LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7004, 29 April 1884, Page 6

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT.—MONDAY. [Before Bis Worship ths Mayor and Mr. Hood 7, J.P.] Drunkenness.—Two persons were punished for this offence. Milias Holt, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined 20s and costs ;-pr, : in default, seven days' imprisonment. .Larcsny.—John Wilson was charged with stealing a coat worth 27s 6cL the property of Thomas Wood. He pleaded guilty to being drunk, but remembered nothing of stealing the coat. George Finlay, boarding-house keeper, Chapel - street, deposed to seeing prisoner on Saturday night in the street. He had drink in him. Witness was called by' the servant girl, who was aroused by a noise at the front door. When witnsßS went oat the prisoner was in the street, and the girl picked up the coat at the door. Witness followed the ac'naed, and asked him what he was doing with the coat, and he replied that he did not want it. The ooat belonged to Mr. Knox, and had been hancing on a rack in the passage. Susan Godwin, servant to the first witness, deposed to eecuring the prisoner in the passage, and she called Mr. Finlay. Prisoner went out, and witness followed Mr. Finlay and pioked up the coat where prisoner had been standing. She recognised it as Mr. Knox's coat. Thomas Knox identified the coat as his property. Prisoner waa sen. tenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour. Vagrancy.—Patrick Moran, charged with a third offence of drunkenness, was also charged with having insufficient means of support. The defendant, a feeble old man, pleaded not guilty to the latter- charge, as he bad a pension. Sergeant White raid the man was in a deplorable condition, covered with veimin, and it would be a charity to send him where ha would be cleaned. He was Bent to gaol for three months, and to do such labour as he was able. ' Drunk in the Railway Tunnel.— Charles Walters was charged under the Public Works Aot with being drunk in the railway tunnel. Sergeant White said the man was found by a railway whose duty it was to go through the tunnel before the first tram started. He found the accused lying in the centre of the tunnel, asleep across the rails. He led him out. If witness had not got him out of the tunnel he would undoubtedly have had his legs cut off. John Walker, railway ganger, and Constable Hobaon, who arrested the prisoner, gave evidence. He was fined £10 and coats, or in default two months' imprisonment, with hard labour.

Alleged Larceny of a Basset Handle. —James Jones, on summon*, was charged with stealing a basket handle, wor.th 2s, the Sroperty of Henry Rafton. Mr. Theo. ooper, for the defendant, pleaded not guilty. Henry Raftoa, basketmaker and general dealer in the City Market, deposed that defendant had been in his employ for thirteen months up to the Ist of April, au basketmaker. On Friday week witness missed a fancy basket handle made of leather, whioh he had imported from Germany. He identified the handle attached to the basket produced. There was no means of procuring them except on the baskets, and it had been taken off ona of his baskets (produced) and put on to another, which he sold to the acoused. On Friday afternoon be saw the handle in the possession of Miss Marshall aa she passed through the Market, but did not speak to her. He, however, aßked the prisoner to return it, but he told him to go to h—, and mind his own business. Cross-examined: He had heard that the accused was now in the employ of Mr. Cole, who was not now a rival basketmaker, as they both sold from the same price list. The basket which accused bought was bought before Christmas. Rebecca Marshall, a young woman, living with her parents in Vincent-street, deposed that Mr. Jones made her a present of the basket three months ago. There . were then two handles on it, but they got broke two days afterwards, and he then put on the preasnt handle. The handles broke beoause the stuff was rotten. Baftou took the basket from her, and gave it to Detective Hughes. Mr. Cooper contended that there was no evidence of larcbny. The defendant was charged with taking the handle on the Ist of April, when he was not in the employ of Rafton ; and Miss Marshall's evidence was that two days after she got the basket the handles gave way, and supposing Mr. Jones did put oh these handles to replace them, that would not be larceny, for Mr. Rafton himself admitted that if a defect was discovered in such a time he would have made it good. Had it not been that defendant was in the employ of Mr. Cole, a rival basketmaker, the oase would never ; have been brought, and he asked the Court to dismiss the case. The oase was dismissed with costs, £3 16s.

Assault.— Fishing for Information.— John Fisher was chairged with assaulting Charles K. Jeffs, by catohing hold of him violently, pushing, and dragging him out of bis (defendant's) shop on the 21st. Mr. S. Hesketh appeared for'the defendant, and pleaded not guilty. Mr. Brassey appeared for the informant. Witnesses were: ordered out of Court. .Mr. Brassey, in opening the case, said the prosecutor was collecting information re the oanning and preserving of meat, and the defendant was manager of the Frozen Meat Company's establishment. Jeffs sought an interview with Mr. Heath, who was in the employ of Fisher and Co., and who told plaintiff if he put down a list of questions he would answer them. He received an answer from Mr. Heath, who deolined to answer the questions, as he was iu the employ of Fisher and Co. On Monday evening ' following, Jeffo went to Fisher's shop to buy sausage meat, and was informed they bad none. Mr. Fisher then observed Jeffs, and after some altercation Mr. Fisher told him to clear out, and that he was a d sconndrel. J-ffs asked why, upon which Mr. Fisher caught him by the shoulders and ran him out, and then shook hit hand in his face. Mr: Hesketh, after this' opening,, asked whether it was necesiary to take evidence. ' If all that was alleged occurred, could there be a conviction ? He was ordered out, and when he refused to go he was pushed out. Mr. Brassey replied, and quoted from Roscoe on Evidence as to what wonld be justifiable assault. The Bench decided to hear the evidence, and after the adjournment Mr. Jeffs was called.