LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7785, 3 November 1886, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT.—

[Before Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, R.M., and Mr. 0. Von der Heyde, J.PJ Drunkenness.—George Smith, for being drunk and disorderly in Custom.street, m fined 40« and coats, or seven days* hard labour. Daniel Geary, for a similar offenoe in Kyber Pais Road, was also mulcted in a fine of 40« and coats, or seven days. A woman was fined in the usual amount for a first offence.

Breaking and Entering a Cabin.— John Howard was charged with being drunk in Queen-street, and alto with breaking into the cabin of the ketoh Zillah and stealing two blankets and a guernsey, valued at 20s, the property of William Collinga, on November 1. Accused was fined 6s and coats, and was remanded till Thursday on the second charge. Indecency.— Neale was oharged under the Polioe Offences Aot by indeoently exposing himself in Queen-street on Ootober 29. Defendant pleaded not guilty. J. B. Palmer, cabman, deposed to seeing the defendant leave the bar of the Wharf Hotel on Friday afternoon last. Neale committed a nuisance in the doorway, and a lady passing at the time had to turn away. Witness and another cabman interrogated him for his conduot. Wm. Burwood, cab-driver, gave corroborative testimony. Accused pleaded drunkenness in defence. Sentenced to a month's imprisonment with hard labour. Alleged Assault.—John Coleman was oharged with assaulting John Cottenham by striking him with his clenched first on Ootober 26. Mr. W. J. Napier proaeonted, and applied for an adjournment. Mr. J. O'Meagher appeared for the defendant, and opposed the request unless the whole of the costs were paid. Adjourned till Wednesday, and the costs of the day allowed. Registration at a Birth.— Wardrop Hall was oharged with failing to register the birth of her ohild within the time prescribed by the Aot. John Owen Lord, Registrar of Births, proved the offenoe. Fined Is and costs. [Before H. G. Seth Smith, Esq., R.M.] Alliged Uttering a Forged Cheque,— Charles W. Langstone, on remand from Monday, was oharged with feloniously utter, ing with intent to defraud, a cheque for £10 upon the Union Bank of Australia, on August 17. Mr. W. R. Franklin appeared for the accused. Sergeant Pratt conducted the case for the prosecution. Thomas Brown Hannaford, accountant and collector, knew the accused in July last, and did a large quantity of writing and correspondence for him in July and August. Aooused was indebted to him in the sum of £2. He called at his offioe on August 19, and gave him a oheque for him to collect. Witness said it was a useless bit of paper, as it was a postdated oheque, and crossed. Langatone said it was a good oheque, and he had done business with him before, and was expecting a large sum of money from home. Witness could not decipher the signature. i Witness gave aooused 5s on the security of the cheque. He kept it till near the due date, August 24, and then gave it to Mr. Probert. It was returned to him marked "name unknown." In cross-examination the witness said he had upwards of £200 in debts to collect. He gave him the oheque as security for the ss, to be paid when the cheque was matured. William Probine, foreman in Mr. Row's store, Victoria-street, knew the aooused, who called on August 18, and inquired for a box of tea. Langstone asked for a blank oheque, and on getting it said he would return in a few minutes, but did not do so. The cheque was the document (produced), and was taken from the block produced. Hugh White Ferguson, ledgerkeeper. Union Bank of Australia, deposed that the cheque(produced)w»s presented on August 24. It was returned marked "name unknown." He could not recognise the signature, and there was no aocount in that name. Mr. Franklin addressed the Court, contending that there was no case against the accused. His Worship considered the evidence was insufficient, and dismissed the oharge. An application was made by oouusel for an order of the Court to have certain documents in the possession of the polioe returned. Sergeant Pratt promised to nave them handed over so soon as they came back from the Waikato. It seemed that the accused v.-as in custody on a sentence of obtaining money by false pretences. Stealing Cowhides. — William Fidler, Richard Weston, and Robert Sergeant were charged with stealing sixteen cowhides and a calfskin walued at £10 15a, the property of Joseph Banks and others, on October 26. James Cox, butcher to the New Zealand Freezing Company, Railway Wharf, remembered October 23, when 150 hides were received, consisting of cowhides, calf, and oxhides. They were stacked on some scantling outside the building and covered with tarpaulins. On .Monday, October 25, his attention was drawn to the hides by the cover being shifted. He missed sixteen cowhides on Tuesday. The hides were tied with flax twine. Information was given to the police. Witness identified sixteen cowhides, and one calfhide at Garrett's Tannery at the Whaui The hides were tied in the same way as those at the works. He valued the hides at 14s each, and would be valued at £12 in all. Had seen Sergeant about the Freezing Works on Tuesday. John Porter, tanner, in the employ of Garrett Bros., remembered the accused being at the tannery on Monday and Tuesday, Ootober 25 and 26. Sergeant and Fidler were there on Monday about 2 p.m., with two cow hides. They brought the hides in a horse and trap, which was an open vehiole with rails. Witness purchased the bides, giving an order for payment. On Tuesday the accused brought 14 hides and a calf skin, whioh be also bought, giving them an order on Garrett Bros, at Wakefield-street. The hides were loose. The evidenoe of Patriok MoGehan, carrier; Riohard Garrett, of the firm of Garrett Bros., who gave the aooused a cheque upon the order sent from the tannery ; Henry Bennett (licensee of the Clarendon Hotel), who cashed the cheque and saw money pass between the accused ; and Sergeant Kiely, Constable Kenny, and Detective Walker, who arrested the prisoners was taken. The depositions were read over to the aooused, who were then fully committed to stand their trial at the Supreme Court in January next.