LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10902, 5 November 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT NEWS. | The sitting of the Auckland Police Court, bold yesterday, was presided over by His Worship Mr. T. Hutchison, S.M. THE CHARGES AGAINST TAILOK. The hearing of the charges of indecent assault preferred against John Henry Taylor with reference to the girls Ruth Wood and Alice "Wood, the former 13 and the kttor lb years of age, and Elizabeth Annis Hofironj were continued. Detective Maddern conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Earl the defence. Detective Maddern said, previous to proceeding with the hearing of the charges, ho would liko to mention the improper conduct of the bondsmen in going to the girls and the girls' mother and asking them to give evidence for the defence, and not for the police, and to take no notice of the police. It had been reported to the detective that the girls were asked to go to a lawyer's office and make a statement, a cab being placed at their disposal. He had told Inspector (Men of the matter, and lie (the inspector) instructed him to call the attention of the Bench to it. The detective was satisfied that 110 solicitoi engaged in the case knew anything about thq matter. His Worship: What you suggest is a gross breach of the criminal law, an attempt to suborn evidence. The Court cannot deal summarily with this. If you are advised of your facts, your course is very obvious and dean Mr. Earl: I would like to mention this, that, assuming what Dc-tective Maddern says is true, I know nothing about it. Detective Maddern: I admit it. I told the

Inspector so. The cases were then investigated by the Elizabeth Maria Wood said she was a widow, and the mother of Alice Elizabeth Wood mentioned in the charge against the accused. . Cross-examined: Her daughter had givon her a little anxiety through her conduct at night. Alice Elizabeth Wood deposed to going dewn Queen-street- one day with a girl named Heresa Butler, who pointed out the accused to witness. A few days subsequently she was on her way to see the s.s. West-ralia, when she again saw the accused, who beokoned to her. The accused went down to his office in Lower Queon-street, and witness followed him. Taylor went into his office, and witness ako followed him there. Witness, in reply to questions, gave an account of what transpired between herself and the _ accused, from which it appeared that the girl's own story did not support the charge. Mr. Earl submitted that there was no case to answer, and His Worship dismissed the information. An information of a similar character with reference to Hull l Wood was also dismissed. On the girl being examined, she said that she did not recollect speaking to Taylor when in his office, that she was not there more than five minutes, and that nothing whatever in the nature of an indecent assault was committed upon her. ... I The fourth information, in which the accused was charged with indecently assault*

ing Elizabeth Annie Heffron, was then proceeded with. Mr. J. R. Reed said tho girl Heffron had instructed him to appear for her, and to say that whatever took place between her and the accused was not: without hor 1 consent. The girl was 18 years of ago. [ The evidence of Detectives Madderu and Kennedy was taken, and both witnesses stated that they were satisfied that the girl was a 1 consenting party. "It was perfectly clear," i said Mr. Hutchison, in giving judgment, " from admissions, as well as from what can , be gathered from tho evidence, that the girl ' I was over 16 years of age. and a consenting 1 party to anything that took place. The case will be dismissed." _ i Mr. O'Meagher said he had been asked to . refer by the bondsmen to a statement made by Detective Maddern to the effect that they had gone to the witnesses for tho prosecution, I ' and had endeavoured to interfere with them. ' ; He had been requested to assure His Worship ] ' that nothing of tho kind took place. Tho • bondsmen had simply gone to tho mothers , • of the girls and asked if they were going • j to givo evidence, but did not ask the naturo ' I of it. _ _ 1 I " A very injudicious thing to do," said His Worship. "We will not let the matter stand where it is," remarked Detective Maddern. This I concluded the hearing of the cases against ; Taylor. ! A YOUNG MAN HORSEWHIPPED. | In tJie case Hurle Hampton v. Robert ' Waite the complainant charged the defendant ' with assaulting him by striking him with a whip. Mr. Parr appeared for the defendant, ; and Mr. Baumo for the complainant, who I stated that.Waite called upon him and asked : him for an explanation of a statement that i lie had mado. The two then walked towards i the complainant's homo, where ho intended ■ to make tho desired explanation, but tho deI fendant apparently grew restless, and com- : menced to thrash the complainant with a whip. "Ho thrashed me for a while, until ' the young fellow with mo interfered," said Hampton, a sturdy-looking fellow of apparently i 20 years of age. Hampton refused to fight, ! and did not make the slightest resistance. Mr. Baume said lie had a letter from Dr. Wine, i : saying that there were a dozen or more ~ biuises on the complainant's back, and several ' on liis thigh. Mr. Parr said tho assault was . ' committed by the defendant under great pro- . : vocation, that being tho defence. Defending i counsel then called evidenco with a view of [ 1 showing that the defendant's sister had been ■ 1 slandered by the complainant. His Worship i said the facts of the case were that tho de- ,' fendant, after giving the prosecutor an op- ) portunity of fighting, gave him a horsei whipping. This was undoubtedly an assault; ) in fact, Mr. Parr admitted it. Tho defence ) was that the assault had been provoked by r aspersions of the grossest kind cast upon the ) sister of the defendant. The most ill-used per- - son in the whole proceedings, without ex- - cepting the man who got the thrashing, was t the young lady. Upon the wholo evidenco, l His Wprship came to the conclusion that tho f young man Hampton did make imputations t, of the very grossest kind, and, if true, they 1 conveyed to His Worship's mind that he was 1 a person of the most contemptible character. 1 Ho hold that provocation of the grossest kind a, had been proved, and, this being the case, a f conviction would be recorded, and a nominal I. fine of 5s inflicted. Costs wero not allowed

against the defendant. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. A boy, Thomas Hearne, at present doing a short term of hard labour in Mount Eden, was committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court on a charge of breaking and entering into the dwellinghouse of Mrs. Hannah Alexander at Point Chevalier, and stalling therefrom 12s 6d worth of cigarettes. Mr. Parr appeared for the defence. UNATTENDED VEHICLES. George Thomas Pitt was convicted of leaving his cab unattended in a public place, and fined ss, with costs 7s. Thomas Hill pleaded guilty to a charge of leaving his cart unattended in Darby-street, and was ordered to pay a fine of ss. DRUNKENNESS. A young woman, Lily Clarke, for this offence was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' hard labour. Two first offenders were discharged with a caution.