THE COURTS.—TO-DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 111556, 15 February 1900, Page 2

THE COURTS. —TO-DAY.

CITY POLICE COURT,

(Before C. C. Graham, Esq., S.M.) Drunkenness.—One first offender was con. victed and discharged, and William Pillett fined 6s, with the usual alternative. Ihe Industrial Schools Act.—Eva Scott was charged with being a child within the meaning of the Industrial Schools Act.—The Sub-inspector stated that the mother’s father was leaving Dunedin, and that the woman, being in indigent circumstances, had no means to support the child, who was illegitimate, The Benevolent Trustees were agreeable to its being sent to the Industrial School.—His Worship made an order for tha child s committal to the school at Caversham, to bo brought up iu the Wesleyan form of religion. Fireworks Not Ordinary Goods.—Oh Wah was charged with having* on January 24, at Dunedin, consigned by railway to Wakatipu explosive goods, to wit fireworks, without distinctly marking the package dangerous. Mr Hanlon appeared for defendant, who pleaded guilty.—Evidence was given bv Mr Wallace, goods agent at Dunedin, who' said that tile ends of the contents of the package —rockets—were protruding, and it could be iit once seen what the bundle contained, Mr Hanlon said that defendant’s net was simply one of ignorance, and now that ho knew the. law on the subject it would not occur again.—A fine of 40s and costs (7s) was imposed.

Prohibition Order.—A prohibition order was granted against John Brown Dalziell. Maintenance.—Archibald Burt, for failing to obey an order of the Court to provide for the maintenance of his illegitimate child, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment. Johanna Beath, who did not appear, was ordered to pay 2s 6d a week towards the support of her child, an inmate of the Industrial School at Crtvcr.shain.

The Charges Against Filcwond.—William Filewood, alias Wilson, alias Williams, alias Watson, wa.s charged with having on January 30, at Dnncdin, stolen a cash box, containing money and jewellers-, of the total value of £2l 10s, the property of Edward Ttuthie. - Accused was chnrevd with 'this theft last week, but the infnmiation was dismissed Ivcnus* of insufficient evidence to connect him with the matter. On Saturday, however, ho was arrested on the railway station, having in his possession almost the whole of t lie stolen property. • Evidence was given by Edward Duthic, Lily Koan, Mabel Miller, William A. Newman, Detective Campbell, and Detective Cooney.—Accused reserved his defence, and was committed for trial. Accused was further charged (hat he. did on January of), al Dunedin, break and enter the dwelling of Charles Bnindoll. and did steal (.herefrom a tin box containing money and Jewellery of the total value of £l7, the property of Charles Bnindell. - This ease was on the same footing v as the foregoing one, regarding previous hearing- and dismissal, and the subsequent discovery of the stolen property in acensed's possession,— Evidence was given by Mrs Bnindell, Charles Bnindell, Robert Duthie, Rntiert Holland, Harry Bailey, Detective Campbell, and Detective Cooney,- -Accused reserved his defence, and was committed for (rial. Bail was fixed at acensed’s own recognisance for £2OO in the first ease, and two sureties of £IOO each and his own recognisance for £2OO in the second case.

Wandering Cattle.- Thomas Goodwin was charged with being the owner of thirteen head of rattle found wandering at largo, without proper guidance, on Balmneewan road, in the Borough of Maori Hill.—Mr Hanlon appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty.—Evidence was given by Dimean M'Lenna.n (assistant ranger for the Maori Hill Borough Council) and A. Hoare.—Mr Hanlon submitted (hat the evidence clearly showed that the cattle were not wandering at large, but that they were being tended. If any offence was disclosed at all, it was that of grazing rattle upon a public highway, which was punishable under another section of the Act, and possibly under another section of the by-law.-—His Worship pointed out that the by-law did not. mention anything about ea.ttle “wandering”—it provided against catClo being “at large without proper control nr guidance.”—Mr Hanlon submitted that the information disclosed no offence, and therefore the case must bo dismissed. His Worship ruled against Mr Hanlon on the point of law, folding that it had been proved that the cattle were at large without proper guidance.—Evidence for the defence was given by George Goodwill (son of defendant), Joseph Moran, and Lilias Lcekie.—His Worship said that the rase should have been brought under the Police Offences Act, as from the last witnesses it was apparent that the cattle were not wandering, but were being grazed. Under the circumstances he waa obliged to dismiss the information.

Defendant, was further charged with being the owner of twelve head of cattle found wandering at large at Maori Hill.—Sub-in-spector Kiely asked leave to withdraw the information, with the object of laying it in a fresh form.

A Maori Hill Battle.—John M'Lcnnan and Michael Coughlin wore charged with having on January 30, at Maori Hill, unlawfully assaulted Florence Goodwin ; Duncan M‘Lennon. Mrs Michael Coughlin, and Michael Coughlin were'charged with assaulting Fanny Goodwin; and Thomas Goodwin and Edwin Faulds were charged with assaulting Michael and Ellen Coughlin. Mr Hanlon appeared for the Goodwins and Faulds, and Mr W. C. MacGregor lor the other parties, a plea of not guilty* being entered in each case.—From the evidence for the Goodwins it appeared that a general attack liad been made on Mrs Goodwin when crossing a paddock at Maori Hill on the evening of January 30, the grounds for tho attack being the alleged ordering off the roads by Airs Goodwin of Mr Coughlin’s children.—The cases, which were all token together, were proceeding when we went to press.