LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6270, 21 December 1881, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

SUPREME COURT.—Judges' Chambers. [Before Mr. Justic* Qillics.) ' His Honor sat yesterday in Chambers, and disposed of the following business ; — Probate.—ln the estate of G. Jones, deceased. Granted.—ln the estate of Ascot Roberts, deceased. Eiirenfried v. Ensok Mr. Alexander for the plaintiff, Mr. A. E. Whitaker for the defendant. This was a proceeding to settle issues. The action was brought to recover possession of land and mesne profits. Issues were settled, and the cause set down for trial, on the 11th of January, before a common jury. Wright v. Abbott.—Mr. Laishley for the plaintiff, Mr. Richmond for the defendant. This was an action for brcach of contract. The plaintiff is a builder and contractor, and damage is claimed (£400) for breach of contract. The present proceediug was to settle issues. Issues were settled, and the cause set down for trial on the 11th of January next, before a common jury. Administration*.—Application was made by Mr. Dignan for reduction of bond in the case of one Timothy Savage.—The amount was reduced to £75. Bankruptcy. Meeting of Creditors.—A meeting was held yesterday in the estate of John Greenleaf, mariner. The liabilities were set down at £84 15s Bd, and the assets at £51 3s. Mr. Thomas Macffarlane was elected trustee. Banco. The Coui-t will sit in banco this morning. The following business is set down for hearing : — In the matter of the estate of George Edward Head (deceased), and of the Administration Act IS7I. — Motion that the prayer of the petition of Mrs. -Mary Anne Macfarlane be granted. Edward Jones v. Okaliu District Board —Motion that rule nisi granted in October last he made absolute. Bma te A noru (appellant) and Robert Darling (respondent).— Special rase on appeal from the District Conrt, Auckland. In re estate settled by W. T. Fairburn (deceased), and in re the Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act, 18G5, and in rc the petition of Jane Fairburn and others.—Motion for an oidcr granting petitioners' power to lay out certain land which they desire to part with on streets and building allotments, and invest the proceeds of the sale in the purchase of other lands yielding a reasonable rental. Ilamiora Mangakahia and another v. New Zealand Timber Company.—Motion that the demurrer herein be argued. In re Public Works Act, 1576, and allotment 33, section 3, suburbs of Auckland.- Motion for payment to J. C. Seccomhe of £250 by Public Trustee. POLICE COURT.—Tuesday. [Before Messrs. Joseph Newman and W. J. Hurst, J.P/s.] Drunkenness.—One persen was punished for drunkenness. Valueless Coin.—Margaret Phillips was charged with obtaining goods to the extent of 3s, and 17s in money, from Mr. Daniel McPherson, of Newton. Mr. McPlierson deposed that the accused went into his shop and bought some goods to tho value of 3s, and tendered a token like a sovereign. Upon being told this was valueless, she handed back the change which he had given her. The accused informed the Bench that she had received the money in payment for nursing, and that she did not know is was bad. The prisoner was also charged with receiving goods, valued at '2s Id, also money, to the extent of 17s lid, hy means of the same coin from Jonathan Heap. Mrs. Martha Heap deposed that she keeps a draper's shop in Symonds-street, and that on the eveniug of the 21st the prisoner came in and asked for certain goods. Her little girl served her. She gave what appeared to be a sovereign in payment of the goods which amounted to 2s Id, and received 17s lid change. Next morning witness found the cein was valueless. Mr. McPlierson deposed that prisoner was the same who had tried to pass the coin in his shop. When she was in hiß shop—it was about 5 o'clock on the 21st. The accused said she never was in Mrs. Heap's shop. Mr. Pardy explained that her antecedents were not very satisfactory. Sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment, with hard labour, for each offence. Incendiarism.—John James Brock, an elderly, respectable-looking man, was charged with maliciously setting fire to Mr. Robert Stevenson's warehouse, Nevrton, on December 9th. Mr. Pardy explained that the prisoner had been suffering from delirium tremens. An evening or two before he was arrested, there had been an unprecedented number of attempts at fire raising, evidently the work of some one. It had been ascertained they were on the track accused had taken. He was given to fits of drinking. He had a trade and a family. The evidence was not quite sufficient to sustain the charge, and the case was dismissed. Threatening Language.—Julia Mooney was charged with using threatening language towards John Smith on December 6. John Smith deposed that on the Monday before last the accused came to his residence in Newton, and threatened to put a knife into him. In the evening she came with men, aud broke four panes of glass. The defendant said she was in a situation at Panmure, and had been brought into town by 4 complainant's nonsense. She had been •/ I his house about a fortnight ago. The Be- " > . l taking into consideration the intimatr 1 tion tho parties bore to each other, wei.

opinion that complainant had himself to blame, and dismissed the case. Wandering Goats.—James Cawley waa fined Is for allowing goats to wander oa the railway between Newmarket and Kamaera. Without a Ticket.—George Wadkara was charged with travelling on the Auckland and Onehunga Railway without having previonoly paid his fare, and with intent to avoid payment, on October 15. Mr. Glenni** stationmaster at Onehunga, deposed that at Onehunga the defendant get off not on the platform side, but on the line* He was drunk, and witness had to push him off the line, or he would have been run over. He had no ticket, and became abusive, but finally tendered half.a.sovereigng* which witness declined to take. The Bench did not think there was any intention to defraud, the accused being in a state of intoxication. Fined 5s and costs. Another Ticket Case.—Frederick James Somerfield was charged with a breach of the railway by-laws by travelling in a railway carriage on the Auckland and Onehunga railway without having previously paid hia fare, and with intent to avoid payment, on November 26th. Mr. Lusk defended. Ib appeared that Mr. Somerfield holds a season ticket from Auckland to Green Lane, but h« travelled on the day of the Pakuraoga Hunt; on a special train to the racecourse, which the ticket did not entitle him to do. The charge was of a twofold character—that the racecourse station is further than the ticket entitles the holder to travel, and also that, supposing it were not so, the train being a special one, the ticket would not avail. Mr, Cox, guard of the train, deposed to asking a Is from Mr. Somerfield, who replied he would see him d first. He asked Mr. Somerfield only at that time by instructions. He knew he had a season ticket to Green Lane. Mr. A. V. Macdonald, district manager for the Auckland railways, deposed that season tickets did not apply to this train, which should not stop at Green Lane. He saw Mr. Somerfield pass through, and drew the guard's attention to it. Tickets should be purchased outside tjie gate, but if persons were pushed through without having an opportunity of purchasing, the money is collected in the train. He happened to hear the word, "season ticket," as Mr. Somerfield was passim; through the gate, and drew the guard's attention to it. It was published in the papers, and posted on the platform that this was a train to which season tickets did not apply. Mr. Somerfield deposed that he went ont by the ordinary two o'uluck train, and came back by the train mentioned, being under the impression that a distance of 300 yards between the two platforms would not make any difference. The Court acquitted Mr. Somerfield of any intention to defraud the Government, but the law must be enforced. Fined Is and costs.