THE COURTS-TODAY.

Evening Star, Issue 7403, 24 December 1887, Page 2

THE COURTS-TODAY.

CITY POLICE COURT.

(Before J. P. Jones and W. Isaacs, J.P.s.)

Drunkenness.— Harriet Mathews was convicted and discharged; Henry Harding (colored), 20s or forty-eight hours', and on a farther charge of being the occupier of a house which is frequented by persons having no visible means of support, the last-named accused was sent to gaol for three months, sentences to be cumulative.

Stealing.— John Kclstrum was charged by Jane Lawson with stealing a pair of car-rings valued at L 4 10s.—Accused at first desired the case to go before a jury, but at the eloso of the case asked that it be dealt with at once,— Chief Detective Henderson said that the facts were these: The prosecutrix and two other girls occupied a house in Canongate as a place of ill-fame, Yesterday morning aocused and two or three other men went to this house, and after they had been some time there tho prosecutrix missed a pair of gold ear-riDgs from her table, and in evidence would swear that she had seen the accused tako them. The girls might not be all that could be desired, but still it was only just that the women should be protected.—Jane Lawson deposed that accused with three other men came to her house yesterday. About 3 p.m. she missed a pair of earrings from off the washstand in thebodroom. She had seen them there about ten minutes before that time. Prisoner was in her room between the time blio last saw the articles thero up to the time of their being miesod. Afterwards, through the door being ajar, witness saw him open a chest of drawers, drawing two small diawers out, besides pulling a box from under the bed; in each case ransacking them. Witness stepped in and asked him what he was doing. He replied: "If there is anything worth collaring I am going to collar it." Witness replied: "Will you? and then left the room. Accused followed her, but in about twenty minutes afterwards he re-entered the room, when witness saw him take the oar-rings off tho stand, She called another girl to witness the theft. .Afforwards witness asked accused for the things. He said that another man had them. Witness called that man, who told the accused to put thembackwhere hegotthemfrom. The men came to blows. Witness sent for the police, who searched the house, also accused and the other men. One of the rings was found on the hearthrug in the room where accused stood. The other ear-ring was found this morning over from the balcony. Prisoner was more than once on the balcony before his arrest,— Ellen Began and Alice Drysdale also gave evidence—the former as to seeing aocused take the rings, the latter as to accused being on the balcony twice baforo the accusation, and once afterwards.—John Noble said he saw accused with the rings in his hands, but did not see him lift them from off the stand. He afterwards accused witness of taking them. Witness and acoused had had some drink, but were Jboth sober enough to know what they were doing.—Detective Maddern also gave evidence.—The case was dismissed.

On a further charge of breaking certain glassware belonging to the same prosecutrix accused was discharged, it being proved that the breakage occurred during the fight between the prisoner and the witness Noble. Bbbaoh of thk PEACH.—Charles Wakefield and Ellen Magee, were oharged with behaving in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace in Walker street on the 20th irist.—Evidence was given by several witnesses as to the oftenrepeated disturbances.—Sergeant-majer Bevip said that numerous complaints with regard to these people from residents within the vicinity of Walker .street had been made; whilst, in defence, Wakefield stated that the were caused by his endeavors to eject a lot <if drunken women whom he had found in his house on his return from work.—The Benc|i reminded him he had his remedy, viz,, to leave the neighborhood.—Both prisoners were find LI eaoh and costs, or seven days' imprisonment.

By-laws.—For allowing horses-to wander at Caversham, Patrick Hegarty w&a fined ls : acd costs; and George Harrington le, without coats. The charge against John M'KxnUy wa-i dismisbed,