THE COURTS-TO-DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 10212, 14 January 1897, Page 2

THE COURTS-TO-DAY.

CITY POLICE COURT.

(Before E.H.Carew, Esq., S.M.)

Drunkenness —A first offender, who had a sum of money in bia poasession, was fined sa. Anqjther inebriate, who made his first' appearance, was dealt with in the usual way.- Charles Laverty was fined 20i or three days'imprisonment. - Spit Desertion —Alfred Henry Barnea was charged' With deierting from the barque Lutterworth at Oamaru on the 14th December. Sergeant O'Ntill explained that accused deserted from the vessel at Oamaru, where a warrant was issued for his arrest. The captain happened to be in Dunedin last night, and seeing accused in town gave him into the custody of the police. The captain, who was in court, desired that the lad should bo, discharged, and handed- over to him, As he was well connected at Home, and he would not like to return to England without' bitfl.-»-The charge was withdrawn, acoused leaving the court in company with the captain. Disobeying an Order William Elder, of Wanganui, was charged with failing to obey an order for the maintenance of his illegitimate child, of which Margaret Stoddart. was the mother.—The complainant stated that the arrears amounted to £ll 14s. —Sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment in Wanganui Gaol. : Ta« Stamp Duty Act.—James M'Lean was charged with, on the 19th Ootober, at Green Island, signing a reoeipt for £2 without the same being duly stamped.—Mr H F. R. Chapman appeared for defendant, who pleaded guilty. Counsel stated that the defendant was the son of a. storekeeper at Green Island. The circumstances under which he.gave the receipt were as follow t A Mr Atkinson owed Mr M'Lean a sum cf money, ana. on the occasion in question he made a paj men.t of £2. Defendant had no receipt stamp with him at the time, and gave a provisional receipt in pencil without a stamp, intending to forward an ordinary, receipt. The same night the defendant's LtheraentMr Atkinson a regular stamped reeeipt. Of course that did not canoellhe offence, but he (counsel) submitted that under the circumstances it showed that there was no intention on the part of the young man to evade the revenue in any way. —Sergeant O'Neill said that the receipt was given on the 19th of October, and came into the hands of police on the 7th of November.—His Worship was satisfied that there was no wilful intention on the part of the defendant to evade the revenue, and inflicted a fine of 10s and costs (17s 2d). The man Atkinson here stepped forward and said that the facts as B'ated by Mr Chapman were untrue. He asked to be allowed to make a statement.—His Worship : Yon are not the prosecutor in the case.—Sergeant O'Neill: The police have no fault to find with the facts as stated by counsel. A Prohibited Person.— Edward Maitm, a prohibited person, pleaded guilty to entering the Royal Albert Hotel on the 6th inßt. —Sergeant O'Neill stated that* defendant went into the Royal Albert Hotel at halfpast five on the evening in question, and asked the young lady behind the bar for a long glass of beer. The licensee happened to come into the room at the time, and, recognising the defendant as a prohibited person, ordered him to leave the place, which he did.—Fined 40j and costs.

Assaulting a Bailiff. — Joseph Hallinan was charged with assaulting MichaelPhelan, a bailiff, ou the s>.h inst. Defendant did-not appear, but was represented by Mr Soleiiioo, who said thai he was.compelled to plead guilty to the charge. The defendant was of an eccentric nature, and it was impossible to reason with him. He was not a wealthy man, and if a heavy penalty were inflicted he would have to goto gaol.—The complainant explained that the defendant Caught hold of him by the shoulders and shoved him oat of his shop.—Fined £1 and costs.

The Fisheries Act.— Chin Quin was charged with having in his possession one flounder 7in long and one red cod weighing s|oz, in contravention to the Sea Fisheries Act.—Constable Higgins stated that the defendant was hawking fish at Ravenabourne on the Bth inst Witness spoke to him, aud found that he had in his possession six dozen flounders and three or four dozsn red cod under size and weight.—Fined 5s and costs.