LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7559, 11 February 1886, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT.—Wednesday. [Before Messrs. P. L. Prime and W. P. Moat, J.P.'a.] Drunkenness.—One man was fined in the usual amount for this offence. Threatening Language,—William Hoistein, settler, Wade, was charged with using threatening language to John Dunn on January 14, by saying, " I will do for you ; I will shoot you," and plaintiff applied that sureties to keep the peace might be issued. Mr. T. Cotter appeared for the defendant, and pleaded not guilty. Mr. Theo. Cooper, on behalf of the prosecutor, in opening the case, explained the facts, from which it seemed the parties were settlers at Whangaparoa, and - resided on land adjoining each other. John " Dunn, farmer, Okura, deposed that he leaied Mr. [ Dacre's farm, known as Mo. 1 Block, on a point of which the defendant resided. On January 14 he was on the beach awaiting the arrival of the steamer with goods. Prior to this he had set fire to some scrub. The defendant suddenly came out on the range, and demanded the witness' reason for setting fire to the scrub. He replied, " What business is that of yours ? " The defendant called him a liar. The witness replied, "You wretch, what, do you mean by calling me a liar ? " The defendant picked up a rail which was sharpened at one end, and rushed towards him, saying, " I will do for you." The witness' son being present, he requested him to get him a piece of wood to defend himself. His Bon told Holstein to put the rail down, when he (defendant) took to his heels, saying, "I have something better in the house. 1 ' He? brought out a double-barrelled gun, which was cocked. He pointed]it at him, and threatened to shoot him. Cross-examined :It was to his interest to have the defendant off the land, as he was paying no rent. He had heard that ,the defendant had set up a right to live there, the Dacrea notwithstanding. Other witnesses having been examined, Mr, Cotter addressed the Bench, contending that there was no case to answer, as it involved a question of title, in which the Court had no jurisdiction. Williag Holstein, defendant, was called, and his evidence was almost a denial of the allegations for the proseoution. The Bench ordered the defendant to find sureties id his own reoognisanoes of £25 to keep the peaoe for three months, and to pay the costs, £3 18s. The defendant was allowed a month to pay the costs. Alleged Robbery.—Mary Ann Smith, with an array of aliases, and Robert Henry Keenan, expressman, Victoriastreet, were brought up on remand on the charge of stealing £65, the moneys of Fred. Smallwood, Hokianga, from the City Hotel, on January 27. Mr. W. J. Napier appeared for the accused. Sergeant Pratt, in opening the case for the prosecution, said the charge, as laid against Keenan, was that of aiding and abetting, and was committed in the second degree. Mr. Napier raised an objection to altering the charge against Keenan, as his defenoe was of a purely different nature, it going to show an alibi. An adjournment would be necessary. Remanded to Monday, the accused's bail further enlarged.