POLICE COURT.—Saturday.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5395, 3 March 1879, Page 5

POLICE COURT.—Saturday.

[Uefore T. MacfTarlane and G. M- Mitford, Esq*., J.V.'s.l Rreack of Public Works Act.—John Edward Elam was charged with being drunk while in charge of a vehicle on the Ivyber Pass ttoad. He pleaded guilty. The Bench remarked that the offence was a serious one, as accidents were liable to occur from such conduct. They would inflict a fine of £2 and costs. A Case of Sunstroke.—Hannah Elam, wife of the above, was charged with having been drunk. It appeared that herself and husband were both riding home in a state of almost senseless intoxication when they were arrested. She declared that she was only suffering from sunstroke, but the evidence shewed her to have been severely suffering from drink. Fined 55.. A Curious Case. —The name of Bridget Foley was called, but there was no response. Sub-Inspector Pardy stated that the ease was a curious one. The woman weighed about twenty atone, and was so crippled that she could not move. She was in the police station, but he could not see how she was to be got into Court, as she set the ofiicers at defiance. How she got to the station he could not say, nor could he tell how she was to be got away. He thought the best course would be to withdraw the case. The case was withdrawn. Not Gone Yet. —Several days ago Mary Burtonshaw was convicted of using obscene language, and, upon promising to leave the citj% the c:ise was allowed to rernaiu open uutil Saturday, when she was told to appear for sentence. She did not appeal*, and the case was remanded until Tuesday, when she will be brought up for sentence, as she lias remained in town all the time. A Refractory Cook.—"Walter Jermy, employed as a cook ou board the steamship Hero, was charged with neglecting his duty and refusing to obey orders. Mr. Cooper appeared for Captain Logan, and stated that there was no breakfast for the ship's company on Saturday morning. Captain Logan inquired of defendant the cause, and was told tint there was no coal. The duty of the cook was to get the coal, and he had neglected and refused to do so. Captain Logan testified that there had been no breakfast prepared, that it was the duty of the cook to prepare it; also, to get coal to do it with. He had been compelled to send the crew on shore to get their meals. He wished to discharge the cook, who refused to take his discharge. R. W. Cogswell, purser of the Hero, and William Lister, second cook, testified that it was the cook's duty to procure the coal. The prisoner stated that he had never got the. coal before, nor did he suppose it his duty to do so. Had ho thought so, he would have got it. He did not want to be discharged here, but would consent to accept his discharge in Sydney and Melbourne. The Bench found the offence proved, and convicted the defendant. Mr. Cooper stated that the punishment of the offence was imprisonment, but Capt. Logan had no desire to press for such a penalty, and would be satisfied if the defendant was ordered to pay the expenses ho had been put to, viz., 14s for the men's breakfast and the costs of the case, and also to be discharged from the ship's articles forthwith. The defendant said that sooner than go to gaol he would consent to this. The Court ordered the defendant to .pay the sum of 14s, costs incurred by the ship for breakfast, and also th® sum of £l'l3s, costs of the case, and further ordered tho defendant to be discharged from the ship's artiolea forthwith.