THE COURTS-TO-DAY

Evening Star, Issue 15137, 19 March 1913, Page 3

THE COURTS-TO-DAY

CITY POLICE COURT. (Before H. Y. Widdowson, Esq., S.M.) Drunkenness.—A first offender was fined 10s or 24 hours' imprisonment. A Prohibited Person.—William Galloway M'Dongall was charged with being a rogue and vagabond, having been found by night without lawful excuse in a shed in an enclosed yard in Castle street. Being a prohibited person, he was also charged with procuring liquor.—The Subinspector said that the case was adjourned to allow the police to make inquiries about the man. They had found that in 1899 accused was convicted of theft, and received. 12 months' probation. In 1903 he was fined 5s for drunkenness.—Mr Irwin, who represented accused, said that the man was a blacksmith,-and was worried. He was under the influence of liquor, and went into the shed to sleep for the night, —ills Worship said that after 14 vears he thought he could eliminate the conviction tor theft. He was' not prepared to say that the man was a rogue and vagabond. Counsel might impress • upon his client that lie would have to mend his ways. This would probably be a lesson to him. The first charge Would be dismissed and on the second accused would be fined 20s or seven days. By-law Cases.— John" M'Tainsh was charged with driving a vehicle at Green Island without lights, and also with being guilty of injuring John M'Mullan by driving on the wrong side .of the street. This was a case in which a man was knocked down and injured, and another man (Alvin M Coil), who was in the cart at the time, was charged with the two offences. He said that M'Tainsh was driving, and this defendant now pleaded guiltv to both charges He was fined 10s and costs on the first charge, and 40s and costs on the second M'Coll, who at the previous hearing admitted that he drove the vehicle without lights at. one stage oE the journey, was convicted and ordered to pav costs (7s). A Serious Charge—Clarence Barker, a young man, .was charged with, on the 12th inst., at Shiel Hill, attempting to discharge a gun loaded with powder:arid shot at Jane Craigie and Mary Craigie.—The Sub-inspector said that one of his principal witnesses was ill. and unable to attend the court,. He proposed to call the other evidence in the meantime.—Mr Hanlon, wno defended, objected to such a course. He said that there would be a conflict of testimony, and to do as the sub-inspector suggested would place accused at a disadvantage.—His Worship said that it would be better in the circumstances to remand accused: He was then remanded until the. 27th inst., the same bail as before being allowed. Maintenance.— Albert Edward Collett. who admitted paternity, was ordered to pay 7s 6d a week for "the support of his illegitimate child, of whom Nellie Moore was tho mother.