LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7222, 10 January 1885, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

SUPREME COURT. —Criminal Sittings. Friday. [Before His Honor Mr. Justice Gillies. 1 His Honor took his teat at ten o'clock. True Bills. —Thomas Johnson, forgiHg and uttering (three charges) ; Robert Everett Franklin, perjury ; William Weulock, embezzlement (tuiee charges) ; Robert Young, breaking and entering; Reginald Bernard Fitzpatrjck, indecent assault; A brain Ridings, indecent assault; George Andrew Waikins, larceny in a dwelliug ; Isaac Rout, uttering consent to marriage. of a minor (second count). No Bills. — Martin Swallow, indecent assault and common assault; William Hobson, killing a horse; Meinata te Hara, horse-stealing ; James Joseph Duroaa, personation ; Charles Cunningham, personation ; Abram Ridings, two indictments indecent assault. In the case of Martin Swallow, the foreman of the Grand Jury said there was not sufficient evidence of actual aHsault, but there was no doubt there had been gross indecency.—His Honor quite concurred with the remarks of the Grand Jury as to the grosß indecency. He was glad to find that the new Act in contemplation provided for punishing such offences. His Honor, in discharging the prisoner, said the evidence disclosed such gross and disgusting indecency, and prisoner's conduct had been such as ought to sxclude him from all respectable society.— Prisoner was then discharged,

Sentence. — Jacob Hanxon, who was found guilty on the previous day of assault on John Constantine, at Wainui, was brought up for sentence. He was ordered to pay a fine of £5. or in default one month's imprisonment. Larceny as a Bailee. -Paul Louis (27) was charged With larceny as a bailee of a gold watch, the property of George William King, on or about the Bth August last. Prisoner pleaded not guilty.—Mr. Hudson Williamson (Crown Prosecutor) stated the facts of the case were simply these : That on the 24th July last Mr. King left a gold watch at prisoner's watchmaker's shop, Queen-street, for repairs. He called several times for it, but was put off with various excuses. Subsequently he learned that the prisoner had c'osed his shcqp, and had left Auckland. Prisoner was arrested on board a steamer at the Bay of Islands.—After hearing the evidence the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and His Honor sentenced prisoner to nine months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Fokgery.— Thomas Johnson (22), was charged with forging requests for the payment of money on the Sth of July, and sth of August, There were three charges against prisoner. Prisoner pleaded guilty. — His Honor sentenced prisoner to two years' imprisonment for each, offence) sentences to ran concurrently. Burglary.—John Dignan was charged with breaking and entering the dwellinghouse of Constance Johnson, at Auckland, »nd taking therefrom good's, &c., worth £5. — Prisoner pleaded not guilty.—This case occupied a considerable time, prisoner questioning the witnesses at length.—After hearing the evidence for the prosecution, His Honor asked Mr. Williamson if he intended to ask the jury to convict on the evidence submitted. — Mr. Williamson said he must confess it was not very strong. — Prisoner called John Clark and Sergeant Douelly.— —Prisoner delivered a long address to the jury to disprove the correctness of the charge against him.His Honor, in Bumming up, said the evidence was such that the Crown Prosecutar htmself scarcely expected to get a conviction. There was absolutely no evidence to connect the prisoner with the taking of the goods.—The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of " .Not guilty," and the priscner was discharged from custody. Horsestealing. — Huiatahi (19) was charged with stealing a horse, the property of Charles lnnea, at To Awamutu, on the 13th July, 1884. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr. George Brown interpreted. Mr. Hudson Williamson stated the circumstances of the case.—Charles Innes and Alfred Ogle were examined. — Alfred Ogle deposed to buying the horse from the prisoner on the 14th July.—Frank Ogle, Hugh Bamsay, Robert Alexander, Frank Mandeno, and Sergeant Gillies gave evidence. Prisoner had no witnesses to call. On being asked if he wished to address the jury, prisoner simply said, " All I have to ay is i did not take that horse away."— Tho jury, without retiring, found prisoner guilty.—Mr. Hudson Williamson said prisoner was at present undergoing a sentencefor a breach of the Impounding Act.—His Honor sentenced prisoner to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour. Prisoner received the sentence with a smile.

Stealing in a Dwelling.—George Andrew Watkins was charged with stealing £21 in money and three watches, the property of Robert Murdock, at Auckland.—Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to IS months' imprisonment, with hard labour. The Court then adjourned to ten o'clock next day (to-day). R.M. COURT.—Friday. [Before H. 0. Soth Smith, Esq., K.M.J Nathan and Co. v. Steadman.—Claim : £22 15s 3d. Mr. C. S. S. George for plaintiffs, and Mr. J. M. Alexander for defendant. The plaintiffs, L. D. Nathan and Co., claimed damages on a shipment of tinned peaches, which had been received from defendant, J. B. Steadman, grocer, Thames. Subsequently part of the shipment was discovered to be in bad condition, and hence the claim. J. Macky (salesman), S. Philips (salesman), and E. Dufaur (accountant), and E. Quaid (storeman) were examined for the plaintiff, and Mr. Alexander moved for a non-suit on the ground that no warranty had been shown by the evidence. His Worship held that no express warranty had been proved and nonsuited the plaintiff with costs, £11 4s.

Winks and Hall v. Harwood and Owners of the Barque Look Out.— Claim £34 9s Id. Mr. Cave for plaintiff, and Mr. Mahony for defendant. This is a claim for alleged damages through negligent carriage by the defendant of 143 pieces of cedar by the Look Out from Sydney. Plaiutiff gave evidence, and the case was adjourned for a fortnight, in order that the captain might bo in attendance to prove the bill of lading. MacCormick v. Goodyear. — Claim £5 damages for alleged negligence of defendant in erection of a fowl-house. Mr. J. M, Alexander appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Keetly for the defendant. The plaintiff, J. C. MacCormick, and J. Ross, builder, were examined. The defendant, J. J. Goodyear, and Vincent J. Williams, a lad in the employ of plaintiff, gave evidence, and plaintiff was nonsuited, with coats, £110 a 6d.

•POLICE COURT.—Friday. [Before E. G. f'eth Smith, Esq., R.M.] The Castletownroche Murders.—Wm. Sheehan was again brought up on the charge of murdering Kate Thomas, and Hannah Sheehan, at Castlftownroche, Ireland, on October 27. Superintendent Thomson represented the police, and Mr. W. J. Napier appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the accused. Mr. '• homson said he had to make another application that the accused might be remanded for another w#ek, pending the arrival of the officer and necessary documents from the Imperial authorities. The officer had not arrived, and he was not definitely informed as to when he would arrive. His Excellency the Governor had cabled home announcing the arrest of the accused, and Earl Derby replied that that an officer wan on the way, and the accused would be detained in custody until his arrival under the Fugitive Offenders Act. Mr. Napier said he would not objeot to the present application, but would oppose another remand unless something more de« Suite than the present instructions were produced to detain the accused in custody Mr. Thomson had stated on the first application for a remand that the officer waa daily expected to arrive in the colony, but he now admitted that he had no information as to when he would arrive. His Worfhip considered the question was, was it a reasonable suspicion to keep the accused in custody thousands of miles away from where tie offence was alleged to be committed. He would grant the application, and remanded the accused for seven days, to Friday, the 16th instant.

Attempted Suicide.Tar ah a, a Kanaka, was charged with attempted suicide, by out« ting his throat with a knife, on November 26th, Sergeant Pratt explained that the accused bad been undergoing treatment at the Hos« pital since the attempt, and he now asked to have the charge withdrawn, as at the time he w»3 drinking heavily, and in a state of delirium tremens. Withdrawn. [Before Messrs. D. B. Lust and F. L. Prime, J.P.'e, Prohibition Order. — prohibition order against the supply of liquor to Jane Jury Plant was grauted on the evidence of her husband, Benjamin Plant, gardener, Devonport, and Constable Hutchison, stationed at Devanport.

Neighbours' Qua reels.—Mary Madigan was charged with using threatening language to Fred Hunter, by threatening to cut him down with an axe, on December 29. Mr. E. Cooper appealed for the complainant, and Mr. T. Cotter for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. There was a cross action in which Fred Hunter was charged with assaulting Mary Madigan, by striking her ou the face vr : th his open hand on December 29. The defendant pleaded not guilty, and it was agreed to take both chaigea. Six witnesses were examined for the prosecution. The defendant and her husband were heard. In the fir«t case of threatening language tho defendant was ordered to find sureties Ci £20 to keep the peace during the ensuing three months, and the charge of assault against Hunter was dismissed, The costs amounted to £4 12s.