POLICE COURT CASES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 130, 29 November 1909, Page 7

POLICE COURT CASES.

Quite a number of old offenders were were brought up on various charges in the Police Court to-day, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. A middle-aged woman named Elizabeth Allison Woods was charged with being an incorrigible rogue. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, had, it was stated, no legitimate means of support, and had already been previously convicted as a vagrant. She was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Mary Wakeham, an elderly woman, appeared on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond. Accused had been arrested on private premises, which she had refused to quit. On her arrival at tlie Poh'ce Station it was found she was suffering from a dislocated shoulder, and she was accordingly removed to the Hospital. Sub-Inspector Norwood informed the Bench that the injury was an old one. Accused, he said, had been drinking, and had fallen down. He considered the woman was quite unable to take care of herself. Accused requested that : she be given a chance to return to her family. The magistrate remarked that accused had had innumerable opportunities, and it was quite evident she was unable to care for herself. " A sentence of three months' imprisonment was imposed. Another female — Kate Sweeney, alias Catherine Dorothy Eaton — appeared on a couple of charges, viz., drunkenneES and refusing to leave the Prince of Wales's Hotel when requested to do so. For drunkenness, she was fined 5s (in default, 24 hours' imprisonment), and for the second offence 20s, the alternative being seven days' imprisonment. For -using obscene language, a young man named Arthur Baylis was fined £4, with costs 12s; in default, 21 days' im-' prisonment. Alexander Eadie, a cripple, on remand on a charge of being a rogue and a vagabond, came up for sentence. Accused had been arrested at 3 o'clock one morning at St. Joseph's Church, Bucklestreet, in an intoxicated condition. He had been removed to the Terrace Gaol for curative treatment. Accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Of a number of inebriates dealt with, an old man named Thomas O'Brien was deemed to be an habitual drunkard. Besides drunkenness, he had been convicted of various offences before. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. ' Louisa Maitland, on remand, pleaded guilty to being helplessly drunk. A.ccusedj who had been undergoing curative tro?tment, was ordered to pay 17s 6d, amount of the expenses incurred by her while in custody; in default, 48 hours' imprisonment. George Moore and Colin Campbell had already been convicted of drunkenness. The former was fined 10s; in default, 48 hours' imprisonment. On the suggestio.i of Suh-inspector Norwood, a prohibition order was granted against Campbell, who was accordingly only fined ss, the alternative being 24 hours' imprisonment. Five first-offenders were also dealt with. Four, who were out on bail, and who failed to put in an appearance, were each fined 10s; in default, 24 hours' imprisonment. The fifth was convicted and discharged. Several maintenance cases were heard. Hugh Douglas was convicted, and ordered to contribute 5s a week towaids the support of his wife, and 5s per week in addition towards the reduction of arrears amounting to £10 10s. For disobedience of an order to maintain his illegitimate child, Harry Wilson was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment in the Lyttelton gaol. Alfred Ernest Hart, also charged with failing to maintain his illegitimate child, was ordered to pay 7s a week towards its support. Defendant was further ordered to pay expenses totalling .-88 Bs, and to enter into a bond' in £25 (in one surety) for due compliance with the orders. Fourteen days were allowed to find the surety. Penalty for default was fixed at three months' imprisonment in Gisborne Goal.