THE COURTS-TO-DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 8527, 28 May 1891, Page 2

THE COURTS-TO-DAY.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. (Before Messrs G. Eliot Eliott and W. Elder, Justices,) George Turnbull and Co. v. George Wilson (Milton).—Claim, LI 13s, for goods supplied.—Judgment was given for plaintiffs by default. William Taylor v. Gaorge M'Guire.— Claim, LI 15s, for a metal-cased centresecond watch.—Mr Calvert appeared for plaintiff, for whom judgment was given by default. Same v. Joseph Walsh am.—Claim, 12s 4d, for goods.—Mr Calvert appeared for Slaintiff, for whom judgment was given by efault. Same v. Thomas Parton. —Claim, LI 7a 4d, for goods.—Mr Calvert appeared for plaintiff, for whom judgment was given by default. Mercer Bros. v. Thomas Cuttle.—Claim, L2 17s 9d, for goods.—Judgment for plaintiffs by default, CITY POLICE COURT. (Before E. H. Carew, Esq., R.M.) Larceny.— Frank O'Neill was charged with stealing a watch and chain, value L 6, the property of John Duncan.—On the application of Chief-detective Henderson a remand was granted until to-morrow, defendant having been arrested yesterday. Eichard Green (thirteen years old) was charged that, in company with Jameß Wheeler, he stole L2 and a purse, value Is, the property of James Coates. —Sergeantmajor Bevin said that accused was brought up yesterday and pleaded guilty, but was remanded till to-day, so that His Worship might be asked to commit him to the Industrial School, He was a very bad boy, and there were six previous conviotions against him.—Committed to the Industrial School.

A Wandering Boy.— William, Evans, nine years of age, was brought before the Court. The police said that he had been found wandering about the streets. He had a stepfather, but his mother was said to beat him and could not keep him at home. He was quite stiff with cold when found this morning in the streets.—The stepfather, James Johnston, went into the box and said that when he was at home the boy was all right; but when he (Johnston) was away his mother beat him, The best thing the Bench could do would be to send the boy to the Industrial School, and he (Johnston) would pay what he could for his maintenance.—The youngster being asked why he left home said it was because he was frightened of his mother.—An order was made committing the boy to the school, the stepfather to pay 5s per week. 111-treating a Horse, William Armstrong pleaded guilty to a charge of illtreating a horse by beating it about the head with stones. Mr Sim, appearing to prosecute on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said thefacts were that on the day in question defendant was driving a horse on the Mosgiel road, when he got down, picked up two stones, and threw them at the horse, one of them striking the horse on the head.—Defendant Baid that he had no idea of being cruel. He never used a whip to the horse. It would kick at anybody and anything if touched with a whip, and other men who had driven the horse had been in the habit of urging it by shying stones at it.—His Worship said that he had better hear the evidence.—William B, Fea and Constable Carmody stated what they knew about the matter, Fea admitted having written a letter to the Star on the subject.—His Worship said that he could not say from the evidence that there had been cruelty, and it would be sufficient if he cautioned defendant that a stone was not a proper instrument to drive a horse with. At the same time complainant was quite justified in bringing the matter before the Court. Polluting the Kaikorai Stream. The case of Bain v. Anderson being called on, Mr Chapman said : This matter does not stand in a very satisfactory position. Mr Bain is not satisfied with what has been done, and it does not appear that Mr Anderson has hurried over the matter at all, but has been putting it off and off, and only yesterday commenced his remedies. Mr Bain doubts whether they will be satisfactory, but Mr Sim suggests that the matter should be adjourned for a week to see if the measures prove effective. We have no objection to that, but I must Bay that Mr Anderson has not been meeting us in a very conciliatory spirit, and it is a matter in which he ought not to expect very gracious terms from the authorities, However, I have no objection to the adjournment in order to see if he means to do anything,— His Worship: And then if the case comes on it will be for me to see whether the nuisance complained of existed on the day in question,—Adjourned to 4th June,

Auctioneers' Flags. against E G. Reynolds, D. M. Spedding, A. D, F. Lone, J. Samson, and H, Lamer, charging them with breaches of the new by-law by hanging out flags, were withdrawn at the request of Inspector Morrison. The Caversham Dispute.— George Nicoll and William Nicoll were charged with removing nightsoil from the Caversham Schoolhouse v/itboufc permission of the Council. Mr Sim appeared for the Council, Mr Sidey to defend.—lt appeared from counsel's opening that the School Committee were practically the defendants, having given an indemnity to the Nicolls ; and that the facts to be brought before tho Court reopenet the old dispute on the subject between the Council and the Committee.— His Worship remarked that as the matter appeared to him both parties had fought the question so hard that neither liked to give way. Could not the matter be referred to arbitration ? He felt sure that it was in the power pf Mr Sim and Mr Sidey to settle the matter without the intervention of the Court.—After conferring on the subject counsel agreed to an adjournment for a week, Mr Sim stating that in the meantime the matter would probably be referred to arbitration,