LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7658, 8 June 1886, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT.-Mondat. [Beforellsnri. W. B.[Thomu and W. Duncan, J.P.'s.] Drunkenness.— Five men for first offences were mulcted in the usual penalty. Assault.—John Coombes was charged wit.. being drunk in Manukau Road, Parnell, and also with assaulting John Harris, by kicking him and striking him on the back with his hand. The accused pleaded provocation from the complainant. John Harris, pupil at St. St ephen'a Native School, deposed that the accused struck him on Saturday afternoon, and also kicked him on the leg. The manager of the school, Mr. J. R. Smith, was called, and gave evidence as to the character of the lad, who, he said, was a very quiet boy, and the native boys were not in the habit of interfering with Europeans. The lad had been sent on a message to buy corn, and returned crying. Constable Hobson arrested the accused on the information of the lad. Fined 5s and costs for drunkenness; and 10s and costs, or 48 hours' hard labour, in default of payment, for the assault. [Before Messrs. R. Wilkinson, and W. Duncan, J.P.'s.] Indecency. Harry Bosser was charged with a breach of the Police Offences Act by obscenely exposing himself, in Bowcn-street, on June 5. The accused pleaded ignorance of committing the offence. Sergeant Pratt explained that it was a most deliberate and gross offence by the accused near the Albert Park. He bad done it in the pre' ice of a lady who was passing at the time, fc tenced to a month's hard labour. Provoking Language.—Robert March, arrested on warrant, was charged with using provoking language to his wife, saying to her, " I will do for you," and she feared that such conduct would be repeated. The accused pleaded not guilty. Elizabeth Maroh, residing in Vernon-street, Ponsonby, deposed that she had recently been granted a protection order. She had been ill and kindly treated by friends, when March returned on Saturday morning after being in bad company. She was afraid that he would repeat his threats unless he was bound over. The accused cross-examined the prosecutrix at considerable length as to their relations with each other. Mrs. Susan Lee, who occupied two rooms of the same house, was called for the defence, and deposed to the acoused wanting to use the boot-brushes, when Mrs. March interfered by screaming at him to put them down. Cross-examined : She did not hear the accused threaten his wife. The accused had not threatened to cut the clothes-line, but she had men I" ..ed it to him. The Bench declined to hear further evidence in defence, and said Jthe accused had had ample time to cross-examine. Ordered to find sureties to keep the peace for six months in his own recognisances of £20, and two sureties of £10 each.

The Brothers* carrel. — William Knox, fisherman, appeared on remand on the charge of assaulting his brother, John Knox, by striking him on the face and body with his clenched fist, on a yacht in the harbour, on June 1. The accused pleaded not guilty. John Knox, fisherman, deposed that he was on board a yacht in the harbour on Tuesday last, when a quarrel took place. His brother used his fists upon him down below in the boat. Ho struck him in the face, and did Lot remember much more, except that he got out on deck, and was pitched into the water. He was got out of the water, and taken to the Hospital. It was the injuries he got that caused him to be confined in the Hospital. To the Bench: He had been to the publiohoutes in the morning. William John Payne was on the schooner Norval, and saw the acouaed thumping his brother. The accused continued doing so, and Jack, to get out of his way, jumped overboard, Witness got him out of the water. He swam a bit at first, and then threw up his hands, upon which witness went to the rescue in a boat. His brother did not attempt to get him out of the water. When ho got him out, he said he had saved his life. For the defence, thejaccused called Charles Clark, who was on boara the yacht at the time, but, in reply to the Bench, said that he knew nothing about the assault case. Tho Bench in giving their decision, said the accused might have beeninadifferentposition to what he was, and brought up on a more serious offence. Ordered to find sureties to keep the peace for six months in his own recognisances of £20, and a surety in a like amount, and also to pay costs, including the maintenance of the complainant at the Hospital.