LAW AND POLICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9726, 23 January 1895, Page 6

LAW AND POLICE

POLICE COURT.-Tuesday. >>. [Before Mr.E. S. Bush, S.M.] Larceny.—John Thomas was charged with having on the 21sfc instant, stolen one pair shoes, value 6s 6d, the property of Richard James. Accused pleaded guilty. Sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour. Charges op Assault.—George Martin was charged on summons with having on the 14th instant, at Auckland, unlawfully assaulted a lad named William James Kennedy. Mr. H. Y. Collins, instructed by Mr. F. Baume, appeared for complainant. Defendant conducted his own case. After hearing the evidence adduced, His Worship, owing to its conflicting character, dismissed the case ; each party to pay their own costs. Walter Parker was charged on summons with having assaulted Mrs. Mary Robson. Dr. Laishley appeared for complainant, and Mr. G. N. Braasey for defendant. _ The case lasted all the afternoon, but is of no public interest. His Worship reserved judgment till to-day (Wednesday). . Alleged Perjury. _ James Grainger, who was a Crown witness in the Bowden perjury cases, was charged, on the information of Thomas Kerwin, with * having committed perjury in the hearing of a certain information laid against the informant on the 10th day of January at the sitting of the Magistrate's Court held ab Auckland on the 12th inst., by swearing to the effect : —1. That on the night of the 29th day of August, 1894, between the hours of ten and eleven o'clock p.m., he, the said James Grainger, was near Laud's pork butcher's shop, and saw two cabs coming up the street. Abraham Bowden was driving one and William Dawson was driving the other. Bowden jammed him on to the kerb and struck Dawson across the head with his whip. 2. That he, the said James Grainger, was not at the coffee stall that night when Dawson was assaulted. ~ 3. That he, the said James Grainger, was at the coffee stall immediately after the affair happened, and that he walked straight down the street. Mr. Coopor ap. peared for the accused, and Mr. Brassey for the prosecution. Mr. Brassey applied for a remand for eight days. Mr. Cooper objected to any remand. This was a private prosecution, and, in view of all the surrounding oirumstances, a remand was inadvisable, and unnecessary. The accused had been a witness in the perjury cases brought by the Crown against a number of persons who had been committed on evidence given by accused. He had been bound over to give evidence upou the trial of such persons in the Supreme Court, and he submitted it would be un interference with the regular procedure with those cases to prosecute a Crown witness at that stage. Mr. Brassey replied that it was just as right to have the remand applied for in the case of a private prosecution as a public one. Ultimately it was agreed to adjourn the case till Friday, j As accused was already bound over to \ appear at the next sitting of the Supreme Court; his bail was simply enlarged.

PUKEKOHE S.M. COURT.

Thursday, January 17. [Before Thomas Jackson, S.M., and Messrs. J. H. and W. V. Wright, J.P's.l Drunk while in charge of Horsk and Dray.—John McCullough, charged that on New Year's Day, whilst in charge of a horse and dray at Pukekohe, he was drunk and incapable, pleaded guilty, and the Bench, after duo consideration, decided to prohibit , McCullough instead <" levying a fino, prohibition to extend to Waiuku, Maukn, Tuakau, and Pukekohe. Charge ok Assault.—Constable McGovern v. Frank Urahame. Defendant pleaded nob guilty. Particulars given by Barber as follows :—A young man named James Barber, of Mauku, attended the Salvation Army meeting, at the Barracks ab I this place on the evening of December 4th, last year. About ten o'clock p.m. he came out of the meeting: to fetch his horse and trap to the Barracks, to drive home two I young lfdy friends. The defendant Grahame, with several other young men, ! were standing several sidewalk, near the were standing on the sidewalk, near the Barrack door, when Barber came up , with his trap. Grahame shouted out, " Now, boys, for a ride home !" and suiting the action to the word, made a dash for the trap. On putting his foot on the step, Barber tried to push him off, and the horse in the squabble made up the street. Grahame let go, and got away from the step, and went behind, getting into the trap, when he at once struck Barber on the chest with bis clenched fist. He also shook him, breaking a gold watchguard. Grahamo then got out of the trap, using some very coarse and insulting language. A witness named Best was called to corroborate Barber's statement, but although present at the time, he seemed to know nothing of what had occurred. John Low, railway porter, was also called as well as the defendant, who, after the caution was read to him, decided to give his version of the affair, which version was tantamount to an admission of the assault. The Court adjourned to consider the case, and on resuming fined the defendant £2, and 16s costs. The fine and costs were promptly paid. Civil Case.—Jos. Adams (plaintiff) v. Alfred Dane (defendant), claim £1 1? 4£d for beef supplied. No appearance of defendant ; judgment for plaintiff for full amount and costs, to be paid in instalments of 5s a week. This was all the business ; the Court stands adjourned till Thursday, the 14th of February, at half-past ten a.m.—[Own Correspondent.]