RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1926, 8 July 1869, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

This Hay,

(Before James Fulton, Esq., R.M.) DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.

John Grindall, who had been in custody since noon yesterday, on account of being drunk, was discharged —Richard Young, committed on 30 or 40 previous occasions of drunkenness, was fined 40s for a similar offence, or to be imprisoned one week.— Alfred Wren and Sarah Dale were each fined 10s for being drunk. VAGRANCY, Charles Harris was charged by Sergeant Baxter with having no visible lawful means of support. The sergeant stated that he was accustomed to go about with a basket of trotters, accompanied by another man, whose apparent office was to keep his eye upon any man who they saw drunk. They then get into conversation with him, and, taking advantage of his condition, generally contrived to rob him. The prisoner’s companion went under various names—Ferguson, Travers, and Thomas. A short time ago he (Sergeant Baxter) was called upon by a person from Tokomairiro, who complained that, while in the Vestibule of the Princess Theatre, he was jostled by the two, and found one of them had his hand in bis pocket, in which fortunately he had only a Times newspaper, so he lost nothing. He was connected with reputed thieves and prostitutes, to whom he was very gracious. He had been cautioned several times by the police. The prisoner questioned Sergeant Baxter as to the time when he was cautioned, and endeavored to show that he had arreted him while smoking a cigar, and amused himself by puffing the smoke into his face. Several policemen gave similar evidence to that of Sergeant Baxter. On behalf of the accused, Mr Shore, butcher ; Mr Lewis, tea dealer ; and Mr De Carle, were called. The first two said he had purchased goods of them to sell again, aud had paid for them ; and the latter that he was in a position to buy parcels of goods at auction, but latterly he had not been allowed in the auction room.

The Magistrate asked the prisoner if lest week he had not applied to the Benevolent Asylum for relief ? The pfisoner admitted that he had done so, hut pleaded that since that time he had made money by selling saveloys, and that yesterday he had bought a quantity of cowheels to execute orders he had received. He promised to “clear out ” of the Province if he were allowed to remain at liberty.

The Magistrate : Where will you go to ? Prisoner: To Invercargill. The Magistrate; That’s not far enough away. The prisoner: I have several orders for trotters on hand, and I will get them finished by Saturday and go away. The Magistrate : I will give you another chance. You may go, but mind you are not not brought here again. BREACH OF THE KEROSENE ORDINANCE. Inspector V imon charged Moss Moss with a breach of the Kerosene Ordinance, through having on hand a larger quantity than ten gallons, he not being a dealer. Mr Moss admitted the charge but said that the offence bad occurred through his ignorance of the law. He bftd purchased four cases a few dags ago of Mr Secular, salesman informed him that it was permitted to consumers to have eight cases on their premises, and that that was the general impression

now among merchants. Inspector Niinon said that Mr Moss when asked respecting the kerosene did not attempt any concealment, but at once showed him it stowed away in the cellar, and that by authority of the warrant in his possession he seized four cases. The Magistrate said it was evident that Mr Moss was under a misapprehens'on and that dealers only were allowed sixty gallons in stock ; private persons were not allowed to have more than ten gallons on ihtir premises. The case was dismissed. PETTY OFFENCES, William Shedden for allowing two horses to stray, was fined 2s fid each; Mary Carter, allowing a chimney to take fire, was fined 10a ; and \V. Winchester, neglecting to keep a light on a horading, 2s fid ; with costs in each case.

The adjourned charge against Messrs Solomon and Hay respecting a right of way was dismissed, as steps had been taken to have it repaired.