LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8386, 14 October 1890, Page 6

LAW AND POLICE.

SUPREME COURT.In Bankruptcy. Monday. [Before Mr. 11. C. Brewer, Registrar.) Close of Bankruptcy'.On the motion of Mr. Cave, who appeared for the Official Assignee, the bankruptcy of Francis Jones was declared closed. Composition.—Mr. Cave moved that the composition of 4s in the £ accepted by the creditors in the estate of William Shaw be confirmed by the Court, and that the deed of composition be signed pursuant to subsection 5, section 188, of the Bankruptcy Act, 1883. The application, which was a formal one, was granted.

R.M. COURT.—Monday. [Before Dr. Gile«, R.M.) George Jcdd arid Gertrcdk Ji'dd (an Infant) by her next friend George Jtdd v. T. A. Asi/ton.—Claim £75 for trespass to Gertrude -Judd's piano. Mr. Hudson Williamson with Mr. G. N. Brassey appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. E. W. Burton for the defendant. Mr. Burton at the opening of the cai«e raised the question of jurisdiction on the ground that the Court could not adjudicate on the suit of an infant suing by her next friend ; and that, except in claims for wages, an infant could not sue in the Resident Magistrate's Court. Several statutes and authorities were cited in support of thiß contention, and Mr. Williamson replied. His Worship said that he would take time to consider the question, as the point was a new one, and would meantime communicate by telegraph with some of his brother magistrates in order to ascertain their views and decisions, if any, on the subject. The witnesses were discharged, and the case stood formally adjourned till Thursday next. The Resident Magistrate, however, intimated to counsel that his present opinion was in favour of defendant's counsel, as the jurisdiction over infants appeared to be expressly vested in the Supreme Court by statute. Costs were provisionally assessed to defendant for £!) lis Bd.

POLICE COURT.—Monday. [Before Messrs. J. P. King and F. L. Prime, J.P.'s.J Drunkenness.—Four persons were punished for first offences. Kato Power was fined £5, with an alternative of 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour. A charge against William Seagar, and another against Ann Finsley, were remanded, whilst the bail of George Russell was estreated.

Charge of Wife Desertion.—A charge against Charles SitHett, of having attempted to desert his wife and child at New Plymouth, was remanded until Tuesday, bail being refused. *

Disorderly Houses.—Joseph Robinson was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour for being the occu£ier of a house in Chapel-street frequented y persona having no lawful visible means of support. The Bench said they were sorry that the owner of the house (said to be a Mr. Mcintosh) could not be indicted with the accused. Jemima Morgan, charged •with having been found in the house, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour. James Fowler was fined £5 and costs, with an alternative of one month's imprisonment with hard labour, for being the occupier of a disorderly house in Chapel-street.