THE COURTS—TO-DAY.

Evening Star, Issue 13099, 4 November 1908, Page 4

THE COURTS—TO-DAY.

POLICE COURT. (Before T. Hutchison, Esq., S.M.) Drunkenness—A first offender, who pleaded guijty, was convicted and discharged ; another, who did not appear, was fined ss, with the usual alternative. Aesanll in a Tunnel.—John Lockhead, a steward on the s,e. Taiawera, was charged with that, oh the 3rd inst,' in a'railway carriage between Port Chahhera and Dunedin, he did assault Lily White.—From the evidence it appeared ‘that Mrs White, accompanied by a friend (Miss Morgan), left Port Chalmers for Dunedin by the nine minutes pari, one train. Accused sat next to Mrs White, and while the train was passing through, the Sawyers Bay tunnel accused put one arm found her waist, and put his other hand in her lap, where she had her purse. She Struggled to getaway, but accused held her. As the train came out of the tunnel accused removed his arm from her waist, and moved away ftbin her, She reported the matter to the guard, and accused was arrested by Sergeant Poster. Evidence for the prosecution was given byLily White, Richard Morgan, and Sere geant Foster.—The accused, who gave evidence, swore that he did not put his arm round Mrs White’s neck. He closed a window at the hack of Mrs White, and his one arm might have gone roufad her neck, and through the jolting of the train his other hand might have rested on her lap.— His Worship said that he was satisfied that the facte were as stated by Mrs White. Accused would be fined £2 and costs (6s), in default one ■ month’s imprisonment. - Theft of Harness,—William John Quan and John James Brown alias Jackson were jointly charged that, on October 28, they did steal one set of harness, value £4, the property of WTlliam Finky.—Mr Hawkins appeared for Quan, who elected to be dealt with summarily,, and' pleaded not : guilty. Jackson also pleaded not guilty.— Sub-inspector Norwood ’ said that Finlay kept a lively stable, and at 9 a,a. on the date of the alleged offence this saddlery was hinging in the stable. It was missed the Same night. On the day-the saddlery was taken from the stable the two accused were seen going towards Hafiovcr street, and soon afterwards Jackson went into Cleary’s second-hand shop, and said that ho 'had some saddlery for ’sale.' Quaff came forward at this juncture, and asked how Jackson had got on. Cleary asked where the harness was, and Quan said’ that it was down at the boat, that it had come from the other side, and that the man who brought it had instructed them to sell it. Some time afterwards ■ Jackson returned with a sack Containing the harness, and was paid 2Qs for it in the presence of Quan.—Charles Buhner (who keeps a fish shop just opposite the stable in King street) said that he saw Quan about two o’clock last Wednesday. He was in witness’s Shop, had some soda water, and then went out and walked down the street, just behind another man who carried a sack.—• John Cleary (second-hand dealer) said that accused Jackson came to his place and said ho had a set of harness tp sell for a friend who had just come from Sydney. Quan came in afterwards, and asked Jackson if he had made the arrangement, and on receiving an affirmative answer they went to get the harness. They returned, and he gave 20s for it.—Magistrate; Where is your-book showing the transaction.—Witness: I have not got it here.— Magistrate: Well, you’d better go and get it. I want to see. what you entered.— Witness continued that the police came to him afterwards, and after that again accused Jackson came with another set of harness. Witness rang up the police.—To Mr Hawkins: After the transaction QuUn claimed somthing from his as having introduced a customer to him. Jackson said he would give Quan a commission if witness did the same. Witness refused.—Constables O’Connor and Windmill said that Jackson, when charged, stated that Quan had sold the things.—Detective Ward said that wher he arrested Quan accused said that he met a man named Jackson, who asked him to show the way to a secondhand place, which he (Quan) did. Jackson told him that tlie harness was got from a man on a vessel Quan further said thivt he got nothing, out- o! the deal.—Mr Hawkins stated that the defence rested upon this statement made by Quan to Detective Ward.—Accused Brown (or Jackson) gave evidence corroborative of Quan’e statement as to the casual nature of the latter’s connection with the transaction. Quanmerely took him to Cleary. On his own behalf Brown said that he got the harness from a man on the wharl, who said that he had sold his express, and wanted to get rid of hie horse’s harness.. Brown took it up to Cleary’s place to sell it on the stranger’s behalf.—Both accused were convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment each.-—-Oh a farther charge of the «irnc nature preferred against Brown, he waa convicted* and received a similar sentence, to he concurrent with the first sentence. Variation of Maintenance Order.—Mary Dudley applied for remission of arrears on a maintenance order for the support of her child, ah inmate of the Industrial School, and for a variation of the order.—The applications were granted.