LAW AND POLICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12856, 3 May 1905, Page 7

LAW AND POLICE.

POLICE COURT NEWS. Yesterday's sitting of the Police Court* was held before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M. Drunkenness: Two first offenders were fined 5s and costs, or in default 24- hours' imprisonment. A previous offender was fined £1 and costs, or in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Maintenance Order Case: I. Henry Chamley made application for the reduction of an order to pay 8s a week towards the maintenance of his son, who is in the industrial school, and the cancellation of arrears. The applicant, on oath, said he was at the time the order was made earning 25s a week and board, but he was now only earning' on an average lisa-week. He was prepared to pay 5s a week. In answer to Sub-Inspector Black tho witness said he only bad himself to support, but he would not have directly. He did spend money in drink, but not more than he should. The magistrate adjourned the ease for two months, in order to give tho applicant a chance to reduce the arrears. Ho also told him to keep an account of bis earnings and expenses. Separation Order: Ada Alice Pinkerton applied, for a separation order against Iter husband, Arthur Irvine Pinkerton. The applicant said she left her husband at Masterton. He was then a constable, but was now a labourer. Whenever he .was the worse of drink he would strike her and knock her about generally. She. left him and came to Auckland. She had two children, whom* she had to work for. The magistrate made an order as applied for. He also ordered the defendant to pay £1 per week towards her maintenance. Maintenance Cases: A fisherman, Arthur John .Johnston, represented by Mr. Baume. was charged with disobeying an order of the Court to maintain his seven children, who are in the industrial school. Mr. Uiiurao said his client would be able to pay £2 a month. Police evidence was given to the effect that Johnston bad previously stated his average earnings to be over 30s. Con- : stable Cox said tho applicant was, previous to the committal of the children, always drinking. There were seven of Johnston's children in the school. Tho magistrate made* an order for 5s each for the two eldest children. The question of maintaining the five others was adjourned till next month. Ho told .Johnston that he should keep an account of his earnings ami expenses by that time. Frederick Vincent was charged by Alice E. Davis with disobeying an order of the Court to contribute towards the maintenance of his illegitimate child. The arrears amounted to £4-15s. The magistrate sentenced Vincent to one month's imprisonment, the order to be suspended if the arrears were paid. John Martin was charged with disobeying an order of the Court to contribute 14s a week towards his wife's support. There were £10 lis arrears to date. The magistrate ordered Martin to be imprisoned for a month, the warrant to be suspended for foul weeks to give him a chance to comply with the order. Michael Br eon, jun., was ordered to be imprisoned for a. month for failing to comply with an order to pay 5s a week towards the maintenance of his mother. Two weeks were allowed the. defendant in which to pay the arrears. William S. Poole, charged with disobeying an order of the Court to contribute 10s a week to his mother, was given a week in which to pay the arrears, £1 Is, or in default one month's imprisonment. Unsuccessful Application: Robert Godkin applied for the cancellation or reduction of a maintenance order made against him to contribute 12s per week towards the support, of his wife and os towards that of his boy. Mr. Parr opposed the application on behalf of .Mrs. Godkin. The applicant said he was a boardinghouso-keeper. Ho was unable to pay the amount without going into debt. In answer to Air. Parr, witness said be bad 25 furnished rooms in his boardinghouse, which was called the Blue Post. The magistrate said the applicant had been able to pay die amounts up to date, and lie was able to pay, and therefore dismissed the application. Charge of Theft : Two hoys, Frederick Robert Fuller and James Johnston, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing on© copper suction rose, value £4, on January 23, the property of the Noil hern Roller'.Milling Company. It appeared that after the boys had stolen the article from one of the wharves they sold it to a Chinese as old copper. It was the first appearance of Fuller, but Johnston had been discharged previously for theft. The boys were remanded till Monday next for the probation officer's report. Cruelty to a Horse: Lewis Weeks Byron and Alexander Davidson pleaded guilty to charges of cruelly ill-treating a horse at Pon-' sonby by working it with a sore wither. Byron was charged at the Court some time ago, but, after hearing the evidence, the case was adjourned, in order that Davidson, the owner of the horse, might, be charged. After hearing evidence, to the effect that I he sore was seven inches long, the magistrate fined Davidson £2, and Byron was convicted and discharged. Successful Application: On the application of "Mis. Gamble an order was made that throe children, who are inmates of the Auckland Industrial School, should be transferred to St. Mary's School, and the maintenance order was reduced to 5s per week. Boys in Trouble: Ernest Roberts and Cecil Stewart, two boys, were charged with using indecent language in Western Parkon April 9. Both boys, who wore represented by Mr. "J. R. London, pleaded not guilty. Constable McGlono said be was in Western Park oh the date in question. He was not in uniform. Ho had gone there in consequence of complaints which had been received about bad language being used there. Ho saw nine boys there, and heard one of them use a disgusting expression. When he went up to them two of the boys ran away, and ho took the remainder to the Newton Police Station. The majority of the boys agreed that Stewart used the lifthv expression, and the accused, although he at first denied it, admitted that the words had slipped out. After hearing the statements of the other lads, witness charged Roberts with using the same expression as Stewart. Ihe light was not sufficiently clear to identify the boys in the park, but witness knew Stewart by his voice. Witness .was crossexamined at some length by Mr. Lundon as to statements made by the boys. He laid the information against Roberts on the statements the other boys made I. him at the police station. Several witnesses gave evidence as to hearing tho language used by the accused. hi answer to Mr. Lundon they said that Constable McGlone said to them when ho came to them in the park: 'Slop, or by Cod I will fire at von." In answer to Sergeant Ileudn , most of the witnesses said thai on the day the case was adjourned they went down to Mr. London's office, where statements were taken from them. Roberts, when put in the box, denied using tho words complained of. They said that one of (he boys hit another on the loot, and that boy used a much milder expression than that charged. .Stewart and threw of the boys corroborated Roberts' evidence. The magistrate dismissed I lie information against Roberts, but. said he felt satisfied that Stewart was guilty, and he was convicted and ordered to com© up for sentence when called upon. The magistrate said if Stewart had not been young, be would have inflicted a heavy penally.