LAW AND POLICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8540, 14 April 1891, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE

POLICE COURT.— Monday. [Before Messrs. S, Y. Collins and G. S. Kissling, J.P.'s] Drunkenness.—Three first offenders were fined each ss, or in default 24 hours' imprisonment. William Seagar was fined 10s and costs, or in default 4S hours' imprisonment. Obstructing a Constable. — William Seagar was further charged with assaulting Constable Yens Watfcy whilst in the executiou of his duty on April 12th. Constable Watty deposed that he arrested the accused for drunkenness in Victoria-street on the afternoon of April 12. Accused resisted witness and kicked him severely. Constable Ward also deposed to witnessing the assault. Accused was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. Assault. — Wm. John Bowden was charged with assaulting John Cronin. Mr. O'Meagher appeared for the complainant, and accused pleaded guilty to the charge. Accused was fined 20s and costs, or in default seven days' imprisonment. Alleged Larceny.— John Glover, aged 14 years, John Jones, aged 15 years, were charged with stealing five sacks, valued at 2s 6d, the property of Robert McGee. Mr. O'Meagher appeared for the accused, and on his application the case was remanded until Wednesday next. ARATAPU POLICE COURT. Thursday, April 9. [Before Mr. Thomas Webb, J.P ) Drunk and Disordekly. —Thomas Holt was charged on the information of Constable Scott with a breach of the Police Offences Act by being drunk and disorderly in the public road. A further charge of using obscene language was withdrawn. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was fined 20s, with costs 11s, or in default seven days' imprisonment. Furious Riding.—William Cole, Robert Cole, and William Murphy were charged with riding furiously along the public road between Aratapu and Mangawhare. The defendants pleaded not guilty. Constable Scott brielly introduced the case, and said that the offence of furious riding was be- , coming common, and needed a check. The rein which W. Cole used (part of which he produced) was very little stronger than straw. William Topp, sworn, deposed that on Tuesday, March 31, in the evening ho was returning home in his trap, having lefbMan•whare at six o'clock. He had to pull up three times to clear hhnself of persons riding furiously. When he had reached to about White's bridge he heard a clatter, and said to his boy that these fellows would be into them. He drew to the near side of the road and stopped. Almost directly there was a crash, and William Cole landed into the cart right amongst the milk cans under the seat, and another of the riders struck the shafts. Robert Cole commonly races up the same road. I know he wa3 there, for I knew his voice. The collision smashed the splashboard, and it cost ine 7s Gd to repair it. 1 picked up the piece of bridle, produced, in the cart. Defendants were riding furiously. I heard them whipping their horses, and saw them rising in their s&irrups. Charles Gairloch, aged 14, who is employed by Mr. Topp, suid that he remembered the collision. He was in the cart with Mr. Topp. He could hear the horses galloping a long way off, and eaw them as soon as they came round the angle of the road. They were going full gallop. A fellow camo right into the cart, through the splashboard and my legs, into the milk cans under the seat. He was riding on the wrong side of the road. Another man came riding up and struck the shaft. The riders were standing in the stirrups with the reins in their hands, in racing style. The men had sticks and were hitting the horses. Mr. Topp pulled up on the right side of the road—that is, the left side. Thomas Foley, also in Mr. Topp's employ, gave similar evidence. William Cole, sworn, said that he was going up to Dargaville about halfpast six on March 31sfc, with his brother and Mr. Murphy. It was dark when they started. After reaching Lyons' they started a trot and then got into a canter. They could near nothing because the road is sandy. Mr. Topp's cart was standing right in the middle of the road, and he had no light, Witness could not see him r and collided with his cart. The saddle came off his horse, and the bridle broke. Witness did not hear or see anything of the I cart before he struck it. It was dark and foggy, and he could not see a yard before him. The horse propped, and caused him to fall into the carb. From the angle of the road to where Mr. Topp was waiting was about 200 or 300 yards. Witness was two r or three minutes in the cart before he was able to get out of it. Mr. Murphy expressed a desire to make a statement. His Worship informed him that there was very little if any evidence pointing towards him, I and if he made a statement on oath it might I be used against him. Murphy, at his own request, was then sworn, and said that on March 31, he was going toKaihu, and was with the other defendants cantering along. Mr. Cole ran into a trap. It was that dark witness could not see nor hear anything. His horse propped, and he came off the saddle on to his feet. He went round the cart, and saw that it was fair in the middle of the road. It was that dark they could not see anything. Robert Cole, who was cautioned by his Worship in a similar manner to the last witness, sworn, said that he was riding up the road on March 31 with his brother and Murphy. They were going along , in a steady canter, and he was about forty yard? behind when he heard the crash. His horse was a slow one. His Worship, in summing up, said that the pace must have been very considerable to send a man into the cart through a hp.lfinch board, and the fact of it being dark should have made the pace slower. One of the defendants seemed inclined to argue the point with the Bench, and was called to order by the constable. The Bench considered the charge proved against all three defendants, and informed them that they had laid themselves open to a fine of £10. As this was the first offence, however, he would only impose a fine of £1 each and costs 23s in all.—[Aratapu Correspondent, April 9.] MANGAWAI COURT. This Court was held on Monday, 6th instant. Present: Messrs. W. B. Farrand and T. Coates, J.P.'s. The only case brought forward was Ohlsen v. Cosgrave. It appeared from the evidence adduced that the plaintiff had occasion to call on Mrs. Cosgrave for the return of a fishing-line, This and other causes brought on recriminations, and ultimately blows. From the conflicting nature of the evidence, the Bench considered it advisable to bind both parties over in their own recognisances to keep the peace for six months. There were several witnesses on both sides. —[Own Correspondent.]