LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9180, 9 October 1888, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

SUPREME COURT.—Bankruptcy. Monday. [Before His Honor Mr. Justice Gillies.] Close of Bankruptcy.—On the motion of Mr. Cave, who appeared for the Official Assignee, the bankruptcy of Andrew Jamieson was declared closed. Applications fo* Discharge.—Mr. Hesketh was to move fc an or ier of discharge be granted to Olivor Mason Creagh, a bankrupt. This application was kllowed to stand over, as was also a similar application regarding , John Morrison. Mr. H. Campbell made a similar application for John Palmer Lennard. It appeared that a portion of the wages had not been paid. Mr. Theo. Cooper, who appeared for one of the creditors, Mr. Thorpe, who claimed wages, opposed the application. His Honor said that it had been several times ruled in this i Court that all wages must be paid in full before a discharge could be granted. Mr. Campbell argued that as all moneys went into the hands of the Official Assignee from the time of the bankruptcy up to the granting of the discharge, and he could not apply them to the payment of preferential claim, that reduced the clause to an absurdity. His Honor said he had carefully looked into the matter, and it provided that no person was entitled to "apply for his discharge " until all claims for wages were fully paid and satisfied. The order could not be granted. Walter Stimpson.—Mr. Campbell applied for an order of discharge to be granted to Walter Stimpson. Mr. Coleman, who appeared for tho Bank of ftew South Wales, applied for an adjournment on the "rounds that the bankrupt had kept no books, and the bank had asked for a statement of accounts. These were only furnished a few days ago, and there had been no time to examine them. They had no notice of the application for the close of the bankruptcy, which they would have opposed. Hβ might state that the bank intended to oppose the order of discharge being granted, but they preferred giving full notice of their grounds fordoing so, and for this reason he would ask for an adjournment for a month. Mr. Campbell opposed tho application for an adjournment, and said that the bank had received nearly three weeks' notice of this application, and should have been prepared to go on to-day. His Honor said it would be better to grant the adjournment until December, for in the Official Assignee's report there were statements which would lead him to suspend the granting of the discharge. The man who went outside his legitimate business and plunged into shares and land syndicates would not get his discharge without very careful consideration. In the meantime he would simply grant the adjournment. Edward Michael Hallktt. — Mr. Cotter applied that an order of discharge be granted to Edward Michael Hallett. There was no opposition, and the order was "ranted. Motion for Adjudication.—Mr. Theo. Cooper was to have moved, on the petition of a creditor, that William Marshall be adjudicated a bankrupt. He now stated that he did not intend to move the motion, as the dissentient creditor agreed to come in with the other creditors under a deed of composition. The motion was dismissed. The Land Syndicate : The Skcukiti.es Attacked.—Mr. Cave moved, on behalf of the Official Assignee, to set aside a deed of assignment dated 16th June, ISSB, executed by Graves Aickin in favour of Kempthonie, Prosser, and Co., the New Zealand Drug Company (Limited), and that it be declared fraudulent and void as against the Official Assignee. Mr. Theo. Cooper appeared in support of the motion, and Mr. Campbell for tho bankrupt. Mr. Cooper said that by arrangement it was agreed to allow the application to stand over till next Monday, with liberty to the company to file affidavits up to Wednesday, and to the Official Assigneo to tile answering affidavits up to Friday. The adjournment was granted on these terms.

POLICE COURT.—Monday. [Before Messrs. F. G. Clayton and J. C. McCausland, Drunkenness. —Seven persons were punished for drunkenness. Lakcenv. — Frank Williams and Isaac Nansett, two little boys, were charged with stealing os from the shop of Henry Littlejohn. Mr. O'Meagher appeared for the lads, and pleaded guilty, asking- that they be dealt with leniently. Nansett's parents were going to America. Mrs. Littlejohn deposed that; she heard someone knocking in the shop, and on coining out found that 5s was missing from the till. One of the boys was there, but h< 3 denied the theft. Constable Hobson and Detective Hughes also gave evidence. The former deposed that he did not know Nansett, but Williams' parents were respectable people. The boys, also pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a goldfinch, value Is, the property of Eliza Gent. Miss Gent gave evidence. Mrs. Williams asked that her boy be sent to the Training School. Since he was arrested, people had turned their backs upou her, and she had been insulted in the streot. On the application of Mr. Reston, the case was adjourned until Wednesday. Richard Goffin and David Gordon, two boyß, were charged with stealing 14 sacks and 10 sugar bags, the property of William Henry Wyman. Goffin pleaded not guilty, and the other lad pleaded guilty. W. H. Wyman, who resides at Epsom, deposed that on Saturday morning the servant, Harriet Reid, called his attention, and he saw some boys running off with the sacks in their hands. They dropped the sacks, and witness caught Goffin, who pleaded to be allowed to go, and he would not commit the offence again. Hethenasked Wyman to give him "a hammering," and let him go, but witness gave him in charge. The evidence of Miss Reid was also taken. Mr. Reston, Probation Officer, asked that the boy Goffin be dealt with by the Court if convicted. He pointed out that Goffin was placed on probation last Tuesday for a similar offence, and it was now competent for the Bench to punish the lad for that offence as well as for the present one, and to estreat the bonds entered into by his father for his good behaviour. The father of the boy deposed that he kept the boy in during the week, and on Saturday he sent him to clean the yard, and to chop some wood, when the boy went away. His son was fifteen years of age. In answer to the Bench, Mr. Reston said there would be no contamination in the gaol, except what might be caused by boys mixing together. The boys in the gaol were kept together separate from the adult prisoners. Mr. Goffin said he would be willing to enter into further recognisances for the good behaviour of his son for a term of six months, or twelve months in all. Mr. Reston said he would agree to this course. The boy was a good boy until very recently when he fell into bad company. The Bench accordingly released Goffin on further probation. Mr. Reston said he could not make a recommendation in favour of the smaller boy Gordon, who was a waif, and without anybody to caro for him. It would be better were he committed to the Industrial School. Gordon was sentenced to 24 hours' imprisonment, and ordered to appear on Tuesday before the Resident Magistrate. Firing Ckackers. —A youth named John Belshaw pleaded guilty to firing crackers in College Road on the 26th September, and was fined 10s and costs.

Assault. —There was no appearance of either complainant nor defendant in the case against Richard Orr, charged with assaulting Joseph Measures by striking him on the face and kicking him, and the case was struck out.

Wages in Akkear.—Mr. Clendon asked for an adjournment of the case against W. T. Briggs, owner of the s.s. Ruby, who was charged with refusing to pay the sum of £'20 16s to Walter Parker for services performed by the latter as master of the steamer. The case was remanded until Wednesday.