LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12410, 4 November 1903, Page 7

LAW AND POLICE.

POLIOS COURT NEWS. •' ' Yestkbdai's sitting of tho Police Court was held before Mr. H. W. Brabant, B.M. V Drunkenness: George Sanderson, for a fourth offence, was convicted and fined £1, or in default seven days. Alleged Vagrancy: Mary Jane Alexander appeared on remand to a charge of being an idle and disorderly person, in that she did not Jiavo sufficient lawful means of support. Sergeant Hendry said the accused had been reniandeo <f-n Saturday last in order that she might be medically wcn'mined at the gaol, but the gaoler not having und«;>..tood "that that had been ordered, defendant had not therefore been examined. Accused' stated that although she had said on Saturday last that'she wanted to be sent to gaol for'good, she had altered her mind, and wanted to'be given over to tho earo of tho Little Sifters of the Poor, to take charge of her. The case was adjourned in order to see if this could be done.

Thieving Firemen: John Sage and Thomas :Kelly were charged with having .stolen from the s.s. \\aimate, in Auckland, on© pair of boots, ▼allied, at 15s, the property of the New Zealand Shipping Company. A similar charge was read against Henry Grotton and Edward Power, while George Robinson was charged with stealing two pairs of boots, valued at 30s, and two bottles of fruit salts, valued at ss, also the property of the New Zealand Shipping Company. Mr. J. C. Martin appeared on behalf ot the company as. prosecutor, and asked that as the as read were indictable, that tho words "s.s. Wairuato," be struck out, so its to give His Worship suimnarv jurisdiction. This was done, and the accused all pleaded guilty. Mr, .Martm, in stating the facts of the case, said that die live accused were all firemen on the s.s. Waimate, and tho goods stolen were part of the outward cargo. On Monday morning last, when work was commenced it was noticed by cue of the officers that the cargo in on 6 of' the holds had been tampered with, certain ropes having been displaced. Oil examination it was found that a lot of caudle grease had been sprinkled over one. of the casts, and imou opening it no less than 15 pairs of 0n.,'.-; were discovered to be missing. In another <... 0 eJc.so by it vi&s discovered that tins of coin; a used milk and bottles of fruit salts were also missing. A search of the firemen's quarters was then .decided upon, and resulted in the goods stated in tie charges being revealed in the men's hunks and luggage. The accused had then confessed to stealing th.> ; goods, but gave as their only excuse that they went down the hold to look for food. Counsel asked that the cases stand down until two p.m., so that the police might be given time ','.) make further inquiries into other missing cargo. His Worship granted the, request." I 1 pen resumption Mr. Martin informed the' Court tlint nothing further of an ■'incriminating nature had been discovered against the accused. Mr. Brabant, in sentencing the accused, said that it seemed to him that, the cases were such as should have been sent "to the Supreme Court, where proper punishment would have been meted out. However, us the cases had been dealt with summarily they would each be sentenced Id sis weeks' hard labour, besides being ordered to pay the. value of the* goods.

Maintenance: An order for 10.3 per week was made against James Samuel Jones towards the support of his wife, while another for a similar amount was also made against him fo, the support of his two children. John Sherman was ordered 'to contribute 10s pe» week towards the support of his wife. Ernest Charnley and Francis Pollard were ordered to pay 8s and 2s 6d per week respectively towards the support of their children i" the Auckland Industrial Scboql. By-law Cases: John Howard Dulton was charged with causing a signboard wider than three feet to bo on premises in Queenstreet. After hearing evidence His "Worship reserved his decision.

Tramcar Cases: Benjamin James Buckley pleaded not guilty to a charge of having carried an excessive number or passengers on a traiucar running to Famcll. on the 15th uH. Mr. J. It. Reed defended, while Mr. T. C. Turner (traffic inspector) prosecuted. Air. Turner gave evidence to seeing the car overcrowded, and his evidence was substantiated by another witness. Defendant said he did not recollect the circumstances, but admitted being conductor of No. 3 car. which Mr. Turner alleged to be the overcrowded one. His Worship convicted', and inflicted a fine of £1, and costs. Thomas Jackson" was charged, that being the driver of a tyamear, he did, on October 21, refuse to carry passengers for ..-horn there was sufficient accommodation. Mr. T. O. Turner prosecuted, and ■Mr. J. C. Martin defended. Mr. Turner called John Adeane, who said that at twentytwo minutes to one p.m., on Oetobe: 23, he waited at tho corner of Cook and Hofcsou Streets for a oar. Tiyo-cars nassed him, but the motormen in each case* sang out to him that there was another car behind. The third car came upon the scene, and although it -was not by any means full, and witness signalled to stop, thfl"motorman shook his head, intimating that he could not take witness as a passenge,. Witness spoke to the accused later on, when Jackson informed hi in that his reason for passing him was because he was making up time. A passenger travelling in the same car stiid he noticed the. complainant at the time of the occurrence! but thought at the time lis did nst give sufficient notice for the iViotorman to stop, as he only signalled when the car was right abreast of Ipm. "Defendant deposed that he passed Mr. Ade,(ihe because he thought he was going down" Cookstreet. His Worship said lie could not convict on the evidence, although he had no reason to doubt the complainant's evidence. The case would be dismissed..