LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7650, 29 May 1886, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

SUPREME COURT.— Judge's Chambers. Friday, Mat 28. [Before Hit Honor Mr. Justice Gillies.] McGregor t. McGregor. — Mr. Hesketh moved for a summons to show cause why the action should not be transferred to Wellington. Tbe application was adjonrned by consent until June 1. Probate.—Probate was granted in the wills of Rachel Ann Sophia Wood and Elizabeth Ansell. Law Practitioners Act.—On the motion of Mr. Skeen, Mr. Robert Corbett was admitted a solicitor and barrister of tho Supreme Court, and on the motion of Mr. Wlliamson, Mr. Alfred Henderson was also admitted a solicitor of the Court. Bdciland v. McDonald.—Mr. Mahoney applied to have the charging order in this case made absolute. The application was adjourned until June 1. POLICE COURT.—Friday. [Before Messrs. C. D. Whitcombe and C. Ring! J. £>.'«.] Drunkenness.—Three men for this offence were fined 5» and costs, Alleged Larceny.—William Small, who was charged with stealing an electroplated clock valued at 6s 6d, the property of James Scanlon, on May 27, was remanded to Tuesday, June 1. A Partnership Account. — Frederick Frouien appeared on remand on tho charge of stealing a washstand and ware, valued at 6s 6d, the property of Thomas Mitchell, Victoria-street, on May 27. The prosecutor, a fish and oyster dealer in Victoria-street, deposed that he had been in partnership with the accused, when a number of articles of furniture, etc., were taken away. The Bench did not think it necessary to go further. Dismissed. Absconding WiFK.—Sarah Ann Brieter, wife of Thomas Brister, appeared on the charge of the larceny of a quantity of clothing, &0., valued at about £6, on May 13. Sergeant Pratt stated that the complainant had no evidence to offer, and withdrew the charge against the accused. The Bench granted the application, and the parties retired from tbe Court together. A Disturbance.—Charles Godfrey and William Shakespeare, miner, appeared on the adjourned charge of behaving in a manner in Grey-street whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned, on May 15. Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the defendant Shakespeare. From the evidence of Constable Kilkenny and Benjamin Shakespeare it seemed that after the performance at the Opera House on Saturday night, May 15, a crowd collected, and a soufllo taking place, a fight ensued between the accused. The Bench dismissed the charge against Shakespeare, and fined Godfrey 20s and costs. Thk Fish Auction Case.—lα the information against John Eaton, for selling fish in the capacity of an auctioneer at the Auckland Fish Arcade on May 10, Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared in conjunction with Mr. T. Cotter for the defence, and applied for a further adjournment. He said that the amendment to the Act was still penuing in the House. Adjourned for a week.

Railway Case.—Alfred Watson admitted an information charging him with committing a breach of the railway bylaws, by getting on the train when in motion at Newmarket, on April 4. Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared for the prosecution on behalf of the railway authorities, aud pointed oat the danger the public incurred in committing breaches of the by-law. The Bench imposed a fine of 10s, and costs amounting to £3 Iβ. Impudent Laboknt.—Robert Carr, a man of coarse appearance, appeared on remand on the charge of stealing one gold watch and gold albert chain, with seal and key attached, valued at £15, the property of John Thompson, from the Star Hotel, on May 26. Sergeant Pratt conducted the prosecution in this case, which was an indictable one. John Thompson, brewer, Burton on Trent, England, deposed that he had been in Auckland about three weeks, and was stopping at the Star Hotel. He occupied a bedroom on the gronnd floor, looking into the street. On retiring about half • past eleven p.m. on Tuesday, he placed his watch and chain on the dressing table, which wae near the window. A man with a long arm could have reached in and abstracted the articles. The Venetian blind was down, but he did not notice that the window was open. He was disturbed during the night by hearing a rattling at the window blind. Taking no notice of it, he fell off to sleep again. On getting up in the morning he missed bis watuh and chain from the dressing table. The window was then open. He did not see the watch again till Detective Herbert brought it to bur . It was the gold watch and chain pn.~jced, with seal and key attached. He valued the watch at £10, and the chain at £5. James Rae, pawnbroker, Elliott-street, knew the accused, who called at his of lice on Wednesday, about nine a.m., and handed him a gold watch and chain, which be aeked 30i for. He gave his name as John Harris, labourer, Upper Queen-street. He handed the watch to Detective Herbert when he called subsequently. Detective Walker depose.' that he arrested the accused in Rae's pawnbroking establishment in the afternoon. He was in one of the stalls, and replied tbat wituess was dreaming when be charged him with stealing the watch from che Star Hotel. Deteotive Herbert deposed to traoing the watch to Eae's, pawnbroker. The evidence was then read, and the accused, who on being warned as to any statement he might make in defence which would be taken down in writing, aaid he pleaded not guilty to stealing the watch. A young man met him in Victoria-street, and said he would give him 5s if he woald pawn his watch, which he did, and he had not seen him since. The Bench then fully committed the accused to stand his trial upon the charge at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court in July next. At the suggestion of the Bench, an alias was added to the name of the accused, aa being Robert Carr, alias John Harris. Alleged Receiving Stolen Property.— James Johnston appeared on remand from May 21, on the charge of feloniously receiving, on May 3, from James Keenan, a silver watch and chain, and gold watch and chain, valued at £11 12e, the property of John Burn* well knowing same to have been stolon. Sergeant Pratt conducted the proeecutiin in this case, which was an indictable onr» and Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared on biflalf of the acoused. John Burns, railway ltbourer, deposed that he gave evidence in jhc case against James Keenan, who was committed for trial on Thursday, May 20, on the charge of stealing the above property. He had the watch in his possession between nine and ten o'clock on April 14. He saw thorn in the police station on May 5. He identified the watches (produced) as his property. George Sinclair Reston, gaoler, Mount Eden Prison, produced the warrant of commitment for trial in the case Regina v. Eeenan. Ellen Lucy Montague, wife of James Montague, dealer, Grey-street, deposed that she knew the accused, who had been in the shop on May 3. On the following day he came to the shop and asked her to buy a gold watch and chain, which, on examination, ahe found to be the same number —17078—as given by Detective Walker. He asked her to give him £8 for it, but as she had only £6 iu the house, she said she would give him the money on getting, it from the bank. She stepped over to a young girl who was in another room, when the accused snatched the watch from her hand, cleared out of the shop, and ran across the road. Witness left a man to mind the shop, and went down the street for the police. The accused said the man had given him the watch to sell. He did not say who the man was. It was Sergeant Green who she informed of the affair. Sergeant Kiely deposed that he was present when the accused, Sergeant Green, and Mre. Montague, were in the station yard. The accused said he had got the watch from a man that mom* ing. Mrs. Montague said, " Oh, what a story." (The accused, •' Oh, it wae yesterday afternoon.") Sergeant Green not being stationed in Auckland, the witness told the accused he would have to be detained, when he took a silver watch from his pocket. He said he had got the watch from a man in Hobton-etreet. To Mr. Cooper : The accused gave every assistance to find the man, as it was to hia interest to do so. Mr. Cooper addressed the Court for the accused, contending that a prima facie case for committal bad not been made out, whioh would warrant the Bench in sending the accused for trial to the Supreme Court. The Bench said the oonduct of the acoused was a foolish act, which looked decidedly suspicious, but the police had done their duty in bringing on the case. The information was, therefore, dismissed, aud the accused at once discharged,