LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11604, 19 March 1901, Page 7

LAW AND POLICE.

■H '.-" POLICE COURT NEWS. Mb. John, Letdon, J.P., presided at the Police Court ' yesterday. Drunkenness:,<.;.T.wo /first", offenders were, convicted and discharged, and William Stow was. ' fined 10s,. or in default 48 • hours', im- '■ 'prisonment, and Kate Hindi 20s, or .'in deW& fault »even days. .; ■~: ... . | / ■'- A Violent , Character: A seafaring man • named Edward Brunstron was charged with ','■ -j '■,'.„" disorderly conduct while drunk in Queenstreet, .assaulting Constable Cox, damaging the constable's trousers, to the value of 10s, .', and with using obscene language. Constable ' Cox deposed i that tho accused on Saturday last was creating a disturbance at the Thames Hotel corner, and witness requested him to go on board his ship. Witness then walked lip Queen-street, and -had gone a few yards when a carter named Martin came to him and complained that accused had caught his leader by the head and refused to let his cart ■ proceed. Witness went to accused, and requested him to desist, when accused became violent, and used some filthy lauguage. Witness then proceeded to take him , into custody, in tho course of which proceeding witness was badly assaulted by accused, and in.d his clothing damaged. Meantime a large crowd of people had collected, and several of them stood by and incited accused to resist and assault, witness. Two other ', constables arrived on the scene, and it was with some difficulty accused Was appre-'I Jiended, a civilian also assisting the police. I Corroborative evidence was given by Constable Meagher, who stated that accused behaved like a maniac. The Bench read ac- "" cused a homily on the evils of drink, and said ' this was one of the. worst cases that had ever come under his notice. He said the use of obscene language was becoming common amongst a certain class of tho community, • and very often filthy language was used in the streets in the hearing of females, and there was no excuse for such an offence. He '~ considered it his duty to deal severely with nil cases of this nature that came before him. For assaulting tho police and using obscene ■ language, accused was sentenced to three months' hard labour on each charge, to run concurrently, and fined 10s, or 48 hours' imprisonment, for disorderly conduct while ■drunk. On the charge of, damaging the constable's uniform, accused was remanded till next morning, as it required two justices or 'a magistrate to deal with the case. A middle- • , agod man named Harry Boysen was then charged with inciting Edward Brunston to resist lawful apprehension. Accused pleaded not guilty. His Worship sentenced accused 1 to a month's hard labour, remarking that ••. this case was worse than the preceding one. A sailor named Enoch Hansen, on a like : charge, was also sentenced to 14 days' hard labour. • ■ - ' Damage to Property: William' Stow was , fined 20s, or in default one month's imprisonment, for wilfully breaking a window, valued at ,259, the property of Alfred Saunders, and ordered to nay the amount of tho damage. Remanded: Martha McManus ' was • remanded for one week, on tho application of -Detective Grace, on a charge ot steal- ■ ing, the sum of £1 from the person of Herbert Thompson. Bail was allowed in accused's own recognisance of £10, and one surety of £10. Daniel Williams was remanded for medical treatment till Saturday next, -on a charge of inebriation, and being found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of Thomas Clung,' in, Victoriastreet. ■",. ■ '.. '. -.'>