POLICE COURT.—TUESDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6832, 10 October 1883, Page 3

POLICE COURT.—TUESDAY.

[Before H. G. Scth Smith, Esq., E.M.] Drunkenness.—Two persons were pun ished for drunkenness. Vagrancy.—James Nixon, an old man Si years of age, charged with being drunk, was further charged with having no lawful visible means of support. The defendant said he had some drink, but was not drunk. Constable O'Brien deposed to finding the old man in an incapable state. He had some drink, but could talk reasonably enough, although unable to stand or walk. To the second charge he pleaded guilty. He had a small pension. Sergeant White regretted that there was no room in the Old Men's Refuge for a roan of his age. He suggested that the case should be remanded. Remanded for eight days. Bkkach of the Peace,—Jamea Reardoa was charged with occasioning a breach of the peace in Hobson-street. He pleaded not guilty. Patrick Gleeson deposed that the accused came to his place in Hobson-street, where a hotel is in course of erection, and because he could not give him work, he turned on him and violently abused and assaulted him. Sergeant Kiely, who arrested the prisoner, deposed to seeing defendant spring on Mr. Gleeson, and catch him by the throat. He was in an excited state, but not drunk, and witness took him in charge, and laid the present information against him. William Barker, who witnessed the assault, also gave evidence, and John Lynch was also examined. Accused was fined £2 and coats, or, in default, fourteen days' imprisonment. Perjcry.—J. C. MacCormick was charged with having committed perjury in his evidence in tne case of MacCormick v, North for larceny. The case was withdrawn. Disobedient Seaman.— Richard Russell was charged with continued neglect of duty on board the British ship Frederick Bassil. Defendant said he asked for his discharge on Saturday, and the captain promised to give it to him, and he sent a man in his place on Monday. Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the prosecution, Andrew Ross, chief officer of the ship, produced the ship's articles, signed by. the prisoner, and deposed that on Saturday after dinner he ordered prisoner to bag some loose potatoes, but he only took up a few shovels-full, and went away. Witness went after him to the forecastle, and the accused said he thought there was nothing else to do. Afterwards, when ordered to clear the deck, he abused witness, making use of the most filthy language. Witness sent for the police. Cross-examined : You afterwards washed the decks down, and did not refuse to do so, Joseph Johuson, ordinary seaman, gave corroborative evidence. Tb.a defendant called a seaman named Hansen, who deposed that the mate was most insulting, and spoke to defendant as if he were a dog, aud this riled the defendant, who asked him who he was speaking to, and that he (defendant) could make more figures in an hour than he could in a month. The mate then went ashore, and brought two policemen, in whose presence the defendant was asked whether he refused duty, and he said "No," and went to work, and the policemen then went away. Two other seamen gave corroborative evidence, to the effect that defendant did not knock off work or refuse work. The captain was in Court, and said he was willing to give the defendant his discharge. Defendant was sentenced to two weeks' imprisonment and to pay the costs. Labceny.—Henry Christopher Smith was charged with stealing two rivetting stakes and a screw driver, worth 5s Gd, the property of Paul Louis. Mr. Button appeared for the prisoner, and pleaded not guilty. Paul Louis, watchmaker, deposed that prisoner was in his - employ for six or seven weeks, and left on the 24th of last month, after which witness missed some of his tools. He identified two rivettiog stakes produced as his property. He saw them in prisoner's place last Wednesday, when he was accompanied by Detective Hughes. Prisoner was not present at the time. Cross-examined : He valued the rivetting stakes at 4s. Prisoner had tools of his own when working at prosecutor's, which he took away when he left. The defendant had sued him for wages, ! which he paid into Court, and it was on this day that prosecutor went to prisoner's house and found the two articles produced. He had not previously asked prisoner about the tools which he missed. Detective Hughes, who accompanied the prosecutor to prisoner's house to search for watchmaker's tools, deposd that Mr. i. ouis claimed the two rivetting stakes as his property. The accused came to witness in the afternoon, and he arrested him.- Mr. Button commented on the evidence, showing that it was the result of spite on account of his having been sued for wages. The defendant gave evidence. Louis told him he had looked through the tools and picked out his own, and defendant then placed the tools in a kit and took them away, and did not use them since. The two articles belonged to Mr. Louis. His Worship thought the explanation quite sufficient, and dismissed the case. — Accused was thtn charged with stealing a pin vice, worth 2a 6d, the property of Lauritz Henriksen. Mr. Button tor the defence. Mr. Henriksen said he had no desire to prosecute. The article was hardly worth mentioning, and it micjht have been picked up by mistake. The case was withdrawn. A third case was adjourned till next day, and accused was allowed bail in one surety of £10.

Careless Riding.—Walter Londergan was charged with riding at other than a walking pace round the corner of Queen and Wyndham Streets. Mr. Londergan explained to Hia Worship that the boy was sent for the horse, ana proved unable to manage him. The case was dismissed.