POLICE COURT NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13095, 7 February 1906, Page 7

POLICE COURT NEWS.

AN UNPROVOKED ASSAULT. A fireman named Timothy Sullivan was charged before' Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., at the Police Court, yesterday, with drunkenness, and with assaulting a labourer named Angus McGill. The complainant said while he was walking in Albert-street with a woman who was under the influence of liquor, the accused came up to him and struck him several blows in the face with his clenched fist. Witness had not given the accused any cause to assault him. Constable Ross said the complainant informed him of the assault, and while taking a, statement in connection with the assault the accused came up to the complainant and again assaulted him. The accused did not give evidence, butstated that the complainant kicked him. At the request of the magistrate, the accused was examined to see if there was any bruise caused by the kick, and it was found that there was none. On the first charge the accused was lined 5s and costs, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, and on the second he was lined £2, in default 43 hours. ALLEGED THEFT FROM A DWELLING. Thomas Martin was charged with stealing, at Whangarei, from the dwelling of Samuel McMahon, a Bank of New Zealand (Auckland) cheque for payment, valued at £19 10s, the property of Frederick James Carey, and also two postal notes, valued at 10s, the property of J. McKenzie. Chief-Detective Marsack prosecuted, and applied for a remand until Friday next, which was granted. There are also several charges of theft pending against the. accused. MISCELLANEOUS. Jessie Given, for whom Mr. Brookfield appeared, applied for a separation order against her husband, Samuel Given, who did not appear. The applicant said her husband had been very cruel to her, and she would not live with him again. The application was granted, and the defendant was ordered to contribute' 20s per week maintenance.

An application of William Payne for an increase from-15s to 20s in a maintenance order against his wife, Mary Payne, was granted. On the application of his wife, Samuel Joseph Clare was ordered to contribute 20s per week for her maintenance. Thomas Joseph Hearn was ordered to pay 7s 6d per week for the maintenance of his mother.

Arthur Higgs, who did not appear, was lined 5s for driving a vehicle on the wrong side of Karangaliape Road. Henry Gordon and James Scanton, second offenders, were each fined 20s and costs, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness.