LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10034, 22 January 1896, Page 3

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT.-Tr/ESDAY. (Before Mr. H. W. Northcroft, S.M.I

Alleged Theft of a House.—Elizabeth Barbara Cordes pleaded not guilty to having, on January 16, stolen a csrtaiu quantity of timber, valued at ss, the property of Samuel Vaile. Sergeant McMahon represented the police. Samuel Vaile said that in January he owned a house at the corner of Newton Road. It was recently destroyed by fire, and on visiting the place shortly after the conflagration, witness found the walls, etc., standing intact, but much burnt. He also visited the place a day or two later, and found the whole concern missing, even to the bricks of the chimney, and a shed closo by. Witness did not think he would be doing his duty as a citizen if he let such a daring act as that pass. He would suggest that the people who had helped themselves should be ordered to cart the wood down to the Helping Hand Mission for the authorities to distribute among deserving cases, as he was not anxious to nave it; but he thought it only right to bring the case to Court. Detective Chrystal deposed to finding a quantity of charred wood under the defendant's house; and she admitted having sent her daughter to get a share of the spoil. Witness said he had made enquiries in the neighbourhood, and found several other people with charred wood in their possession, who would be proceeded against by summons. Mrs. Cordes said in Court that her daughter had brought the wood home, statiug that she had found it lying scattered ou the road. His Worship adjourned the case for a week, that the other people said to have charred wood might be brought to justice.

A Youthful Offender.— Thorpe, a little lad whose head just showed above the railing of the dock, pleaded guilty to having stolen three lots of potatoes, valued at Is each lot, the property of Henry Coe, between January 10 ana 20. Sergeant McMahon explained that Mr, Coe had a potato field at Epsom, aud missed some of his property on different occasions. Constable Lamb, of Newmarket, made enquiries, which resulted in the arrest of the boy. The father was in ( !ourt, and said his son was usually good, and if His Worshsp would deal leniently with the case he would send the boy into the country. Mr. reminded him the lad was already on probation ; however, he would adjourn the case to February 27, and see how the boy behaved. Keeping a Brothel. — Adra Morgan pleaded guilty through her solicitor, Mr. G. N. Brassey, to having kept a brothel on or about January 2. Counsel addressed the Beuch on accused's behalf, but His Worship said they must take the law as they found it. A fine of 40s with costs, 15s, was inflicted. VICTOIIIA-STRK.ET Amenities.— little girl named Clara Chatfield, pleaded not guilty to having on January 5 thrown a missile, to wit, a piece of a brick, to the danger of one Sarah Britt. Mr. Thos. Cotter appeared for Mrs. Britt, and Mr. G. N. Brassey for the defendant. The evidence of the prosecution alleged that the girl threw a piece of a brick at Mrs. Britt, which though it did not actually hit her, grazed her, and struck a small building close by; also, that the girl used insulting language. The defence denied the charge, and gave as an explanation that Mrs Britt was in the before-mentioned small building, and one of the Chatfields threw a piece of scoria, but not the brick, ou to another small building belonging to Mrs. Chatfield's property, and it rolled ou to Mrs. Britt's small building, and Mrs. Britt came out and said she would not stand it any longer. The case was dismissed, each party to pay its own costs.