LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9610, 7 September 1894, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

SUPREME COURT.— Sittings. Thursday. (Before His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly.] , ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT. ' -.} In the case of William Sharp McCormick, charged with an indecent assault on two little girls, both under the age of 12 years, the jury >* were unable to agree, and his Honor accord- * ingly discharged them. A fresh jury was 'Si empannelled, and the case again occupied the greater part of another day. The witnesses called were the same as on the previous day, and the evidence of a like nature. The accused cross-examined each of the witnesses at considerable length, and at the conclusion of the prosecution addressed the jury. The latter retired at ten minutes to four, and after three-quarters of an hour's deliberation returned a verdict of guilty. His Honor deferred sentence until a second charge apainst ; the accused, one of rape, had been heard. order of business. J "• His Honor announced that the charges against James Beard of manslaughter, and George Fisher receiving stolen goods, would not be taken before Monday next, the other cases on the calendar would be dealt with during the next two days.

MAGISTRATE'S THURSDAY.\ , [Before Mr. H. W. Northcroffc, S.M.] Undefended Judgment was given for the plaintiffs with costs in the following casesSeegner, Langguth and Co. v. Geo.; Packer and Co., claim £23 2s 9d, and costs £3 2s ; L. D. Nathan and Co. v. Otto Haasu, • claim. £21 18s Bd, and costs £3 Is; J. J. Craig v. P. S. Marks, claim 12s 6d, and costs 6s; A. H. Nathan v. Wm. Osborne, claim £18 14s 6(1, and costs £2 17s 6d; Alex, Aitken v. VVm. Gunson (farmer), claim 18s 9d, and costs 13s; Alfred Buckland and Sons v. T. G. Marlow, claim £18 3s, and costs £2 os6d; Brace, Windle, Blyth and Co. v. J. Culpitt, claim £18 17s 6d, and costs £115s 6d; Northern Roller Milling Company,' Limited, v. J. W. Gilman, claim £10 4s, and - costs £1 15s 6d_; Elizabeth Lily Lomas v. Chas. Watts, claim £1, and costs 6s; T. A. Gentles v. Wm. Coppell, claim £1 lis lid, and costs 68 ; Auckland Gas Company v. John Reid (clerk), claim 15s, and costs 6s. J Geo. Marsden Smyth v. Jonas A. Pjsksson.—This was a claim for photographic enlargements taken away by Persson, acting as plaintiffs agent, and for which Smyth had not received payment. The amount owing to plaintiff was Bet down at £128 14s 6d, less £30 16s acknowledged to be owing to Persson, leaving a balance of £97 18s 6d, which plaintiff claimed to be still owing to him. Mr. Tylden appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Burton for defendant. The defence was that this latter sum was eaten up by expenses incurred in travelling and delivery of the enlargements. Wm. Miller, manager of the New Zealand Express Company, cave evidence as to arrangements made by Smyth and Watters for forwarding pictures to various parts of the colony. An order signed by plaintiff on the Express Company in favour of the defendant, being put in evidence. Mr. Tylden said he saw no alternative but ask for a nonsuit, which plaintiff accepted. The costs amounted to £418s.

POLICE COURT.Thursday. [Before Messrs. W. Beetaan and H. Wilding, J.P.'s.] Larceny of a Brooch.A woman named Julia O'Keefe was charged with having feloniously stolen one gold brooch to the value of £17s 6d, the property of Rose Bell. While under the influence of liquor she had taken two brooches, one silver and the other fold, from a house in Chapel-street. Acting)etective Bailey had recovered the gold brooch in a second-hand shop, , the proprietor of which had bought it for 2s. Accused could not accouht for the irilver brooch, and never remembered having . it. A fine was inflicted of £1, or, in default, seven days' imprisonment. - ■ »: ■ Breach op By laws.—-Alfred John Edmonds did not appear to answer a,charge of being the owner of a cart, which he left unattended in Victoria" Quadrant, and which had no chain attached to the wheel. When brought to task by the ; traffic inspector, he said he had driven a cart for 30 years, and never had a chain on his cart, A fine of 55., with costs 7s, wits imposed. >

Speaking ab the meeting of the Qtaga branch of the Medical Association, Dr. Batchelor, who must be regarded as an authority on the question, said tie public did hot recognise the amount of evil result- > | ing from insanitary conditions, and did nob realise the frightful cost of illness. The , , , i doctor's - fees were, he said, only a small ""/.-{V item in the cost of illness, and he estimated V;. V< that in Dunedin alone they amounted to about £20,000 a-year. He ventured to say that if a local medical officer of health were appointed he would do more good in preventing disease than the whole of the doctors in Dunedin could do in caring the ::}k illness that arose, and this statement was received with a chorus of approval. Dr. Vif Lindo Ferguson subsequently remarked that Dr. Batchelor had touched on only the ' -V* smallest aide of the cost of illness, in which bad to. be counted the - patient's toss of work -r t V, and the cost of , the >' trip he. had to take t< ; pull himself together. ' The real expense lay ' in the loss of earning.:power and th» loss of > ■■' production dua to diaoaao,