CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3866, 15 July 1875, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Thorbdat, Jply Id. (Before H. S. Fish, Esq., and J. 8. Hiokson. Esq., JJVs.)

Incautious Draymen. Andrew Andrews and Edward M'Kwen, each charged with being drunk and incapable whil.t in charge of a horse and dray, were fined in the minimum penalty of 40s, in default three days' imprisonment. An Cnprofit.\blkLodgkr.—JohuC. Jewitt, a rough young fellow, pleaded guilty to stealing a quantity of clothing, the value of L 4 10s, from the dwelling house ef Robert Routiu. George street.—lnspector Mallard explained that prisoner, who had been lodging at the house,£suddenly decamped without paying bis board, and with the property of informant mentioned in the charge. Information wn» given to the police, and accused, who is a recent arrival by the Earl of Zetland, was arrest«l by Detective Bain. I'risouer was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. A Singular Freak.—Daniel Kane, a gaunt, melancholy-looking young man, was eh«*g«ct

with assaulting one Frances Joyce.—Prisoner said he merely touched her with the back of his hand.—Prosecutrix stated that she was walking along Princes street the previous evening, when accused, whom sho had never seen before, walked up and struck her a violent blow in the face.—Mr Fish (to prisoner): What have you to say about such remarkable conduct?— Prisoner : A sort of fit got into my head.—lnspector Mallard informed the Court that since accused w-:s taken into custody he (the Inspector) bad learned of his having been confined in the Lunatic Asylum, and it really appeared as though he was subject to mental aberration. The father of the |accused | having admitted that his son was of unsound mind, the Bench remanded him for medical examination.—A further charge against him of assaulting Constable Moore was withdrawn. The Industrial School.—The boy Robert Rodgers, who was brought before the Court on Monday under the Iseglected and Criminal Childrens Act, having been re committed to the Eeformatory, Me Fish said it was only right, in justice to Mr Britton, the master of that Institution, to make a statement publicly regarding this case. The Bench was perfectly satisfied from inquiries made that that officer had taken every precaution to see that it was a proper thing to allow the boy to be licensed out to his parents. The Bench had, when the boy was before them, in the absence ©f Mr Britton, made a few remarks with regard to the apparent breach of law which had taken place in licensing the boy out before half of the period of his committal had expired. However, they were perfectly satisfied now, after seeing an amendment of the Act from which they had quoted, that the course taken by Mr Britton was a proper one. Indictable Thefts. - - Michael Golding, laborer, was charged, on the information of Henry Duff, with having, on the 10th instant, Btolen a swag containing one LlO-note, three L5-notes, 7dwts in gold, and other articles—the whole of the value of L3O. —Prosecutor said he was a laborer residing in Dunedin, having arrived from Lawrence on the 9th inst. He went to the Universal Hotel and slept in a double bedroom Ihere. He placed hi 9 swag there about six o'clock, and missed it before retiring. Having enumerated the articles it contained, witness identified the shirt, flannel, and trousers prisoner was then wearing as his property.—Wm. Hutchinson stated that prisoner called at his father's hotel—the Prince Alfred—on Friday night last, and after having a drink handed aLS note in payment. He also left the swag produced in care of witness.— Detective Hendersou deposed to appreheading prisoner, who arrived here fourteen months ago in the ship Asia, and had since done little or no work.—Prisoner, having bsen cautioned in the usual form, was fully committed for trial at the ensuing criminal sessions.—Prisoner was further charged with having, on the 12th inst., stolen from the shop of Thomas Farrell a purse containing three LI bank notes, three half-sovereigns, three halfcrowns, two orders for the payment of money, and some ear ring drops—to the value cf Ll6. Sarah Farrell, wife of informant, stated that accused called at her shop on Monday evening, and being the worse for liquor, requested leave to sit down in the parlor. He was allowed to do so, _ and on witness going into the room on following morning she found that he had left, and also discovered the purse, which was on the mantlepiece, to be empty. Information w«s immediately given to the police.—'William Hutchison said that prisoner made him a present of the ear-ring drops produced.—Prisoner was committed for trial.