LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4462, 2 March 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COCJKT.—Tuesbay.

[Before A. Bcethani, and CJ. M. Mittord £mj;. Justices.] Dkuxkexxess. —Two men and ono woma* appeared before the Court, pleaded guilty to this offence, and received the usual punishment attaching to it. Merchant Shippixg Act.—David Taylor pleaded guilty to a breach of the above Act by having pursued a course of continued wil-' ful disobedience to lawful commands on board the ketch PearL Mr. Joy appeared for the prosecution and stated the facts of the case.' After a short deliberation the Bench sentenocd the prisoner to four -weeks, imprisonment with hard labour.

Industrial Home.—"William Halliday 'was charged on remand with failing to contribute to the support of his child, an inmate of the Industrial Home. There was no appearanoe of the defendant and the Bench accordinglyordered a distress warrant to ho issued returnable as soon as possible. Assault.—Ellen Pridmore was charged by Bridgot Moran with assulting her on the 26th ultimo, in Chapal-street. On" the parties interested being asked if they had come to' any agreement whereby the intervention of the Court would be rendered unnecessary defendant stated her determination to oppose any attempt to withdraw the case as she had endured much from the prosecutrix* The following evidence was then taken. Mrs. Moran deposed that on the evening of Saturday last she heard defendant calling her (witness's) daughter bad names. Defendant; was drunk at the time and on witness remonstrating with her she committed the assault complained of by striking her (witness), on the shoulder. Mrs. Pridmore deposed that on returning home on Saturday after having completed her marketing she learnt from her children that Margaret Moran (prosecutrix's daughter) and Margaret Nicholson had been trying to get into her house. Asked why they had done so, when Mrs. Moran rushed at her and tore tho net from her head. In endeavouring to present herself from being struck laid her hand on Mrs. Moran's arm who immediately fell down. Witness's husband and daughter were in Court and could prov« that witness had not struck prosecutrix* Margaret Moran (daughter of Bridget Moran), a child of 14 years of age was thefi sworn. f On Mrs. Pridmore calling her a little street-walker," witness said that if she took her (witness's) name into her mouth again she would stiffen her. The witness then proceeded in a very glib and rapid manner to repeat some rery disgusting , language which she alleged had been made I use of. The Bench reprimanded her, stating that if she .was well acquainted with the baa language made use of as not to evince the slighest hesitation in repeating it in open: Court it must not' be unknown to her own lips, and, therefore, it was not to be wondered at that the defendant had been irritated. The mother was also spoken to in no very gentle terms for training her daughter j in such a manner, that she was quite conversant with the vilest phrases that could be imagined. Thei case was then dismissed* prosecutrix paying the Court costs, 9s. This concluded the business.

ONEHUNGA H.M. COURT.—Wednesday.

[Beforo R. C. Earstow, Ksq., R.M.] . Furious Delving.—William O'Brien wao charged ' witii driving furiously in Queenstreet,, Onehiuiga, and pleaded guilty. Filled 5s and costs} 6s 6d.—Thomas Brown, aliat Carlisle, for a similar' effeuce on the same occasion, also pleaded guilty. As it appeared this defendant was most to blame, he was fined 20s and costs, 9s. , Felony.—Philip Tandy, William Liddell, and Stephen Liddell were charged with stealing from the Little Hiiia one sow, the property of Ebenezer' GibboDS. Prisoners all pleaded: guilty to killing the pig, but without any felonious intention, believing it to be a'bush pig. " Constable Greene saidthe prisoners, had only just been brought in from • Kaglan, where they were arrested, and, ie 'he' was.'informed the pig had been killed in an'd'iakeh'out pf,a stye, he must apply for a remand,'to-get up: witnesses'from the Huls. Remand to next' Court-day granted. After being , 'locked'irp,- prisoners expressed a wish to plead guilty., Jlt'appeared the men were .belonging to a cutter; which' was detained at the Heads. . William Liddell, being only a passenger, and'led/away; by jthe others, trao •discharged; the• other.'two'men were sentenced to' one month's hard labour each.