THE COURTS.-TO-DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 6472, 13 December 1883, Page 2

THE COURTS.-TO-DAY.

CITS’ POLICE COURT. (Before B, H, Oarew, Esq,, R.M.) DbdnkbnNESS, For this offence George Madison , Mary Wood and Robert Brebner were fined 5s each, In default tjvcnty-four hours’ imprisonment; Daniel Howard, drunk while in charge of a hansom, 20a and costs Stealing a Saddle. James Smith was charged on the information of John Wells, hotel-keeper at St. Olair, with stealing a saddle of the value of L 4 —On the application of the police the charge was remanded for a week. Insulting Language,— Horace Bastings was charged with having on the 30th ult., In Princes street, used insulting language towards Thomas Allan. The complainant did not appear.—Mr t'olomon, for the defendant, stated that the change had only been laid with the intention of

annoying Mr Bastings. There was not the slightest ground for the proceedings, and he therefore asked for costs. —Information dismissed, with LI Is professional costs, and costs of four witnesses (L2 2s). Charge of Abduction— lan Simson Simson, auctioneer, Gore, was charged, on the information of Dr John Macaffer, with abducting* afc Dunedin, oh the 12th lust., ft child seven mouths old, ot which the complainant Is the father. Mr W, Macgregdr Appeared for the complaiuar* ( and stated that the cnild had been rc Beefed "to his father, and accordingly asked' that the information bo dismissed, This course was C'l.

Larceny, *■— Hohevt M'Pherson was charged, cn Vefflknd, with stealing a quantity of clothing of the value of L2 10s, the property ot Marlon M’Pherson. —Detective Henderson Stated that the prisoner’s wife would be a witness, in the case, and ho wished to know whether it was competent for hot to 'give evidence against her husband. Ho mentioned that she had a protection order, And said that he thought that Under the 19th section of the Married Wcmon’s Protection Act, 1880, . her evidence Would be adihissable. —His Worship! t think that only applies to civil contracts.—Detective Henderson; Or wrongs.—His Worship; That Is torts civil wrongs. Detective Henderson then explained tbat the goods stolen were the property of the prisoner’s daughter. Mrs M’PKers'On was the custodian of them during her daughter's absence at Oamaru, and prisoner had gone to his wife’s house, broken open the chest containing the clothing and pawned them. —His Worship pointed out that as this was a felony she could not swear an information against her husband.—Miss M'Pherson, the owner of the clothing, said that she did not desire to lay an Information, and the accused was accordingly discharged. The Licensing Act.— William Maitland, licensee of the Peacock Hotel, was charged with selling on the 11th inst. sixpennyworth of brandy during prohibited Oatamore appeared for the defendant, who admitted the offence, and stated that the brandy was supplied by Mrs Maitland, without her husband a knowedge and consent, to a foVrtale Who represented that It was required for a sick person.— Sergeant Beyin stated that defendant only held a ten o’clock liranSe. and the offence was committed at it 5 a.m. The defendant had failed to produce his license, which might be required fpr the purposes of endorsement', The license haying been produced, defendant was fined 40s and costs, [Left sitting.]