LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9209, 12 November 1888, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT.—Saturday. [before Dr. Giles, E.M.] Drunkenness.—Eight persons were punished for the offence of drunkenness. Assault.—John Russell, who was fined 10s, with an alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment, was also fined £2, or in default seven days' imprisonment, for assaulting Constable McCabe, by striking him in the lace. James Walters was charged with assaulting Mary Ann Edwards, by striking her in the face with a boot. The evidence was to the etl'ect that the prisoner, who is a sailor, wont to the house of the complainant in Chancery-street, and whilst uiero he .struck her. The accused gave as his reason tor committing the offence that the woman took his money. His Worship said that wore it not that the prisoner wished to leave Auckland with the vessel on which ho was employed, he would send him to gaol without the option of a fine. He ordered him to pay £4 and costs, or in default undergo 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour.

Attempted Suicide.—Michael Sheehan was charged with attempting to commit suicide by cutting his throat with a razor on the 12th of October. Sergeant-Major Pratt said that the man hau been discharged that morning from the Hospital, and he asked that he be bound over in a surety for his good behaviour, according to law. Dr. Giles remarked that he did not sec the good of binding a man over in his own recognisances not to commit suicide. In reply to the fiench, Sheehan said he had suffered from a delusion that his master had accused him of robbery. The stepfather of the young man said that the latter fell from u horse aoout ten months ago. and had probably been temporarily affected in the mind. The ollence was certainly not due to drink. The Bench dismissed the accused, his stepfather entering into a bond of £50 to tako charge of him.

Affiliation Case.—Archibald McCausland, an elderly man of military appearance, was charged with failing to contribute to the support of an illegitimate child. Mr. Earl appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Bmssey for the defendant, who pleaded not, guilty. Mr. Earl said that the Story of this child, of which Mrs. Susan Chester was the mother, was a singular one. He then reviewed the evidence which he would call, and said that those persona who had supported the child were too poor to keep it any longer, and therefore they desired to lind the father. If the paternity of the child could not be proved, it would become a burden on the State Constable Clark deposed that he had known McCausland and Mrs. Chester for some time. He knew the latter as Mrs. Murphy, and she was then living at Archdill, and keeping a small general store. This was about four or live years ago. She had her children with her at that time. There was no Mr. Murphy, and witness was informed that the woman was a widow. At this time McCausland lived in the house ; there was no other man or woman living there, so far as witness knew. Witness could not form any opinion as to the relationship between the parties, but he had heard something more by common report. The parties were known by their proper names— McCausland and Mrs. Murphy. After she left Archhill witness next knew her in Wellington-street. Witness had not recently seen McCausland in company with Mrs. Murphy. Mrs. Gould deposed thatone day in October, ISS4, a lady wearing a black cloak, and with a bonnet, came to her house and made an arrangement by which she was to stay at Mrs. Gould's house to be conrined, some time in November. This arrangement was completed at a second visit. The woman, however, came to the house about the middle of November, and said that the baby was born, but did not say where. She said she did not have time to got down to witness's place. The woman always spoke as though somebody else was the mother of the child, and she made the arrangement with witness for another lady, not for herself. Witness's impression, however, was that she was acting for herself. On the following day, the woman brought the child to Mrs. Gould, about ten o'clock at night, in pursuance of an arrangement that witness was to keep it for a month. She (Mrs. Gould) ultimately gave the child into the care of a Mrs. Harris. This witness having been cross-examined, the case was adjourned.