THE COURTS-TO-DAY

Evening Star, Issue 14307, 4 March 1910, Page 6

THE COURTS-TO-DAY

CITY POLICE COURT. (Before H. Y. Widdowson, Esq., S.M.) A Costly Lark.—Henry Mars, charged with stealing two boftkc; of lemonade, the value of 6d. the property of Jamec; Purdi\ and with assaulting Ayimer Eton Purdi:-. pleaded not guilty.—Ay.'iner Eton Purdie said that .-.ceased came into the factory yes. teiduy afternoon and asked for two bottles of lemonade. Witness's father said that ho would give the lemonade if he received 2d a bottle for it. Accused then said that if the lemonade was not given he would murder Mr Puidie. He then took twr bottles of lemonade ajid placed them in hif pocket. Witness's father took one of thf bottles out of accused's pocket, and as bwas classing witness look the other bottli iroin him. Accused struck witnevss on thj face with his closed list, and when witness's father interfered pushed him over. The police were then tent for, and accused given in charge. Jle was not drunk, but had just enough drink to make him quarrelsome.—Evidence corroborating the former witness's statement was given by James Purdie. Accused denied striking the younger Purdie, and said thai he had taken the lemonade for a lark. —On the first charge accused was fined 10s, or seven days, and on the second charge 40b. or fourteen davs.

Charge of Assault.—William Ballantyne, was dunged with .•ussaulting John Rare Wyldc.—Complainant, who is captain of the barque John Lockett, said that accused was engaged at Wellington as .-in A.B. runnel' on the voyage to Dunedin. He w.iii paid off a few weeks ago. He had on several occasions threatened witness, and last night met him near the Wharf Hot«l, and without provocation struck him on the chin and knocked him "down.—Corroborative evidence was given by John Proctor. •--Acetified, who said he i«« pony for what had occurred. was convicted, and fined 60s and costs (6«). in default one month's imprisonment. An Unprovoked Assault.—William John Newman pleaded guilty to throwing a cucumber, to the danger of one Samuel Krat/.cr. -Sub-inspector Fhair said that, complainant and a. friend were standing near the ("J rand Hotel when accused cam a along with a cucumber in his hand. He said to complainant: "Lsn't this a fine cucumber':'' Complainant, who did no*, wish to have anything to do with aecused. turned his back". 'He shortly afterwards leceivcd a blow with the cucumber, which was thrown with such force that it was broken in pieces. There was no reason for the assault. The complainant, who was a racecourse detective, had occasion, in the exercise of his duty, to eject accused from the racecourse, and this might account for the assault. —Accused vas convicted, and lined 40s and costs (235), in default twentyone day.-,' imprisonment. The Wrong Side.—Henry Cureey King, charged with riding a bicycle on the wrong side "of Rattray, street, was fined 5s and costs (7r>). Prohibition Order.—On the application of her husband a prohibition order wag "ranted a garnet a. woman for twelve months. Breaking and Entering.—Martha Basin, for whom" Mr Patterson appeared, was charged with breaking and entering the bouse of Louis Morris, and stealing therefrom a waterproof, valued at. 10n, the property of Hannah Morris.—Hannah Morris said' that in October test she was residing in Manor place, and accused was a domestic servant in her cmplov. The overcoat produced belonged to iicr. It was worth about 10s now. Accused left the employment of witness in October, .and the co;rt was then in the possession of witness. It was missed in November, and subsequently v itness met accused in the street wearit.g the >;oat. In February l.".st witness again met accused in the street, and questioned her about the coat, but she denied having it. While witness resided in Manor place the house was frequently left without anyone in it. and the windows left unfastened. It would be quite easy for anyone t:i enter the hoiise if so disposed.—Elsift .Marsh, domestic servant in the, employ of last witness, said that she saw the coathanging in Mrs Morris's house in December last. Accused was not then working for Mrs Morris.—After further evidence hid been given, accused, who pleaded guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.