LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12241, 9 April 1903, Page 7

LAW AND POLICE.

I POLICE COURT KEWS. Mn. T. Hutchison, S.M., presided at yes- | terday's sitting of the Police Court. ' SDrunkenness: John Mullarky, fforlhis third oilence in six months, was fined 10s or in default 48 hours. John Murphy, for a secona offence m six mouths, was fined ss, or 24- .hours' in default. An old a?e pensioner, hailing from Hobsonville, pleaded guilty to being drunk on tho s.s. Vivid, and was ordered to forfeit one month's pension. Annie Robertson, an elderly woman, was charged with being drunk for the second time in six months. She was fined ss, or 21 hours. Obscene Language: A young man named Patrick Lynch pleaded guilty to using obscene language in Mechanics' Bay. His Worship inflicted a fine of £1, or in default a week's imprisonment. Alleged Cruelty to a Horse: Two young men named James French and Frank Cowan pleaded not guilty to a charge of cruelty to a horse at St. Hcliers Bay on the 4th inst. Mr. Baxter appeared fd the defence. Arthur Keenan deposed to French hiring a norse and trap at Paterson's stables on the afternoon in question. They were supplied with a horse which did not require the whip, and which was in good condition. Thomas Picton, employed at the St. Heliers Bay Hotel, said the horse arrived there in a sweat, but did not look as though it had been driven too fast. It was left in the trap for some time. Witness put the horse back in the trap in tho evening, when tho two accused were leaving the bay. The horso jibbed at the gate loading out of. the yard. One of the accused then got out of the trap, and kicked tho animal twice on the belly. Tho horse fell, and was unable to get up, and died later that night. About a bucket and a-lialf ot blood came out of the horse's nostrils after it fell down. Other witnesses gave corroborative evidence. Edward D. Halstead, veterinary eujrgeon, who made a post-mortem examination of the horse, said he found no marks of violence. The animal's death was caused by hemmorrhage, duo to rupture of the heart. One of its lungs was much diseased, and it was not in a fit condition to bo driven. The , rupture oT the heart might have boon caused by a fall or by over exertion. His Worship said it was perfectly clear that tho death of the horse was from natural causes, and was not the result of ill-treatment. Tho evidence showed that there was no overdriving, and that the kick undoubtedly administered by one of the defendants must have been of no violonco, as no wound was found by the veterinary surgeon. The illformation was dismissed. By-law Cases: Joseph Williams, Thomas Lindsay, Win. Davis, and Wm. Moyle, were each fined 5s on charges of chiving vehicles round corners at other than a walking pace. Henry Smith was mulcted in a similar fine for leaving a cab unattended in a public thoroughfare. Larrikins and' ex-Constable: An elderly man named Wm. Howell (an c?»-consta'hle), .or whom Mr. Parr appeared, and a youth named Thos. Hunter, were charged with using threatening language, and with causing a breach of the peace at Eden Crescent. Robert Tonilinson and his brother deposed to seeing the elder accused strike the younger one, and to a fight ensuing. Howell stated in evidence that Hunter was one ol a " push" of larrikins who was taken round to fight their battles. He denied striking the first blow. He got a "clout behind the ea_, and never saw Hunter after." His Worship said the evidence showed Howell to be the aggrieved party, and he. remembered this in inflicting the fine he did. Howell was fined 10s and costs, and Hunter £2 and costs. A Prohibited Person: Michael Kiely, a prohibited person, was fined 40s and costs for being on licensed premises. Juvenile Offenders: Two little boys named Arnold and Henry Audean, 11 and nine years of age respectively, wero charged with entering the "Newton West school on April 4, and stealing a cadet cap, 37 penny pieces, and three keys, of a total value of 6s 7d. the property of Thomas Campbell and Alfred Webber. Airs. Jones, caretaker of the school, and John Campbell, first-assistant teacher, deposed to leaving the school door arid a cupboard, containing the stolen articles. locked on Friday evening, tho 3rd inst., and to finding them unlocked on the Monday ■morning, and the articles missing. Alfred Webber, headmaster of the school, said Henry Audean brought him the stolen cap, saying he got it from a boy named Tom Edwards. Constable Moriarty, who arrested the boys, said they admitted breaking into the school, and stealing the articles. Tho father of I lie boys made a statement, saying he was very strict with his children, but they were allowed to do as they liked by their mother. He was away from homo all clay from seven a.m. to nine p.m., and could not control the boys as he would like. His Worship said the evidence was not sufficient to convict upon, but it was evident the bovs were not under proper control. He committed them to the Auckland Industrial School. Adjourned : The hearing of charges of theft preferred against Gordon Bruce Matheson, was, on the application of Mr. Reed, adjourned until to-day. The charge against Win. Richardson and Wm. John Bell, of publishing a defamatory libel of Wm. John Baker, was also adjourned until to-day.