented the cheque, which was for £6 in favor of John Toppin, drawn by "John Collins." The boy gave the cheque to his father. James Johnstone, licrusee of tho Star Hotel, deposed on Friday last ho left his son in the bar for a short while, and he returned shortly after two o'clock. Noticed accused in the back of tho bar, and his son told him (witness) that he had supplied accused with drinks and that the latter had tendered a cheque for £6 in payment of same ; but having no change the cheque was returned to accused by the boy. Told accused he had plenty of timo to go to the bank to get tho cheque cashed. Stopped for ahout ten minutes and Tnppin did not seem inclined to go to the bank, and ho (witness) then asked him for tho cheque, which accused gave him. Sent it to the bank, and accused left the bar. Asked accused to stop for the change, but ho just stood for a minuto at tho door, and then walked down tho street. The cheque was returned marked "no account," and ho sent for a policeman, accused being subsequently arrested. The drinks were still unpaid for. William Diddems, cashier in the Bank of Now Zealand, and Constable Barry also gave evidence. Accused when arrested said " I got the cheque from Collins, what a b fool I was." After some further questions put by the constable acoused replied "Collins was only imaginary." Accused was ordered to tako his trial at the next sittings of the Supremo Court.