LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7015, 12 May 1884, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT.—Saturday. [Before Messrs. "W. J. Hurst and D. B. McDonald, J.P.'s] Drunkenness. — Four persons were punished for this offence ; and John Farley, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined 20s and costs, or in default seven days' imprisonment. Larceny.—Hugh Sullivan was charged with stealing a coat worth 10s the property of William Knox, also with stealing four shells worth 20s the property of the samo owner. Accused said the coat: he only took the loan of, and the shells, which he admitted taking, were the tools he worked with. The prosecutor, a fish dealer, in Freeman's Bay, deposed that accused had been in his employment off and on for years as a fisherman. On the 7th instant he missed the coat which the prisoner was now wearing, fie valued it at 103. He had net lent it to him on this occasion ; but his son had previously lent it to him, He saw prisoner wearing the coat in the Auckland Hotel, and gave him in charge. Constable Howies, who arrested the prisoner, said prisoner admitted taking the coat, and offered to return it. In regard to the second case, prisoner said the shells were hia evra property and his brother's. In this case Sergeant White asked for a remand, as the shells were in the possession, of a pawnbroker. The Court was disinclined to.grant the remand, and lock.the prisoner up for forty-eight hours, when there was a dispute as to the ownership of the shells. Sergeant White asked the Court.to ;adjudicate. "on the first case. If he was convicted he could be afterwards'charged with stealing ■'those shells, when they could be produced in Court. The Bench exercised their powers under the Act, when the amount was under 20s, and dismissed the case with a caution'. ' Sergeant White renewed his application for a remand in the second case, as he was not prepared to go on with it. He would not object to bsil being allowed. The remand was granted, and prisoner allowed bail in one surety of *5.

I Another Case.—David or John Booha pras charged with stealing a half-soTereijrn, the property .of. Thomas FarrelL _ William Weston, licensee of the Customhouse' Hotel; deposed'{hat prisoner and prosecutor.canw into the hotel at: nine o'clock. Prisoner called for some drinks, which prosecutor paid for. He changed a note for the purpose, and prisoner picked up a half-sovereign and put it in his pocket. ' The proseontor., told witness he was not acquainted with' the man'who had'taken the half-sovereign, (.and: he demanded it,from him, but the accused did not return it. Afterwards a policeman ; came and took him away. He saw .the prisoner take the half-sovereign andput it in ' his pooket. The prosecutor deposed that ha met prisoner and asked bim where the'omnibus Btarted from. He went to show him, and they went in to have a drink while ' waiting. When he got his change be missed the half-sovereign, and informed Mr. Weston. } He had seen the . half-sovereign with the change given by Mr. Weston, and he asked prisoner for it,' but he. only put bim ?& by r saying, *'Ob,. come along ; it will lo all right." Constable Kelso, who arrested-the prisoner, deposed to finding the half-sovereign produced in his trousers pocket. 'He had no , other money. Prisoner said, in reply'to the. Bench, that if he acted foolishly in this' instance it was caused by drink. He was . sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, with hard labonr. ' . •..

Ceoeltv to Ahuiils.—Thomas charged with ill-treating a horse by riding it , from the Wade to Devonpoi* suffering from a sore back.. There were twou> other informations arising out of the same circumstances—one for permitting it to be ridden by a man named Scott, and the other for having a saddle on the horse. Mr. Brassey appeared for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He understood that the defendant had- written to Mr. Dufaur to apply for an adjournment, but this he should oppose unless costs were allowed. . Adjourned until Tuesday, the costs to abide the issue. The first informa-, tion was withdrawn. • • '■ ".._

Assault.—An assault case preferred : by Ann Hurley against Eliza Cotton was adjourned, it being intimated that the:'parties'' were likely to settle their differences without the intervention of the police., ".. j WAIUKU R.M. COURT. '•" Fkiday, May 2., -' ■■'■"< Before lies srs. "W. J. Harris and John J.P.'s. D. Dunn v. T. Reid.—Claim for £l,.'paid illegally for impounding a horse of the. plaintiff. Pleaded, not indebted. The plaintiff said he was away from home when the - horso was impounded. He had been advised to sue for the £1, because the horse was iin- '< pounded without a legal fence. A. May, senr., said he had driven this particular horse _ out of his place a great number of times.The defendant's farm' was not all fenced. , He had seen defendant's gate open. .'. James' ' Dunn, son of plaintiff, said he took the horse out of the pound, and paid the poundkeeper £1 6s 6d. £1 was charged as damages. He had seen defendant's horses on .his. father's Elace. Defendant told witness one day to eep the horse out of his place. The poundkeeper told him the £1 damages was for , breaking fences and,, eating grass. The" defendant said he had hadno dealings with the plaintiff for a long time.' He had often j found his gates open, and the plaintiff's cattle and horses in his place. .He did not know to whom . thia particular horse belonged. Had he.known he would have sued for special r damages.- He received £1 from the. poiindkeeper, but did not know who he got.it from. ■ His land is fenced all round with the excep- - tion of.a piece-at the back, ..The horses were continually rubbing the fences down. The Bench held that both parties had made a ; mistake ; the defendant in charting damages,"" - and the plaintiff in sueing for the recovery qi £1 for trespass, whereas it should have" been for damages ; ; also in not having paid under ' protest. The plaintiff was non-suited.---[Own i Correspondent, May 2.] • ■ ;