LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6003, 12 February 1881, Page 6

LAW AND POLICE.

. POLICE COURT. — Friday. i ; [Before It. C. Barstow, Esq., K.M.] Largely. — John Rogers "was charged with :• stealing-a pair of trousers, value 15s, the property of Eliza jßrown. He" pleaded not guilty. Mi's. Brown deposed that she was a widow, reaidiug in Victoria - street, and washed for the prisoner. She hung out some clothes on the night of the 31st of January, j and next morning they were gone. She iden- j * tilled the trousers produced as a portion of I the stolen property. She had described the i trousers to Detective Brennan. Detective I Brennan deposed to having found the trousers — in the prisoner's box on board - the Lady Jocelyn. Prisoner said he bought them irom ) Mr. Beale of Welleslcy-street, tiiree weeks be- . fore. Mr. Beale, general dealer, was called, ' and swore he did not "sell those trousers or : any others to prisoner. . He did not know 1. him'at all. The case was found proved, and : prisoner was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour. Assault.—George Patrick Dower was charged with assaulting .Robt. Nottou, by ; attempting to strike; him with a piece of wood.; As the summons ,had uot been served J , until that"morning : the case ; Syas not heard. Another Assault.- —George Laverock was .charged with assaulting Henry 3?liillips, by attempting to strike him. He pleaded not . .guilty., Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the prosecution, and stated the facts .of.the case. Laverock had Unlawful possession of premises owned bj Mr. Phillips, aiul in which the latter i held property. Plaintiff put a bailiff in possession, upon which .the defendant became very, violent, and rushed at . and would certainly have violently • assaulted him hacV he not been held back. Henry Phillips was called, and deposed that defendant was carrying on business as baker j in the premises in his .(Phillips's) name, and . on Monday sent in a claim for wages. Wit- . mess put - a man named Cleave in possession . ljy the advice of His solicitor, but he gave v him ..no -provocation, but during the'whole day accused was insulting and abusing him,. Cross-examined; When he went, to take j • possession, he found the place all fastened . up, so he; put his son in, and lie unbolted ; the dooi\ , . He denied having called the ■ * accused a rogue and a swindler, or that lie had /insulted his wife. Francis Cleave, .a- : bailiff,; gave corroborative evidence. Witness stepped between them to prevent the assault. For the defence, Mrs. Laverock deposed, that on tb.c "day in question Phillips said to her husband that he would put an end to his "roguery and swindling, and had on several occasions scandalised him, and had used very, provoking language. Her husband did not attempt to strike Phillips, but said ! he would put him out. Walter Askill, a young man, in the employ of Mr. Isaacs, corroborative evidence. Mr. Cooper said if Mr. Laverock would undertake to ~ leave the premises" at once, .Mr. Phillips would be satisfied. Defendant said he held

possession until he had a settlement -with 1 Phillips. Worship said the position of the defendant as servant gave, him no right j to hold possession of the premises against . the owiuer. Although he did not ap--7 . prove of the conduct of the defendant, he -.. could not convict him of assault. The young man Askill said that. Phillips had offered him 5s outside the Court if he would say that Laverock would have struck him if he (Askill) had not held him back. His Worship said lie must dismiss the case, but he advised the defendant to give up the premises. . Defendant said he was willing to . let' the matter go to arbitration, and had his arbitrator, Mr. Buchanan, waiting for an hour and a half on Mr. Phillips, but the latter did not come. No order was made in regard to costs. False Pretences.—John Purcell, on remand, was charged with obtaining the sum: of £400 from Thomas Wells Marsh, by means of certain false pretences. Mr. Browning appeared for the accused, and Mr. Thome for the prosecution. There were four indictable cases against the prisoner. Mr. Pardy said that Mr. Marsh desired to ' withdraw this charge and proceed with the charges of forgery. . . Forgery.—John Purcell was then charged with forging and uttering a promissory-note , for £300, purporting to bo drawn by Messrs. Wells and McDonald ; also with forging and uttering a promissory-note for £15, purporting to be drawn by George Thomson. Mr. Browning asked for a remand for a week, he informations were only laid ; and he had only been instructed this mom' - ing. Mr. Pardy said the police did not V. object to the adjournment, and it was granted. Fraudulent Bankruptcy. —Same accused • -was charged with a breach of the Fraudu- ■ : lent .Debtors Act, 1878, by fraudulently F C ? 10V "\S P art o£ his property value £10, he • being then a debtor, within the meaning of 1 the Act. _ .He* was.further charged with . xandulently removing a certain portion' of - kia Property value £55. Mr. Browning applied for a remand ni these cases also, and it