LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7593, 24 March 1886, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT.—Tuesday.

[Before Messrs. D. (it. MucDonnell and J. MaafarUne. J.P.'e] Drunkenness.—Two men for first offences were mulcted in fines of 10a and costs, or 48 hours, and a third man was fined 5s and ooets. Window-smashing. — Mary Burfcenshaw pleaded not guilty to a charge of maliciously breaking 24 panes of glass, valued at 40s, the property of Thomas Atoheaon, on March 22. Thomas Atcheson, labourer, Lomestreet, deposed that when he returned home about twenty minutes to six p.m. on Monday, he found the accused throwing the brickbats (produced in a kit) into the front windows. He was accompanied by a man named Retallick. All the windows were broken, both baok and front, along with the frames. The damage he valued at about 40s, the accused was under the influence of drink. John Retallick, who lived with the complainant, gave corroborative evidence. Constable Kearney arrested the accused about eight p.m. near the Clarendon Hotel. She was under the influence of drink. He had seen the damage done. The aocueed, in cross-examination, set up a defence that the complainant had struck her on the head with a gingerbeer bottle. She had a witness to call, but she was not in the Court when called. Fined 20s and costs, and to pay the damage, 40e, or one month's hard labour in default.

Orchard • robbing. — Joseph Welling (undergoiug sentence of a month's hard labour for fruit stealing at Epsom) pleaded guilty to the larceny of a quantity of apples, valued at 40s, the property of H. R. George, Epsom, on March 6. Sergeant Pratt explained that apples had been stripped from a tree which was a rare variety. Mr. George had traced some of them on going to the going to the shops in Newmarket and Paruell. He had identified one (produced) as being from the tree. Mr. George, who was in Court, stated. that the trees in the orchards of Mr. Macindoe, Mr. Owen, and others had been stripped, and large quantities of apples sold in the shops. Sentenced to three months' hard labour.

Seoond Charge.—The accused pleaded not guilty to stealing a fish basket, valued at Ca 6d, the property of John Williams, Auckland, on March 10. John Williams, iishhawker, Spring-street, deposed that he left his basket in Nelson and Carroll's fish stand, Albert-street, on March 8 or 9, and missed it on the 10th inst. He spoke to the aooused, who said he had taken it to the North Shore, and he (the witness) might go and find it. He got possession of the pawn ticket from a man named Roberts, to whom the accused sold it. The witness claimed the basket (similar to the one produced) at Hart and Levy's, Victoria-street. To the accused : Hβ did strike him and knouk him down when he told him he had taken the basket to the North Shore. William Nelson, Albert-street, remembered the basket being placed on the stand, and the accused subsequently wanting the loan of it, which he (witness) refuted. Julius Mendelssohn, employed at Hart and Levy'o, identified the basket, which the accused pledged for 2s, on March 10, in the name of Welling, Joseph Roberts (dealer) said he bought the pawn ticket for 6d, and afterwards handed it over to Williams. Acting-Detective Herbert deposed to tracing the property, and said the accused denied the charge when he was first brought before the Court. Sentenced to one month's hard labour in addition to the

first sentence, making the term of imprisonment five month* on the three charges sine* March 13. . -.c■.;;.. ■ ■■■.-.:-,-, i .:.- ...,-u,.- ~_,■